The Leafs and Brad Richards

The Maple Leafs want to be in on the free agent bidding for Brad Richards.

If there is any.

This, obviously, could be a situation similar to that in 2009 when Brian Burke quietly journeyed to Sweden on the final day of June hoping to be able to present the Sedin twins with contract offers the next day. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis, however, beat Burke to the punch, and Daniel and Henrik stayed out west.

This time around, Burke would like to at least have a chance to negotiate with Richards, and it's been suggested he might be willing to, if not break the bank, do some things contractually that he hasn't be willing to do before in Toronto.

Like go beyond five years. Not anything crazy along the lines of those 10, 12-year contracts, but perhaps seven or eight.

And Dion Phaneuf's $6.5 million annual cap hit would not be any kind of artificial individual cap for the Leafs. It's understood that Richards will go north of $7 mlllion, and possibly $8 million, in his new deal.

Now whether the Rangers or Kings would be willing to do more, well, we'll see.

But the real challenge for the Leafs is that Richards may not get to July 1st. Before the March trade deadline, Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk was asking prospects and picks in exchange for Richards and the right to talk about a new contract with the veteran centre.

That could well happen again before July 1st. The Stars are in a team in iimbo, with Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi expected to buy the club from Tom Hicks (remember the days when American businessmen like John McCaw and George Gillette were buying Canadian NHL teams??) but not before the club is run through some kind of "organized" bankruptcy proceeding to clear it of creditors. Dallas reports have suggested that may not happen until late June, and even then, would give Gaglardi very little time to decide on whether he wants to try and negotiate a new contract with Richards or whether Nieuwendyk should be authorized to trade exclusive negotiating rights with the centre to get a package in return.

The Stars are also looking for a head coach to replace Marc Crawford. Obviously, to have any chance of retaining Richards, they'd want to hire a coach he might prefer. So that's a further complication.

So the timing here could get very, very delicate.

In theory, the Leafs could get in on trying to buy the rights to negotiate with Richards, but not if it costs them a top prospect like Nazem Kadri. They just don't have enough in the cupboard to start giving those up, particularly without a deal in place for Richards. That's not even considering getting team doctors to have a look at him, something clubs may want to do because of the serious concussion Richards had this season.

Clearly, Burke's preference would be to wait until July 1st. But he knows Philly landed Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timmonen a couple of years ago from Nashville in this way and benefitted from that aggressive move, and he also knows the market for No. 1 centres via trade or free agency looks mighty slim this summer. He also knows he could have made a trade for Marc Savard last summer and been the one holding the bag when Savard was lost to another concussion.

This could be the biggest call of Burke's career in Toronto. If he even gets a chance to make one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Hockey Fan]

In a perfect world the Leafs would trade Kadri and Richards still signs elsewhere, lmao!

[Rick]

I still believe that either Burke trades for a centerman or just stays the course during the summer. Richards should think twice about going to the Rangers. It seems that talented free agent forwards sign big contracts with them and magically disappear.

[BrendonR]

Here's hoping he never gets the chance! Signing Richards would be such a poor move for a team that's starting to look so good long-term. Sure guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg are in their early 30s but Richards is nowhere near their calibre overall. The Leafs need to go south of 26, 27 for their 'true number 1 centre' even if it means waiting a year.

[jack asmo]

Please mark my words. If Brad Richards becomes a Leaf, he will become one of the biggest bust in Leaf history. I have studied this player like a book, as a result of extreme investments. I would love to see him go anywhere else, only because I love the Leafs.

[Ron]

No, No, No and NO. This guy is damaged goods and is starting to show the wear and tear. The Leafs are not going to win the Cup by getting Richards but they sure as hell can throw a wrench into the youth movement by giving up prospects. I hope Burke has been watching the disasters over the years in Leaf Land when other teams dumped over priced end of the line players and robbed the thin Leaf cupboard. STAY THE COURSE BRIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jimmy]

Damien, give me a break and think about things before you suggest these scenarios. Richards is a pretty good hockey player, but he is not the difference between this club being a #8 seed chaser and a cup contender. A 5yr + deal with Richards north of $7M would be ridiculous. Burke has tried the free agent quick fix and it has failed miserably. This club needs a young centre to build around with some level of cost certainty. The only way that can happen anytime soon is through a trade. Signing a player like Richards is from the old school Pat Quinn, JFJ school of thought that didn't get our club anywhere.

[Jeff]

Damien just let this go, Richards has stated he has no interest in Toronto thus the Leafs should spend elsewhere. Waiting and developing is the correct strategy after all the cupless years in my opinion. The Leafs are getting much better and can only improve with experience and some wiser moves. See you July 1st.

[Billy Biroux]

Forget Richards.
He has said he won't play in Canada.
The guy can't handle the pressure of playing in real hockey cities in Canada.
Let em go to New York or Phoenix where nobody cares how well he does.
The guy is a loser.
I don't want him on my team.

[Tom]

Leafs are gettin Carter or Nash, don't worry about it, y'all will be suprised come july 1st

[Artie]

Remember when the Leafs and New York were in a heated battle for the services of Bobby Holik. The lesson there, always let the other team outbid you. Let them be the ones to over pay for a mediocre over rated talent, or injury prone disaster in waiting.

The idiot rangers gave Holik 9M a season! for a 50point producer. Of course, that was before the cap, and teams like the Leafs and Rangers could afford to overspend (although in the long run, they couldn't, because every time they overspent, poorer teams had to go without and couldn't compete and required a cap to continue existing, and now the Leafs and Rangers pay the price for their shortsightedness and can't build a winner).

[Conn Smythe]

'The guy is a loser. I don't want him on my team.' I don't want the Leafs to sign Richards for a variety of reasons (for the reasons listed above), but I hardly think a guy who won a cup and a Conn Smythe trophy is a 'loser'.

[Ostrich_lover]

Hard to believe I am going to agree with the consensus, but getting Richards would be a terrible move. 30 years, concussion problems and were already mentioning Kadri (Who should be along with Schenn, Riemer and Phaneuf, completley untouchable).. Spezza would be cheaper and better and younger. Success for Burke means not panicking and getting RIchards is panick.

[Wade]

I agree with those who think Richards would be a mistake. I don't see him as s the type of guy to improve a young team. Would prefer to see some durable second-line/first-line veterans. How about Laich signed to play either wing and C if needed plus a trade for Stephen Weiss? Could have both for less than Richards and that gives Kadri the room to develop into a #1.

[Fred Derf]

It would be silly to trade player for the chance of signing someone before the free trade deadline. If I were the player then I would take such a move as an indication of how high my value would be on an open market. We're so close to July 1st, why get ansy now?

[Flying Fidoo]

Stay the course. The formula in use right now seems to be working for the Leafs. They are improving and doing so on young talent with a lot of horsepower. A team has to skate for 60 minutes hard and fast to compete. I wouldnt invest big $$ and time in Richards. Possible damaged goods. Burke seems to be having luck getting young blood. Look for a hotshot kid with serious center talent. Let your scouts solve your centerman problem for you Brian.

[Chad]

signing Richards wouldn't be a mistake. it would only be a mistage if they signed him for longer then 3 yrs.
i usually like what Cox has to say, but i'm thinking he only printed this to get more hits on his blog, and to envoke a discussion like the one we're having.
here's my scenario for this summer. on July 1st sign Brooks Laich as a UFA. designate him as your no. 2 center. then package Grabovski, Gunnarsson, one of the 1st round picks from the draft, and maybe another prospect....ship that package to San Jose for Joe Pavelski, or Colorado for Paul Stastny. as well wave bye-bye to MacArthur. true he had a great season, but the truth is that when the team was playing better down the stretch he wasn't nearly as good.
then next season you open the season with your top two lines looking like:
Lupul-Pavelski/Stastny-Kessel
Kulemin-Laich-Kadri

[Nik Culoman]

Look if we can get Richards through free agency, than great! I think this guy has tons of hockey in him, and if it weren't for him the Stars would have been sunk. He is a big body, and would work great with Kessel and Lupol.....

If we need to trade for him, than yeah...I would be leery of trading away any of our prospects especially now when our system is starting to churn out some gems.

But I will say this...This whole doom and gloom culture surrounding this team starting with the media....and ending with the fans really needs to be in check. Not every move Burke will make going forward will be a mistake..I will defend the Kessel and Kaberle trade until the end of time.....So stop with the clouds and gloom..Look outside and enjoy the sunshine that is today...and this team going forward.

[LeafsOptimist]

Very important not to overpay at this point, esp. not for older talent with concussion history.

This is a developing team, and the development is starting to pay off. Would hate to see a step backwards. Burke's probably too smart to give up too much.

A bonafide #1 centre would help this team immensely, and it is hard to invent one without giving up many assets or taking big risks; but I'd hate like the other posters in this thread to see the Leafs give up too much for one shot at one player who may or may not be a long-term fit.

I hope Burke isn't feeling pressure to "make something happen" when he's put in so much good work to turn this club around & actually give it depth, prospects, balance, cap space & room for a well-planned future.

Please don't ruin the Leafs again for some short-sighted shot at "immediate success"... I might not be able to take it this time around...

[jimmie]

just what the leafs need, another over-the-hill and overpaid veteran with a history of serious injuries. i hope burke gets fired and ron wilson too.

[RudeAwakening]

Y'all gotta wake-up, the Leafs are signing Richards!!!

[Jeff]

This isnt supposed to be a move to win the cup...this is a move intended to add a piece to move us closer while allowing the young guys to develop. Khardr and Colboune are still years away, and so too probably is being a contender.

Richards would be a great mentor for guys like khadri and Colboune...who else are they going to learn from? He is a play maker for kessel. When the young guys are ready, he passes the torch.

[Jeff]

Wiess and Laich? THis is already a team full of 2nd and 3rd liners. Time to get some top end talent. When khardri and COlbourn are ready to take #1 (if), it will be about the same time that richards is ready to move into a secondary roll.

[Al Cleverdon]

Signing Richards makes no sense.Just when Burke seems to be finally on the right track I hope he doesn't screw it up with his impatience and ego.

[reimzilla]

don't think we can get nash,,i work with his uncle,,,,,but i'm bugging him everyday!
i will wait for a real player who wants to be a leaf and will play his---- off every shift.

[Demante Williams]

When did Richards say he doesn't want to play in Canada? I can't find anything on it. I remember an article during the season where he actually said the opposite.