An excerpt from the Calgary Herald (Scott Cruickshank) concerning the return of Daniel Ryder to the Flames organization after a one year hiatus from hockey:

What’s up with this kid?

Nothing a winter’s breather couldn’t cure, apparently.

Talking to reporters — a refreshing development in itself — Monday afternoon, Ryder never used the term “burned out.”

Maybe he didn’t need to.

Ryder appeared in 44 playoff matches, in 2006 and in 2007, on behalf of Peterborough and Plymouth. That cooked him.

“I just needed some time away from hockey — I still wasn’t ready for a full season,” the soft-spoken lad explained after opening day at the Flames prospects camp. “That was my decision — I’m glad I did it. Two long seasons in a row, two short summers. It was just hockey every day. I wasn’t ready for a full season.

“I feel ready for a full season now.”

Publicly, Flames boss Darryl Sutter never lost patience with the young star. Privately, too, he kept the pressure off Ryder.

“They let me take the time — what I needed — and be ready for next year,” Ryder, the 70th overall pick of the 2005 draft, said. “They were great with it. They helped me a lot. It’s good to have people like that around.”