Of Riders and Richards

Thank goodness Rider Pride made it.

In fact, you could make an argument that everytime the Saskatchewan Roughriders qualify for the Grey Cup, it's better for everyone because nobody brings it to the big game like Regina fans. They helped enormously the year the Grey Cup was in Toronto, they were a difference maker last year in Calgary and they'll probably be the life of the party next weekend in Edmonton.

It's the third year out of four that the Riders have made it to the CFL's championship game, with a chance to win their third title in 11 years. This is the most success this franchise has had since the 1960s, and if not for last year's too-many-men-on-the-field screwup, they'd be going for back-to-back Grey Cups.

It's not like Commonwealth Stadium needed the Riders to make for a successful Grey Cup. The game was sold out five months ago.

But Rider Pride will inject enthusiasm into the weekend. Bet on it.

. . . .and there's all kinds of speculation and chatter locally, not about the demise of the Argonauts but about the future of P.E.I.'s Brad Richards, in town tonight with the Dallas Stars.

Richards, 30, is set to be an unrestricted free agent in July after making $7.8 million this season with the Stars. The Leafs would love to have him, either then or during this season, with Dallas management facing the dilemma of whether to hang on to him knowing instability at the ownership level may make it impossible for them to lock him up.

For the Leafs, however, these are very different scenarios, and both are problematic.

If Richards goes on the trading block sometime before the winter trading deadline, there is going to be an auction for his services and you can bet Dallas will be looking for young players, prospects and draft picks.

In other words, exactly the commodities the Leafs can't afford to be selling even if Richards would make them a playoff team next spring.

If Richards goes to free agency in July, there will be multiple bidders, and it could become a situation similar to that which surrounded Ilya Kovalchuk last summer. The numbers could get huge and the term long, with some teams undoubtedly set to offer the kind of "back-diving" contract that Kovalchuk signed and Brian Burke has long insisted he wants no part of.

In fact, after testifying against the Kovalchuk deal last summer, Burke would surely open himself up to charges of hypocrisy both inside and outside the industry were he to go down that road with Richards.

The Leafs, with the contracts of J.S. Giguere ($6 million) and Tomas Kaberle ($4.25 million) set to expire after this season, will have room next summer, although new deals for players like Luke Schenn will eat up cash. So there will be room there, and even now, there's $4 million-plus available.

But the costs of trading for Richards now may be prohibitive, and the financial burden of signing him as a free agent next summer could be problematic.

So Leaf fans can dream of Richards. Even if he becomes available by trade or free agency, however, getting him to Toronto will be another issue entirely.

 

 

Comments

[johnnyk]

He's already playing for a poor team. Why would he want to go to one as bad or worse. He's a young Canadian hockey player, it's all about the Cup.

[Kyle B]

Interesting player here, but certainly not worth the trading price, bringing him in would almost certainly mean the departure of either Bozak or Grabovski. At the right time, if this pace keeps going, Grabovski could get some good value, but if he keeps his current pace why get ride of him?

[SL]

Well, if Richards does want to entertain the idea of playing in Canada, why not the Leafs? He's already won a cup, so looking to play for a contender may not be a requirement. But with an uncertain CBA, who would risk paying big money? Regardless, it is a nice dream ....

[Arthur B.]

oh johnnyk, you pessimist. It is NOT all about the cup. For most, It's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, and the cup would nice thank you.

Kyle B, I doubt the Stars would want either Bozak or Grabovski. Kadri is off limits, I am sure, But Schenn? He has been thrown around in trade speculation before, and is a much better young player for Dallas to want back in a trade for Richards, along with draft picks.

A trade for Richards will not happen. Not with the Leafs anyway. Free Agency is an option though. I doubt any team is going to try one of those deals that Damian suggests after New Jersey was fined, and didn't they negotiate an additional to the Collective Agreement to average out the cap out hit based on the top paying 5 years of a contract? Where is the up side to that kind of deal now?

[Steve C.]

Burke has already opened himself up to charges of hypocrisy. He implies that signing long-term deals is detrimental to the long term building process....while apparently trading away all your top draft picks is not.

[Chad]

agree with Damien in that the trading price for Richards would be too steep. if we are to have him in our line up we'd need to wait until free agency, and hope that we can get him to bit on a contract that isn't out of this world. i'd take him for 3 - 4 years, but no longer.

[Rudd]

Except Damien that he has a complete no trade clause and he can decide where he wants to go so its not that easy for Joe Nyeuwndyk. He definetely sounded very open to the idea of coming here next year. As well as Brian Burke really has no choice but to make a free agent splash since once again he has no draft pick. Plus not many teams will have the cap room to sign Richards.

[mark]

I like Richards as a player, but he's not the right guy for the Leafs. It's a given that he will want big money and long term. If he were 25 or 26, then fine. Buat at 30 years of age, he will be past his prime when the rest of the young developing Leafs (Kessel, Kahdri, Kulemin, Shen, Aullie, Grabovski.. and possibly Bosak) will be hitting theirs. It's tough to say this, because it's been 47 years... but I would say 'be patient'. There will be younger players with a higher upside come available. Also, I can't see trading picks or prospects for him as a rental. At most you'd get to the dance and make a first round exit. Patience.

[Green is the Colour]

Damien,

Look, I love your columns but you have made this mistake several times before when discussing the Riders. You often refer to "Regina fans". There is a reason they are the SASKATCHEWAN Roughriders. On game day, Sask highways are jammed with fan(atic)s driving in from places 5, 6 even 7 hours away! The Riders are from ALL of Saskatchewan and those not from Regina (like myself) take great umbrage at your mention of them as a Regina team. I mean, c'mon Damien...it's all we got it the Sask!!! Don't take it from us! And, you can bet there will be fans from all 4 corners of Sask representing our great province in Edmonton!!

Go Riders!