richards re-signs

[Michael9 57]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=166601&hubname=nhl

5 years 39 mill.

Personley i think thats to much for richards, something along the lines of 6.4 or so would be beter, just my 2 cencts, anways lightning gets screawed in this deal.

discuss

[Fury of One 6]

Why save that money? It's not like they need goaltending or anything.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I think a Frodo for Nabakov trade would not suprise me.

St. Louis gets to RW on a line with marleau or thornton, so san jose have 2 top line center/winger combos. They also don't have to worry about goaltender ego with toskala/nabakov

Tampa get their goalie, without adding to payroll, as they two contracts are similar.

I would take richards over lecav or frodo any day.

Good move by tampa, worry about the details after, but I daresay one of the three will be moved, and my money is on St. Louis

[TBLfan 25]

I think a Frodo for Nabakov trade would not suprise me.

St. Louis gets to RW on a line with marleau or thornton, so san jose have 2 top line center/winger combos. They also don't have to worry about goaltender ego with toskala/nabakov

Tampa get their goalie, without adding to payroll, as they two contracts are similar.

I would take richards over lecav or frodo any day.

Good move by tampa, worry about the details after, but I daresay one of the three will be moved, and my money is on St. Louis

i agree 100%

[DarkStar50 679]

Stupid question time: Can SJ afford St Louis? Isn't he signed for big bucks? Just wondering and I can't remember.

[atomicpunk5150 2]

Stupid question time: Can SJ afford St Louis? Isn't he signed for big bucks? Just wondering and I can't remember.

Nabokov & St Louis have pretty similar contracts. Another player could be added to the deal to make the $$ work.

I hope SJ doesn't make this deal. SJ needs a LW not another RW. They need a #1 LW to play with Joe & Cheech. They also need a #1 d-man. They will probably look for some faceoff help and a grinder for the 3rd or 4th line as well.

The 2nd line is pretty set with Marleau and the 2 kids(Michalek & Bernier).

[McCabe24 0]

What sticks out to me is the second highest salary in the league part. Yes, he is a great player and arguably the best of the big three, Marty has had the most success and Vinny is the most skilled.

They are done anyways, the new NHL is best suited to balanced teams that have young guys as their top players and they don't have enough cap space to have competitive third and fourth lines.

Should be exciting hockey in that division, lots of offence and pretty much evenly matched teams, besides Washington, when you consider who Carolina will lose.

[gp3r 0]

I'm not sure Tampa wants to get rid of St-Louis, nor Lecavalier. I actually think there are going to be moving a few other players.

I think they will try to get rid of players like Sydor, Modin, Burke (if add up the three salaries, you get 5,932 mils) and get some grinders to do a good job on their 3rd and 4th lines.

As for the netminder, well, I think they will not be looking at a high paid goalie. Maybe they will give a shot at signing Huet, or maybe even Andrew Raycroft, who hasn't had a good year, and will likely not be back with the Bruins, since they have Thomas.

[DarkStar50 679]

And we all know Thomas will blow up big time in Boston net. Jim Carey, Net Detective, take 2!

I'm not sure if I want to be Coach Tortorella's net minder, anyway.

[Adam91 0]

I think Tampa might be able to make this work cause they might be able to get someone like Giguire for a few draft picks

[Fire0nIce228 1]

If they're only trading drafts for Giguere they'll be screwed salary wise. I'm assuming Giggy has a decent salary. I think they gotta move one of the 3.

[lee92 2]

if i was to move one of the three, it'd be st louis, hands down. richards has been consistent in play every year he's spent in the league, and lecalvier is their franchise player, much like calgarys iginla.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Don't forget unloading St. Louis also means very little return as he is overpaid. I think Vinny is close to "value" and Richards has alot more to add than the other 3, but St. Louis is really the odd man out. He'll likely be moved, but I can't see them getting anyone phenomal for him. Just a pick or another overpaid player looking to be dumped (Nabby, Gonchar, Giggy, Aucoin, etc..) who fills a void in their line-up. Tampa's got 12 roster players signed under about $33 mill locked up.

[DarkStar50 679]

I would never trade Vinny. The guy is a monster. He may not play like it every night but I would hate to trade him and watch him pull a Joe Thornton season with his new team. Marty for a Giggy is good for TB.

$46m cap - $33m = $13m for 8 to 10 guys, where do I sign to be one of those guys fighting for scraps among $13m?

[pantherfan 0]

I wouldn't say he was woth all that money but just wondering does the salery cap go up and when does it do this?

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think it will go up based on the 54% revenue and it'll likely do it before UFA season starts (1st of July I believe)

[theone96 0]

Richards may not have had the success of St Lous or be as visable on the ice as Lav... he plays well in big games. He was Canada's best player (other than Sakic maybe) at the Olympics and TB's best player in the playoffs. I think he was the best free agent availible.