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Is Richards on trading block?

DAVID SHOALTS

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 5:37 PM EST 18/02/08

Rumours swirl that Lightning forward is being shopped at NHL winter meetings; Forsberg rules out comeback
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  1. Rob C from Rosedale, Canada writes: Get him in a leafs jersey. Gotta like those guys from the Red Rock....
  2. Super Troll from Canada writes: Yeah Robin C good call- he's paid about the right $ per point to play for the Fleas. Feltcher will trade 60 draft picks for him.
  3. A. MacDonald from Halifax, Canada writes: Picking up Richards would be the first smart move by the Leafs in years. Yes, he's overpaid, everyone knew that when the Lightning first gave him that deal, but part of his under-achievement this year is due to poor line-mates. If you switched him and Vinny we'd be hearing about how great a season Richards is having and that Vinny is tanking.

    But of course, to make room for Richard the Laughs will have to part with the almighty Sundin. Toronto has to start looking forward, not in the moment. Dump the old, expensive guys and surround Richards with some affordable, decent talent and promising youth for the next couple of years... then you might have a contender.
  4. Rob C from Rosedale, Canada writes: Gidiot - Cap room is coming. Leafs don't have to have a pop bottle drive (like ottawa does) to pay people. I'll take Richards over Spzza Heatley or Krusty' - at the very least, he doesn't need a heart transplant. At most, he is had and shoulders more valuable - I know you wouldn't agree, but you're an idiot - Now, go get your hand cream out and find some more porno sites. No one wants you here
  5. The Habs from Toronto, Canada writes: Sure they are looking for a #1 or potential type goaltender. Not many teams have that, time and cap room to do this type of trade. Chicago....LA doesn't have a #1 goalie (unless they trade Bernier, which would be dumb)...SJ (Nabokov and they're not trading him). Huet would be a short term fix, but I don't think TB would want that (but it would be nice to see Richards in Montreal). TB made a mistake of signing these 3 for so much. They may just have to ride it out until the contracts are near the end.

    Still think that teams should be able to re-sign their players and only a portion counts towards the cap...like the NBA. Havlat and Hossa would still be in Ottawa....well at least Havlat.
  6. Proud Canadian from Canada writes: Rob C. Once an idiot, always an idiot. For you, 35 on a scale of 10. U wouldnt know a hockey player from a hoe in Detroit. Better still, from a hoe on Yonge Street.
  7. Rob C from Rosedale, Canada writes: Oh c'mon Claude, Gidiot can stand up or himself. As for the rest of my post - it's the truth. (Don't you have some minority to pick on rather than me? I am white - Or are you an equal opportunity biggot?)
  8. Paul Maurice from the Unemployment Office, Canada writes: This team will make the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup.
  9. brad maddigan from Canada writes: Richards would look great in a Habs uniform. The guy kills penalties, plays the point on the pp, and plays a regular shift. He has great speed, and he can score in the clutch. If he is in fact on the trading block, Gainey should do everything he can to get him. Not sure what it would take, but what if the Habs offered Ryder, Huet, and their 1st pick next June? And by the way, Super Troll, Richards won a Stanley Cup, and was MVP. I would say he earned that contract.
  10. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: I'll take Lecavalier over Richards. Not only can he score, but he's not afraid to go into the corners or drop the gloves to send a message.

    Richards shyes away from the tough stuff (much like Sundin). Not sure if its worth giving up a lot for a player who'll take about a fifth of your cap space.
  11. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Not quite Sid Crosby or anything, but a good, solid Atlantic Canadian kid nonetheless and more than capable of carrying a team as a first line centre...

    Definitely would look good in a bleu, blanc et rouge jersey...

    Might be too pricey for Gainey's liking, but I imagine the Habs might be looking at this deal if Lecavalier is not going to be available...

    The Habs have goaltenders to spare!
  12. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: People forget that PEI's Brad Richards was the dominant player of the QJMHL shortly before Nova Scotia's Sid Crosby took over that honour...

    Richards plays in Lecavalier's shadow in Tampa Bay and one of that trio needs to definitely get out of there...
  13. johnny meahan from halifax, Canada writes: that contract makes him unmoveable, enough said. As far as getting a solid #1 goalie, all solid #1 goalies are going to the playoffs, and I'm pretty sure their teams aren't going to be trading them.
  14. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Here's an interesting stat that is quite telling about Brad Richards...

    Lecavalier, Richards and Crosby all played for the Rimouski Oceanic of the QJMHL early in their careers...

    1997-1998 -- 115 points (Lecavalier's best season with Oceanic)
    1999-2000 -- 186 points (Richards' best season with Oceanic)
    2004-2005 -- 168 points (Crosby's best season with Oceanic)
  15. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: Whether you can move Richards or not either through his willingness to move or his salary, it would be a great move on Tampa Bay's part. Since it looks like they will finish last, their odds of getting Steve Stamkos as the number one pick are really good. If you think Stamkos is ready for the NHL and can have a Pat Kane type rookie season, then you really have not lost much on the offensive side but have freed up over $4 million a year to get a goaltender or improve the defense. With the right moves in those two spots, Tampa Bay could be a contender in again in a couple of years before Lecavalier and St. Louis become free agents again. It would be a smart move to trade him but definitely the Leafs do not need Richards as they need to be freeing up cap room and replacing Sundin with Richards will not improve the team and in fact might make it a little worse for next year.
  16. Flames Forever from Canada writes: Just send Martin St.Louis back to Calgary and all be well...
  17. alex just a canadian from Canada writes: 7.5million, nice to have in montreal but over priced and wouldn't give up a 1st round pick. Too late in the season, maybe next year.
  18. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Love the speculation coming out of closed door meetings. I am the first to tell you that I have reached agreement with the agent and I have offered Great-Gran, her Ouija board and autographed photo of Johnny Bower, plus one roster player and a second round draft pick for Brad's services.

    Wal-Mart is pleased to offer this new service - hip check the greeter, power down aisle 12 and cut towards the middle near the blue paint, we are there for the deal.

    Makes as much sense as this article.
  19. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Nothing against Richards as a player.... would love to have him in Toronto.

    Not going to happen.

    How many teams have the cap room to take on that kind of salary?

    How many of those teams are going to compete for the cup?

    SJS maybe..... and Tampa might even take Marleau ..
    Would Richards go there? He has a no trade.

    Bring Habubulin back? Would Richards go to Chicago?

    More questions than answers on this one.
  20. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Anaheim GM, Brian Burke, is also rumoured to be looking for a scoring centreman...

    Burke also likes to shop Canadian...

    I wonder if Brad Richards might end up wearing a Ducks' jersey before the trade deadline?
  21. D W from Switzerland writes: good to see some details of Brad Richards junior career in 1999-2000, when he was hands-down the MVP of Canadian junior hockey by a mile, then confirmed a few years later with Stanley Cup MVP and a 91-point season thereafter;
    well below his normal standards right now, but give the guy some linemates and he can be a franchise player again
  22. Drew Diggs from Toronto, Canada writes: And the obsession with the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to grow within the feeble mind of the Troll.
  23. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: I think with Richards contract - I am not sure that Tampa Bay can expect much in return. It's essentially a trade between Richards and Richard's contract.

    He is in the top 5 highest paid players in the league and completely not worth it. He COULD be worth it but I don't think that the Lightning will get anything in return. The Lightning, once they drop his contract, can grab a couple GOOD players for the same cost.

    I agree that the Habs would be a logical choice. I think they have space since they don't really have any high-priced players and could use a player with some heart.
  24. Czar Nicholas from Ottawa, Canada writes: Last I heard, a couple weeks ago, he had been fighting mono for a couple months... that, matched with wingers not up to the task and he is going to look bad on paper.

    Would take an interesting deal and whoever did land him would need to unload cap space most likely. But at 27, I'm sure someone would give him a shot as being their top centre until his contract expires.

    Leafs or Montreal wouldn't be a bad fit IMO, but what would need to be given up...
  25. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Hey, now that the Troll has converted to the Habs, does that mean that I have to defend him as a fellow Habs fan brethren???

    Oh... alright!

    Lay off, Drew Diggs from Toronto.
  26. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: Super Troll - Do you know what a Feltcher is? That's not really appropriate for a hockey site is it?

    Keep your homophobic vitriol to your boy's town sites.
  27. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: I think the point that ST might be trying to make is that in the recent past the Leafs have looked for the quick and easy way to a championship (trades, free agents, rent a player at the trade deadline, etc) and in doing so, have given away quality prospects and neglected their future...

    I think it's a valid point...

    Richards could be a good acquisition for either the Habs or the Leafs... He defintely needs to go somewhere where he is a #1 Centre because he is currently an under-appreciated franchise type player playing on a second line...

    Anaheim would probably be a good fit and the acquisition of Richards would likely make them a strong Cup contender again.
  28. Super Troll from Canada writes: Leaf fans wanting the Fleas to sign Richards is laughable. You honestly think the Leafs are buyers???!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

    If he's minus-25 with Tampa he'd probably be minus-60 with the Fleas.
  29. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Super Troll from Canada writes:

    "You honestly think the Leafs are buyers?"

    No!

    And just between you and me, I would rather see Brad Richards back fishing for lobsters in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island than playing for the Make Beleafs...

    But too much information on events occuring outside of Toronto that don't involve the Maple Leafs might blow the minds of some of these G&M readers...

    I am humouring them... Hey, is this mic on?
  30. steve allan from Canada writes: Brad Richards is a dog. He's not an impact player yet he's paid like one. Although he has 30 points less than Lecavalier, he makes twice the money. That's right - twice the money of Lecavalier! it's crazy.
  31. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: I wouldn't say "dog" exactly.... He's certainly no Matts Sundown or anything...

    In that, Brad Richards actually has a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Laby Byng trophy with his name on it already...

    All that from a guy playing on a second line without any decent linemates...
  32. Synchronicity Tour from Canada writes: As a Leaf fan I would love to see Richards in the blue and white. However, I dont see it happening. What with the current state of the leafs and the crippling, socialist salary cap rule, there is no way it will happen.
  33. Tom Henderson from Canada writes: The leaf management would be even more idiotic than I think they are (and I think Ballard was a hockey genius compared tothe current DOLTS at MLSE)were they to trade any of their assets for richards.

    The leafs need to tear down the house and rebuild for the next 3 years. Richards won't help. Anyone who is any good won't help. the leafs ned to finsih last - DEAD LAST - and resotck their talent pool.

    NO Richards.

    NO current NHL players.

    just Juniors and Draft picks.

    Pittsburg is the model.

    It's really not that hard to comprehend is it?
  34. Dave Stewart from Charlottetown, writes: Steve Allan, the comment that Richards is a dog is laughable and obviously comes form someone who hasn't watched Richards very much. Richards led the Lightning in scoring three of his first four seasons, won the Stanley Cup, finished second in the Calder Trophy race, won the Conn Smythe Trophy, is one of the best playmakers in the NHL and was very much an "impact'' player until they traded Modin and put St.-Louis on the Lecavalier line. Funny, isn't it. That just happens to be when Lecavalier took off from years of 'disappointing' seasons. Do you realize who Richards has been playing with since Modin was traded? Mathieu Darche, Jason Ward, Ruslan Fedetenko and Eric Perrin. Wow! What an all-star lineup. And, as for the comment that Richards earns twice as much as Lecavalier....get your facts straight. Not by a long shot. Try a few hundred thousand. Richards $7.8M...Lecavalier $7.2M.
  35. brad maddigan from Canada writes: Steve Allan, you should really watch Richards play before speaking. It is obvious that you have no idea who Brad Richards is.
  36. No use for a name from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: I wouldn't say "dog" exactly.... He's certainly no Matts Sundown or anything...

    In that, Brad Richards actually has a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Laby Byng trophy with his name on it already...

    All that from a guy playing on a second line without any decent linemates...

    Matts Sundown? Wow, good one??! How about you stick to flipping burgers and leave the jokes to the professionals.

    I think the blame lies with Torterella, and not Richards linemates. Or do you thin a team with St. Louis, Lecavelier and Prospal aren't decent enough linemates?
  37. No use for a name from Toronto, Canada writes: I'd trade Richards, Prospal and a Lightning toque for Super Troll's mom.

    What a milf...

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