I think the bottom line here is that LA is unlikely to make a trade with the Flames that helps the Flames in the standings this season. Giving us Richards directly wouldn't do that, but adding someone like Toffoli would. So if that is what it is going to take, it probably won't happen until the offseason. It doesn't hurt to plant the seeds now I suppose.
If it is going to happen this season, the incentive will likely be picks or prospects. I wonder how much a 1st round pick is worth in this conversation. Richards plus LA's first and future considerations for a bottom pairing defenseman and a draft pick. Flames then buy out Richards at the end of the season.
Future considerations could be that for every year Richard's buyout is on our cap, the Flames would have the option of swapping 1st rounders with Kings. It would screw us if the Kings finish ahead of us for those seasons thereby nullifying the swap, but I think it would be a good gamble.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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