[News] Mike Richards on waivers - CLEARS

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Flames are going to claim Richards, then move Stajan and Smid for Phaneuf.

Calgarypuck proceeds to explode.

would be fine with me

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by RyZ

There is no way Richards slots in ahead of Backlund at this point. Richards is a 3rd line C at best on any team in the NHL right now and 4th on most.

And the Flames have Bennett on the way, and Shore in the system. The centre position is not an immediate or long term need of this team.

I would actually do a Dion deal over a Richards one. At least Phaneuf fills a need (more defencemen). Although a $7 million 4th defenceman would be hard to swallow.

[Super-Rye]

I don't see how Richards gets claimed.

Are there teams that could use Richards? Absolutely. Even with where his game is at right now you have an NHL center who plays hard. Lots of teams could use a guy like that for the stretch run.

However, I don't see how any team would willingly take on that contract, especially without getting a valuable asset in return. Too much money and too long a term for any team to willingly add him to their payroll. Even if teams have the money now, most teams have younger guys who will need to get paid and paying 5+ million for a guy to log 3rd or 4th line minutes for the next 4 years would absolutely handcuff a teams ability to re-sign important core players.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Question: Theoretically, if Stajan and Richards made the same salary, do you swap him immediately if given the chance?

IMO there's a difference between skill and bang for buck and the distinguishing of the two is not clearly defined between many posters here.

The latter no disagreement from me, value isn't great on Richards. The former, I don't know. I don't watch his play so I don't know if he's better than Stajan skill wise and utility wise. But it seems that value and skill are argued as being one and the same and it's a little confusing.

Other than that, carry on.

I think Richards is still better than Stajan skill wise on the ice at this point, but only slightly.

But since Richards makes nearly twice as much as Stajan and his contract goes for twice as long a term (and Richards is no longer anywhere near twice as good as Stajan anymore) it's not worth it for me.

But, assuming they were making the same salary, yes I'd have no problem doing the swap for them if that indeed was the case.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Didn't you all notice how good he was against Calgary?

Me neither. I did notice his faceoff percentage was 45% despite going 2-2 against softies Hudler and Granlund (he went 0-1 against Stajan, 1-3 against backound and 2-5 against MOnahan).

Richards has just over .3 PPG with a -7 to go with it. Calgary's 4th line centre Stajan has just under .3 and is +2. At a lower price and lower term.

Why Calgary would trade for a younger player with 5 years left on a contract at close to $6M is beyond me, and not what this team is trying to do long term.

Fixed the bolded, but otherwise agree.

[GioforPM]

Karl - I didn't mean that Richards was older than Stajan. I mean he's an "older player" period. Stajan's old but he's here already. If we trade him I want a young player or prospect.

My fault for bad writing.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by calgary2220

Hockey Central At Noon seemed to think a deal between Toronto involving Dion and Richards fell through. Both bad contracts, but LA is looking for a defenceman.

Phaneuf and Regehr on the same team again? Haha do it.

[Jacks]

I'd rather not claim him but I think a deal could be worked out if Richards can play RW. He may be beat up but the guy is a winner and knows what it takes, he played in 3 of the last 5 cup finals.

Richards + blue chip D or RW prospect for Raymond (1/2 retained)

Wherever he goes it would be perfect if Richards retires when his salary drops 3 years from now which would screw LA on recapture penalties just as we should be contending.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

I would pick him up

what line would you use? would you buy him a drink?

if the flames could get LA to retain more than half of his salary without having to give up much, then perhaps he becomes more attractive

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Phaneuf and Regehr on the same team again? Haha do it.

Probably on the same pairing too.

[adam1689]

Not a chance. Far too much money, for far too long to play on the 3rd or 4th line.I don't believe he is a victim of playing on the 4th in LA. He played himself into that spot. Its hard to imagine that's where Sutter wishes he could play. I don't quite underatand this "mentor" crap either. Stajan was overpaid, caught a lot of flack, resigned regardless, is apparently quite popular and is capable of playing centre on lines 2-4 if need be. Sounds like a better mentor than Richards who'se well documented drinking etc in Philly didn't earn him many friends. (Sober Island anyone?). Management did have a sit down with him after last season and explained they wouldn't buy him out but that he needed to re-dedicate himself to conditioning. By January he is on waivers.

Finally, these are real people and I have a hard time believing the Flames would dump Stajan at all given his service and that his wife is pregnant again after the miscarriage. Especially for Richards with his personal history.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'd rather not claim him but I think a deal could be worked out if Richards can play RW. He may be beat up but the guy is a winner and knows what it takes, he played in 3 of the last 5 cup finals.

Think that is a big reason his play has dropped off TBH.

95 playoff games the last 5 seasons.

Those are hard miles especially for how he used to play.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

what line would you use? would you buy him a drink?

if the flames could get LA to retain more than half of his salary without having to give up much, then perhaps he becomes more attractive

They can't retain more than half. 50% is the maximum that can be retained.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by calgary2220

Hockey Central At Noon seemed to think a deal between Toronto involving Dion and Richards fell through. Both bad contracts, but LA is looking for a defenceman.

Toronto was pressing but Lombardi had zero interest in a Phaneuf deal. Absolutely zero interest.

[Fire]

This makes me think a deal is probably close with another team, but the Kings would have to eat part of the salary, give up another asset (1st rounder), or take on a bad contract in order to get it done. So they are offering him for free, but I highly doubt anyone would claim him. I see deal getting done a couple of days after the waiver period.

My guess is that the Flames would be offering Stajan for Richards + 1st round draft pick.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

what line would you use? would you buy him a drink?

if the flames could get LA to retain more than half of his salary without having to give up much, then perhaps he becomes more attractive

I suspect this is a last ditch effort by LA to avoid retaining salary in a deal. I fully expect Richards to clear waivers, and then we'll see him traded with salary retained.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I suspect this is a last ditch effort by LA to avoid retaining salary in a deal. I fully expect Richards to clear waivers, and then we'll see him traded with salary retained.

Which team do you think he'll get traded to?

[MissTeeks]

That probably didn't help on a Phanuef deal

Dave Feschuk‏@dfeschuk1m1 minute ago

Hearing Dion Phaneuf missed practice today with a hand injury and is expected to be out a while, per NHL source. #leafs

[Wolfman]

#10 is available in Calgary...just sayin'. LOL

[jammies]

The idea that Richards might get better "like Stajan" is unlikely - Stajan hasn't gotten better, he's plateaued. Difference between now and a couple seasons ago is that he was being played in the top six, so he comparatively looked worse against his opposition, and now he is on the 4th line, where his competition is correspondingly less skilled.

I like Stajan a lot, and think he is one of the better 4th line centres in the league. Even if the 4th line centre was a huge weakness with the Flames - which it isn't - you could find someone a lot cheaper than Richards to fix the problem. However, the real weaknesses of the Flames are 3rd pair defence and, to some extent, goaltending. How does Richards fix either of those? Oh yah - he doesn't.