July 1, 2008 | 10:00pm ET
Bruins sign free agent Ryder TheFourthPeriod.com
The Boston Bruins have signed unrestricted free agent right wing Michael Ryder to a three-year contract, TFP has confirmed.
Ryder, who will make $12 million over the length of his new contract, received interest from a number of teams, including an unknown team that was given exclusive negotiating rights from the Montreal Canadiens before July 1.
"Every time that we played him, he played hard and he was dangerous," Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said.
"He's had two 30 goal years. We were satisfied to go after him.
Ryder, 28, skated in 70 games with the Canadiens last season and recorded 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points.
Chiarelli noted that he's likely finished in the free agent market.
"It's unlikely that I'll continue in the free agent market unless we make a trade," he said.
Chiarelli, who noted that the team could make a move, was involved in the Marian Hossa sweepstakes, but he is no longer being pursued by the Bruins.
"We were involved a little bit earlier on with Hossa," Chiarelli said. "We weren't at a position where we felt we would devote time to it."
