Brad Richards future and the realities in Tampa Bay
We'll have something fresher than this sometime soon, but for the meanwhile, i send you back toa story we ran in February regarding Brad Richards.
If you're not aware, Brad will not be back in Dallas next season and the Free Agent sweepstakes seems to have kick-started, with Dallas trying to trade negotiating rights with Brad.
12 months ago
John Fontana
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but i thought it was predestined that he was coming to new york/toronto
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
I still think TOR/NYR are leading candidates
LA might be a good third option.
Frankly, I don’t see how we can sign the folks we need to sign and sign a FA of his caliber without him voluntarily taking a “home town discount.”
Color me skeptical, but I don’t think he’s coming here; anyone who does, I believe, is setting themselves up for disappointment.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
exactly
Stamkos and Roli should be your primary focus and then go into your other RFAs
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
Not afraid of competition are you? :-)
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
Not afraid that it means we won’t get him… afraid that it means Sather will break the piggy bank to get him in Rangers blue.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
I’m pretty sure “Sather” is Latin for “Fantasy Hockey Mogul.”
Why is it the NYR faithful haven’t called for his head? Just curious.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
you haven't seen our "Fire Sather" rally?
trust me…we’ve been calling for his public execution for ten years now
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
When doesn’t he break teh piggy bank to get someone? Hello, Wade Redden!
(sorry, that was an uncalled for low blow)
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
I’m not making a claim of inside kowledge, but people close to Richards say he was “devastated” (their word) when he was traded and hasn’t really gotten over it. Which could mean he’d be willing to offer the mother of all hometown discounts for a chance to return…or it could mean nothing at all.
by Clark J Brooks on Jun 3, 2011 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t doubt there’s interest in coming back. He’s apparently maintained his friendship with Vinny (and Marty, presumably) and rents a house in the area during the off-season. The only sticking point is the salary he will command on the market.
Toronto are the front runners from everything I’ve read (they’ve got something near $11M under the cap and 18 players under contract).
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
What it comes down to is whether he follows the money or not, really. It’s the same thing with Bergenheim.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 3, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
True, but...
He’ll need to follow less money (significantly less, in my uneducated, outsider-only opinion) to come to Tampa.
Without Yzerman exhibiting some serious Jedi skills or executing a trade to clear cap room, I just don’t see Richards taking so little money (compared to the other suitors) that it works for Tampa.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
You realize that Vinik’s willing to spend up to the cap ceiling, right?
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 4, 2011 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep.
But we’ve many players to sign—many of those getting raises—and I think we’ll be close to the cap without BR19.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
And like Clark, I have no insider knowledge...
But Richie has told friends off the record that he has no interest in playing in Toronto. Now, whether Burkie can offer up a deal to make him change his mind is another thing.
I don’t think it’s totally beyond the realm of possibility that Richie comes “home”, but as others have indicated, he’d have to give one helluva hometown discount to be able to fit him in. As Cassie mentioned, does he follow the money or not. Personally, I think Richards is more interested in taking an offer on a competitive team where he has a very good shot at another cup than at taking a bazillion dollars to play on a crappy team.
That being said, do I think he’s coming back? Probably not, but after reading that article in the St Pete Times, it sure as hell doesn’t hurt to think about it just a wee bit…
(Hello? JM Yzerman? please pick up the white courtesy phone…)
Dwayne Roloson: "You damn [insert team name here]! GET OFF MY LAWN!!"
by Tina Robinson on Jun 4, 2011 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions
EVERYONE connected to Richards says he does not want ot play in the mega market in the mega spotlight. That rules out Toronto. Heck, read the story I quoted (in the above link).
It’s only perception that Toronto would be the elading candidate. fi so, why wasn’t a trade pulled off at the deadline? One where Richards only agreed to be traded to one team / willingly waive his NMC?
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
Dallas was still in the playoff hunt
That’s why he wasn’t traded at the deadline.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
While I don’t doubt the camaraderie he had developed with many of his teammates over the years with the Lightning, I would have to say I’m surprised if he was, in fact, devastated about the trade to Dallas.
The Stars were one of the best teams in the West and they came within two games of reaching the Finals. Richards played a large role in that. Obviously, the same problems that befell the Bolts have befallen the Stars, meaning Brad was screwed one way or another ultimately, but at the time of the trade, the Stars were better off than the Bolts, who were in a very tough situation based on the ownership transitioning and the inflexibility they had within their payroll structure.
I’m not getting my hopes up at all about a reunion in Tampa for him, but Brad was always my favorite and I would certainly welcome it, at the right price of course. He would certainly have to be devaluing his overall worth to make it work.
Now on Twitter @Carcillo_
http://twitter.com/#!/Carcillo_
by FloridaownsFSU on Jun 4, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t call it devaluing his overall worth as much as I’d call it putting other comforts (friends, location, etc) above the money…. money isn’t everything. And being a part of a team that has a real shot at the Cup certainly doesn’t hurt either. It is not unheard of for a player to take less money to make things fit with a certain team and it would show the commitment level of that player to the team as well.
Dwayne Roloson: "You damn [insert team name here]! GET OFF MY LAWN!!"
by Tina Robinson on Jun 4, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
It wasn’t going to the Stars that upset him, it was leaving Tampa Bay. His reaction would have been the same regardless of where he was traded. I think he had visions of having the kind of career that Vinny has had in terms of being identified with one franchise and community.
Another factor to take into considerationin all of this is that third parties are going to be in his ear if he is considering offering a discount. Agents and other players don’t like it when somebody signs for less than what they could have gotten.
by Clark J Brooks on Jun 4, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Pat Morris is a hard ass (his agent). Morris played hardball with Brad’s Entry-Level contract. Brad has also been paid the lump sum. Question is, does he want to stay top-paid or does he want to play where he can win?
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
Let me just say this — he has not forgotten Tampa Bay. That’s from another source that shall remain nameless.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
Ooooo...
…another “unnamed source!” No doubt about the story then! :-)
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
He doesn’t want to go to a big market. That’s why TOR/NYR are not at the top of his list.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
i said this from the start
we either get richards or resign gagne idk about both…. i think if we could get richards for 6 mill we could do it…. remember guys we have 9.3 mill in capspace b4 we resign who we need to plus the salary cap is going up a few more mill. we will have over 10 mill in cap space to work with… i think u let gagne walk. thats 5 more mill freed up. we would have PLENTY to get richards back and id MUCH rather have him than gagne.
That's what I was talking about above
If Richards will take 6, then we can get him. But he would have to take a $1M+ pay cut to do that.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
I like Gagne but if we could (nearly) replace him with Richards, I don’t think there’s a fan in the Forum that wouldn’t take that option in a heartbeat. I miss the days of the old big 3 (as I’m sure we all do), and how fun would it be to toss Stammer in the mix on top of it all? I’m not banking on it, but it’s the silly season so may as well dream a bit…
You guys can’t have him. We need him more. :(
Besides, you had your chance! The biggest problem with Richards going to Tampa is the fact that Stamkos and Lecavalier are already there. Two guys who are #1 centers and then you add another into the mix? Sure, you could maybe move Stamkos to the wing but the other issue is what sort of contract Stammer is going to demand given his talent and youth… landing Stamkos is the focus of Yzerman right now, landing Richards has to be at least secondary thought.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
I don't think the whole too many centers thing will be a problem
With Boucher’s system, you don’t really have a defined center, left wing and right wing. As long as you got 3 forwards on the ice you’re pretty much good.
That being said, another elite forward isn’t exactly at the top of the Lightning’s wish list right now, so I don’t see us getting him unless he takes a massive pay cut.
One thing is for sure..
We HAVE to keep our core guys together!! Especially after a strong, emotional season like the last one. Yes, this is a team going through a due process but damn, it didn’t take long to show some true grit.. and you’ve gotta believe their is some serious bonding that went on. You lose and win together, these guys have done it all. Add all the other factors together.. Vinik, Yzerman, Boucher and we’re well on our way to a world class franchise!
Plus, their isn’t too many problems now to correct. We need to be smart about not focusing too much on the future and realize were damn close as it is. One major flaw has been defense. Wayyy too much (paid) “talent” back there, to have the problems we had. I had Hedman as one of the most improved players this season, until the playoffs that is. So wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the big d guys go.
One rumor I heard today… that I did NOT like and goes against everything I’ve just been saying. From a secret source aka a friend who was listening to sports radio down here in Tampa area.. A possible Stammer tr*de for 5 first round draft picks. I couldn’t even type it all the way, it makes me sick to even think about.
So... if that was just the beginning? Can't friggin' wait to see what's next!! A HUGE Thank You to Mr. Vinik, Steve Yzerman, Guy Boucher & the whole damn Lightning team/organization!! 100% Continued support and respect.
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Jun 6, 2011 11:36 AM EDT reply actions
Hurry up Steve!
Steve needs to lock down Stamkos before even can even make an offer sheet. It disgusts me he has not signed yet :( He’s our new franchise player how can we even consider letting him go. Especially the rumors I hear about him signing inToronto. I live in Niagara Falls, Canada and I loath Toronto. If Stamkos goes to Toronto I will kill myself…
Im sure Steve is taking his time, making sure the deal that Stamkos signs meets his requirements but is also slightly team friendly. And although I’m 99% sure he will sign in Tampa, I just want him signed now!
If #26 doesn't get retired. I'm switching teams.
you gotta look at it this way....
if we traded stamkos’ RIGHTS for 5 first rounders theres no sure thing he will sign with that team and then hed end up right back here. or even if he does leave…. vinny is only 31… brad richards the same… they easily have another 6 or 7 yrs ahead of them…. 5 first rounders would be HUGE that could be used to bring in someone else…. that would be a monumental trade. i dont wanna lose stammer but that is a franchise changing move for both teams.
Don’t believe that fraud Eklund. Stamkos isn’t going anywhere – not for anything. He’s far too valuable to the team. He’ll be re-signed.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 6, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
When I feel down
I read Eklund for a pick-me-up. Jon Jordan’s best career move was leaving that site.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
Dallas papers (h/t to Lyle Richardson)
From the papers in Big D today:
[T]he Stars, prior to the trade deadline, offered up to Brad Richards contracts similar to those signed by San Jose’s Joe Thornton (three years, $21 million) and Patrick Marleau (four years, $27.6 million) but he declined the offers.
Of course we don’t know why Richards turned down those contract numbers, but if the reason was because they’re not high enough, there’s absolutely no way he comes back to Tampa.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
I think he wants more time than money – something long term as opposed to lucrative.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 7, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess we’ll see. It will be an interesting six weeks (I don’t think he’ll be long in signing with whichever team meets his needs).
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
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