[News] Mike Richards on waivers - CLEARS

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Trade Smid or Engelland for Mike Richards+Alec Martinez Also Trade Stajan..

Glencross-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Richards-Jones
Baertschi-Backlund-Jooris
Bouma-Colborne-Bollig
Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Martinez-Wideman
Smid/Engelland-Russell

TaDa!

Way to kill Johnny's production. Way to screw up the 4th line's defence, which is better than it was.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Personally, I think he is MUCH better than Stajan. He knows what it takes to win, he has leadership skills and he's experienced winning the cup. Stajan is a good guy and a decent player but he doesn't strike me as a leader and he's never really won anything. Richards' contract may be long but it's not like he'd be 40 when it's finished.

All I"m saying is that for free, I'd take him. If we could make a deal where we were actually compensated to take him it would be even better. I wouldn't be mad if/when he becomes a Flame.

Lol. Try used to be. And $5.75M cap hit until 2020...####ing scary.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

I'm guessing that many are voting without having a look at the cap hit and remaining term...

Our watching a Kings game in two years

[Iniggywetrust]

I voted yes. Cap hit, and term are big and long but he is still under 30, has a strong two way game, and would make this team better, without giving up an assets. I want playoff hockey and taking Mike Richards from a contending team would get us closer to that, without sacrificing the rebuild. By the time we need to pay our young players, the cap will be higher anyways.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Trade Smid or Engelland for Mike Richards+Alec Martinez Also Trade Stajan..

Glencross-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Richards-Jones
Baertschi-Backlund-Jooris
Bouma-Colborne-Bollig
Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Martinez-Wideman
Smid/Engelland-Russell

TaDa!

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.

[PeteLFan]

I wouldn't put in a claim for him but I would certainly see if they would take stajan for him. That would be a upgrade.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by RyZ

There is no way Richards slots in ahead of Backlund at this point.

This.

[Savvy27]

I voted yes (though the arguments in this thread have swayed me to the No side). That salary is crazy high for what he is bringing these days.

RE: Flames

The only way that this pickup would make sense is if Richards experienced a complete resurgence and became one of the top players on the team. Anything less and they've screwed up their salary structure, filled up another roster spot long-term with a vet who could very well be outplayed by a young guy, and potentially made room for LA to bring in the help they need on defense.

[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.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Karl

Lol. Try used to be. And $5.75M cap hit until 2020...####ing scary.

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.

[Erick Estrada]

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.

Also said on the interview that Sutter gave him lots of chances but he's just not warranting the ice time which is telling of where Richards game is at.

[SuperMatt18]

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

Calgarypuck proceeds to explode.

[Karl]

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.

I wouldn't even do Engelland for Richards? Even despite how much Engelland sucks.

[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 an older 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.

[shogged]

Like the player, dislike the contract.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

I wouldn't put in a claim for him but I would certainly see if they would take stajan for him. That would be a upgrade.

I think for the extra couple of years I would ask LA to eat at least a million.

[dammage79]

Richards will get claimed. There more than a few teams weak at center who need his services.

Trades likely fell through because I don't think L.A wants to eat cap on the duration of that contract. Or, it's too early in the process to see what the actual trade is going to look like.

I love Richards, so I would not freak out if he made it to the Flames. It really only is the term left on his contract that scares so many people. He's better than Stajan and the dollars match the cost of the upgrade IMO.

That being said, I'm 100% sure the Flames will not land Mike Richards. Too much going on in their own system right now.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust

I voted yes. Cap hit, and term are big and long but he is still under 30, has a strong two way game, and would make this team better, without giving up an assets. I want playoff hockey and taking Mike Richards from a contending team would get us closer to that, without sacrificing the rebuild. By the time we need to pay our young players, the cap will be higher anyways.

Is he really better today? Will he make our team better and help us get into the playoffs? His play of late states otherwise.

We compete at a high level with the kings when we play them, they had Richards on the 4th line playing limited minutes against us...why do you think he could play anything else with our team and make an impact?

[Sylvanfan]

At this point there is absolutely no reason to claim him. LA is seeing if anyone will assume the risk of his contract.

I think Treliving is smart enough to see the picture of what this team looks like in 3 years and to avoid moves that potentially compromise that team because the current version is ahead of what they may have anticipated.

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

1. Centers are hard to come by.
2. We have lots of cap space.
3. He could be a good mentor to the kids.
4. He has two cups.

I would take him in a heart beat.

No No No!!! Crazy talk!!!