Grade: A-
Michael Ryder posted 18 goals and 23 assists in the regular season, which isn't really too awful. But he did that with maddening inconsistency. For example, no goals for Ryder in March. When he's on, he scores in bunches. When he's not, he can be aggravating to watch.
Luckily, Ryder likes to turn it on in the playoffs. In 25 playoff games he had 8 goals and 9 assists. He found chemistry with Tyler Seguin and Chris Kelly on a third line that provided invaluable scoring depth.
His best moment came in Game 4 against Montreal in the first round. Ryder scored the first goal of the game for the Bruins, added an assist, and then scored the last goal just minutes into overtime to tie the series. Then, in Game 5, Ryder covered up for a scrambling Tim Thomas and jumped into the crease to make a spectacular glove save on Mike Cammalleri in a 0-0 game.
Ryder was quiet until game 2 against Tampa, when he had another three-point night with two goals and an assist in a 6-5 Bruins win. He put up three goals and three assists in the Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver. The Bruins were 5-1 in the playoffs when he scored, and 8-2 when he recorded a point.
He gets an A- from me because he stepped it up in the playoffs. His regular season stats were decent but we all know he could do better if he brought it every night. Ryder turned into a different player in the playoffs, which seems like a routine thing with him. He was an important part of the Cup run. He left for Dallas this summer, and though the Bruins might not miss him in the regular season, they might miss him next May.