Would you sign Brad Richards to a 3yr $3mil contract this summer?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Not really, we just need to re-sign some RFAs.

FORWARDS
Curtis Glencross / Matt Stajan / Lee Stempniak
Mike Cammalleri / Mikael Backlund / Jiri Hudler
Sven Baertschi / Alex Tanguay / Roman Horak
Lance Bouma / Max Reinhart / Tim Jackman
Blair Jones

DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie / Dennis Wideman
Mark Giordano / Mark Cundari
Chris Butler / Cory Sarich
Derek Smith /

GOALTENDERS
Miikka Kiprusoff / Karri Ramo
Joey MacDonald

I like how you are against signing Richards to play centre cause it's time to let Backlund and others grow, yet in your own line up you have a 33 year old Left Winger slotting in at centre..................taking away minutes from our plethera of young centres and Backlund...........

So you'd rather have a post-apex winger, fill in a centre role, than acquire a post-apex centre who would play the role far more effectively? Makes zero sense. Get rid of one of our post apex-wingers if we must to make room for an actual centre, our prospect group is deeper at the wing anyway, so that's where we need to clear room.

[nik-]

Can we stop using "post-apex"? It's so ridiculous.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Benching Richards in a playoff elimination game doesn't imply he's overpaid. It implies he is useless.

I haven't watched Richards play this season, but I'd be up for signing him to a 1 year "redemption" contract.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by nik-

Can we stop using "post-apex"? It's so ridiculous.

Ya, it's getting brutal

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

The fact that he was benched in the conference semi-finals of the playoffs is all the reason I need to say no way.

If Brad Richards is a Flame next year at $3M per for 3 years, and gets benched in the second round of the playoffs, that'll be a better season than I'm expecting.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by nik-

Can we stop using "post-apex"? It's so ridiculous.

Post and Pre Hump?
Post and Pre Maximization?
Post and Pre Best?
The before time and Before the before time?

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Of course you sign him - the Flames have the worst C depth in the NHL.

And after getting 1st line minutes, he is an excellent trade deadline candidate - either this year or next.

I agree, at 3ish per year for a couple years it is a no brainer. Not sure if someone else brought this up but he had more points this past season than anyone else on our roster. Even if he is post apex he is worth bringing in at a good price. But I dont think there is any way he would sign here anyway, even at a higher than market value rate.

[gunnner]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

That's fine and well, if you have reasonable prospects to fill the roles. We don't need to dive any deeper at Centre. We can't roll with a line up of Backlund, Reinhart, Horak and Byron up the middle for example. That will just slow down their and everyone else arounds them's development. They will be playing so far over their heads it will be useless. Pushing players up a notch or two during development is fine, asking a career AHL player outside shot at 3rd / 4th liner to take top 9 minutes on a regular basis does nothing for their development or the development of the other prospects playing around them. Do you actually think that will be helpful for Sven's development for example?

I think you can roll with Backlund, Monahan, Horak as your top 3 centres. Id rather see that then Richards and Horak in the minors for another year. Ottawa went with Turris, Zibanejed and Smith as their top 3 this yr.

[puckluck2]

Yes, without a doubt. Even as high as 4.5.

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Still so happy we never signed him.

[doctajones428]

Sure. I really, really wanted to see him play with Iginla and Tanguay, but 3 for 3 is a steal

[FlameZilla]

I'm all for the rebuild, but could you see Feaster pushing to get Richards, Briere & Iginla signed up to push for the Playoffs? I mean, I can't see all 3 signing but do you think Feaster tries this approach?

[driveway]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I'm all for the rebuild, but could you see Feaster pushing to get Richards, Briere & Iginla signed up to push for the Playoffs? I mean, I can't see all 3 signing but do you think Feaster tries this approach?

Yes, if Feaster happens to have a time-travelling DeLorean and will be going to get the 2004 versions.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I like how you are against signing Richards to play centre cause it's time to let Backlund and others grow, yet in your own line up you have a 33 year old Left Winger slotting in at centre..................taking away minutes from our plethera of young centres and Backlund...........

So you'd rather have a post-apex winger, fill in a centre role, than acquire a post-apex centre who would play the role far more effectively? Makes zero sense. Get rid of one of our post apex-wingers if we must to make room for an actual centre, our prospect group is deeper at the wing anyway, so that's where we need to clear room.

I'm against signing (post-apex) players completely. I'm tired of this team being built through free agency. That 33 year old Left Winger? I'd sooner see him bought out, but not sure that will happen.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I'm against signing (post-apex) players completely. I'm tired of this team being built through free agency. That 33 year old Left Winger? I'd sooner see him bought out, but not sure that will happen.

Signing UFA's doesn't mean the team is being "built through free agency". As someone else pointed out, we will need to field an NHL roster while we "re-build".

It only becomes building through free agency if the players we start to sign cost us young assets or take valuable ice time away from prospects who could benefit from it. I really do wish the Flames were in a position that bringing on a veteran centre would actually cost someone ice time they could use, but that's simply not even close to the case. Some of our actual prospects with a chance at being a part of this team down the road, their development will actually be hurt if we don't surround them with reasonable options in the positions where we lack organizational depth, the centre position is one of those and one where we can afford to try some things out.

[the-rasta-masta]

I would sign him for sure. No more no movement clauses though, it would need to be a signing with the flexibility to ship him out at the trade deadline for more picks.

[korzym12]

I think there's a general situation trend we must make note of.

Bouwmeester: Started his career in beautiful Florida - life is good. Signed with Calgary to be close to family - life is good. Gets traded to crummy St.Louis to see if he's motivated by the playoffs.

Phaneuf: Started his career in Calgary, close to home, hated the media. Gets punished by being traded to Toronto where there couldn't be more media coverage.

Richards: Started his career in Florida, wins cup. Goes to Dallas, nice situation. Goes back to a contender in the NYR. Do other contenders want him? Or is he at a point where he must prove himself. At the same time SJ took Gomez so I think he'll go to a contender, but as Flames fans we better hope he gets shut down. Then we could at least see if he can get it going with Baertschi, if not we trade him for a 1st rounder.

[lostintokyo]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

I would sign him for sure. No more no movement clauses though, it would need to be a signing with the flexibility to ship him out at the trade deadline for more picks.

Only for this reason. Asset management.

You give up nothing and trade him at the deadline for futures. Benefits both sides if he is traded to a cup contender.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

Would Brad Richards?

It sort of has to be a consentual agreement.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by korzym12

I think there's a general situation trend we must make note of.

Bouwmeester: Started his career in beautiful Florida - life is good. Signed with Calgary to be close to family - life is good. Gets traded to crummy St.Louis to see if he's motivated by the playoffs.

Phaneuf: Started his career in Calgary, close to home, hated the media. Gets punished by being traded to Toronto where there couldn't be more media coverage.

Richards: Started his career in Florida, wins cup. Goes to Dallas, nice situation. Goes back to a contender in the NYR. Do other contenders want him? Or is he at a point where he must prove himself. At the same time SJ took Gomez so I think he'll go to a contender, but as Flames fans we better hope he gets shut down. Then we could at least see if he can get it going with Baertschi, if not we trade him for a 1st rounder.

There's a trend here? I just see a bunch of stuff. Some of which is highly opinionated e.g. "crummy St. Louis" Please explain?