Flames hoping Daniel Ryder returns to hockey

ST. JOHN'S - The general manager of the Calgary Flames is hopeful Daniel Ryder will eventually return to the organization, but Darryl Sutter makes it clear the longer the rookie pro sits in a self-imposed hockey exile, the more difficult it will be for him to follow his older brother to the National Hockey League.

"From our standpoint", Sutter said Thursday, "he's on a (three-year) entry level contract and he's burning the first year of it up, which means there's only two left if he chose to return to try and play. That's where it's at.

"There's a timeline that's critical to a young player's development and you're talking about a boy who's done very little training and very little playing since the Memorial Cup last spring.

"So every day for Danny Ryder is a day lost."

The 20-year-old product of Bonavista walked out on the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate in Quad City, Ill, late last month, just six games into his pro career.

Ryder has been suspended without pay by Calgary, which selected him 74th overall in the 2005 draft. He signed with the Flames last Christmas to a deal that included a $225,000 signing bonus.

The contract called for Ryder to earn $500,000 this season if he played in Calgary, a figure that could have climbed to $750,000 if a games-played bonus kicked in.

He was to have earned $62,500 (all figures U.S.) in the minors this year.

Ryder's decision to return to Newfoundland after registering a goal and four assists with the AHL Flames is, if nothing else, puzzling.

Repeated attempts to contact the gifted centre have been unsuccessful, and Sutter couldn't - or wouldn't - offer up much other than to say the player, "doesn't want to play."

But Sutter did vehemently deny substance abuse was the cause of the walkout.

"If that was the case he would be in some sort if rehabilitation program. So I would totally deny that. The National Hockey League has a substance abuse policy in place."

The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens' winger Michael Ryder burst on the Canadian Hockey League scene in 2004-05, his draft year, piling up 82 points for the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes.

The following year, he enjoyed another 82-point campaign, but saved the best for last when he led all players with 31 post-season points, guiding the Petes to the OHL championship.

He was among the league's leading point-getters last season until he was slapped with a 10-game suspension for abuse of an official. Shortly after his return to the ice, Ryder was dealt to the Plymouth Whalers where he won another OHL championship and a second trip to the Memorial Cup.

But throughout his junior career, there have been red flags.

After his 2006 post-season, where he won the Wayne Gretzky Award as playoff MVP, he was invited to the 2007 national junior team's summer evaluation camp where he reportedly showed up in Calgary in desperate shape.

Despite a sizzling start last season that saw him score 24 goals and assist on 35 others through 29 games, Ryder was not invited back to the junior squad's final camp prior to Christmas.

Last summer, he spurned the Flames' development camp for prospects and was a week late reporting to Calgary's training camp in September.

"He has to make the decision, Sutter said, "if he wants to make the commitment and the sacrifice to be a hockey player ... a professional hockey player. He hasn't done that yet."

Sutter met with the player and his family in Quad City before Ryder returned to Newfoundland. And the Flames' boss wasn't about to unveil what was discussed.

"It's none of the media's business," he said.

Sutter did leave the door open to Ryder if he decides to rejoin the organization.
But he also made it clear it's the Flames who will have the last word.

"If he elects to make a decision to return to pro hockey, then we'll make a decision whether he's at a point where we think he should play pro or go back to junior."