Brad Richards re-signed 5 years 39 million

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Monday that centre Brad Richards has come to terms on a new five-year, $39 million US contract.

Richards' new deal will pay him $7.8 million US a season.

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

I'm posting this on the Ducks board because:

A) We have had many trade proposals involving Richards coming here

and

B) With Richards making 7.8 million a year how will this affect negotiations with our number 1 center RFA Andy McDonald?

If Richards is an 8 million dollar center does that mean Andy gets 4 or 5 million?

Also I don't know how we can get involved in the UFA center market when this means that guys like Savard and Arnott are 6 million dollar centers.

B) With Richards making 7.8 million a year how will this affect negotiations with our number 1 center RFA Andy McDonald?

If Richards is an 8 million dollar center does that mean Andy gets 4 or 5 million?

Also I don't know how we can get involved in the UFA center market when this means that guys like Savard and Arnott are 6 million dollar centers.

Richards is a proven scoring line center, in his prime, with a strong playoff resume to boot. I could see him making elite money, although $7.8 is still pretty freaking high.

I don't think Andy will command anywhere near as much. He's had one season as a scoring line center, and has yet to really show he can be nearly as productive in the tighter checking playoffs.

Burke will probably be shopping for a LW anyway. Someone better than Friesen (although he has played pretty decent in the playoffs).

i would never give him 7.8M, even though he's one of the best playmaker in league...
i would give those kind of money in new NHL only to scotty niedermayer, lidstrom and ovechkin...

Interesting development. While I was one of the posters who advocated trying to obtain Richards, I think his signing at $7.8 mil per season for five years pretty much precludes that possibility for two reasons: (1) it's clear that Richards was and is Feaster's top priority; (2) Richards salary is prohibitive.

What this does tell me, though, is that the Lightning may have to part with St. Louis or Fedetenko. I'm not sure how much Andy Mac will get, but $4.5 still sounds a little pricey to me.

Two questions:

1. Who are the top Left Wings who are (via UFA status) or may be available?

2. What is the likelihood that the Ducks will retain the services of Salei?

7.8 seems definately too much.. Tampa is screwed.

I'm glad we can offically end that silly debate because I knew Tampa was going to resign Richards, didn't think it would be this much but I knew it was coming. I agree though 7.8 mil is way way too much. I think that might make him the highest paid center. It's deals like these that got us into CBA trouble in the first place.

As for Andy, I do feel he'll use Richards contract as model for what he wants but I agree that Richards playoff productivity has a lot to do with it. If it's a long deal I'm thinking 4-4.5 a year. If it's a one or two year deal 5-6. He may push for that because I believe he can be a UFA next season. Expect a big raise for Andy none the less.

Well the fraks things up for everyone hoping to sign anyone in the off season. I'd be happy to pay Richards between 5 and 6 million, but no the max. If anyone should get it it should be Jagr, Thronton, Cheechoo, Lidström, Ovechkin and Crosby (if they pan out later). Those are the best players in the NHL in differet categories. Note the lack of Richards.

I think a lot of people are going to be using him as an example to get a pay day. If on GM follows suit and signs someone too high, then everyone else will be doing the same. Andy Mac has only been a 'star' for a year, so can't risk asking from more than about $2.5 IMO, but we'll see...

i see 4-5M for andy too much, too much for player which has only 1 great season...
if he can produce another season like this ok, give him that money...but not yet..

Interesting development. While I was one of the posters who advocated trying to obtain Richards, I think his signing at $7.8 mil per season for five years pretty much precludes that possibility for two reasons: (1) it's clear that Richards was and is Feaster's top priority; (2) Richards salary is prohibitive.

What this does tell me, though, is that the Lightning may have to part with St. Louis or Fedetenko. I'm not sure how much Andy Mac will get, but $4.5 still sounds a little pricey to me.

Two questions:

1. Who are the top Left Wings who are (via UFA status) or may be available?

2. What is the likelihood that the Ducks will retain the services of Salei?
Elias is a UFA, and he's going to be going for the max too... Havlat is talked about as beening traded...

Two questions:

1. Who are the top Left Wings who are (via UFA status) or may be available?

2. What is the likelihood that the Ducks will retain the services of Salei?

1. the LW market is weak...(well the wingers market in general is weak) :

Patrick Elias, forget him though he will get 7-8 million.
Sergei Samsonov, someone is going to overpay for him...5-6 million.
Petr Bondra (RW/LW)
Brendan Shanahan (RW/LW)
Petr Sykora (RW/LW) :shakehead
Geoff Sanderson (C/LW)
Martin Rucinsky
Mike Leclerc :shakehead
Eric Daze (LW/RW) likely to retire-back injury
Jeff Friesen

I don't see us upgrading at LW through the UFA market...maybe a trade, but...Lupul can move to first line LW...Penner second line left wing...Kunitz third line LW...Chistov is a wildcard...Melin as well...not sure if Hedstrom will be back.

Lupul-McDonald-Selanne
Penner-Getzlaf-Perry
Kunitz-Pahlsson-Niedermayer
Fedoruk-Konopka-Moen

I can't find a spot for Marchant...I hope we can find someone to take him off our hands.

2. 50-50

i see 4-5M for andy too much, too much for player which has only 1 great season...
if he can produce another season like this ok, give him that money...but not yet..

The problem is he is a UFA July 2007...so Burke is going to have to overpay now in order to keep him long term.

I agree 4-5 million is too much right now.

If Burke can get him for 4 or 5 years at 3 million or so that would be best case scenario.

If Burke can get him for 4 or 5 years at 3 million or so that would be best case scenario.
I'd think twice before commiting that long to McDonald. However they may be what it takes. Modin could be available, he makes over 2 for Tampa.

I'd rather give Chistov a shot at top 6 LW than any of the UFA's.

:amazed: tampa RIDICULOUSLY overpays for thier stars.

Yeah I agree... that was too much, but then again, I think many said we overpaid for niedermayer last year too and now thats looking like a bargain.

1. the LW market is weak...(well the wingers market in general is weak) :

Patrick Elias, forget him though he will get 7-8 million.
Sergei Samsonov, someone is going to overpay for him...5-6 million.
Petr Bondra (RW/LW)
Brendan Shanahan (RW/LW)
Petr Sykora (RW/LW) :shakehead
Geoff Sanderson (C/LW)
Martin Rucinsky
Mike Leclerc :shakehead
Eric Daze (LW/RW) likely to retire-back injury
Jeff Friesen

I don't see us upgrading at LW through the UFA market...maybe a trade, but...Lupul can move to first line LW...Penner second line left wing...Kunitz third line LW...Chistov is a wildcard...Melin as well...not sure if Hedstrom will be back.

Lupul-McDonald-Selanne
Penner-Getzlaf-Perry
Kunitz-Pahlsson-Niedermayer
Fedoruk-Konopka-Moen

I can't find a spot for Marchant...I hope we can find someone to take him off our hands.

2. 50-50

Boy, you aren't kidding: the Left Wing market is weak. I like Elias, but not at the $$ he's likely to command.

As far as Marchant goes, his line (with Lupul and Penner) has been the most productive line. He was the one who started the play on which Lupul netted his 4th goal in overtime against the Avs. (Marchant forechecked Brisebois and got him to cough up the puck. Penner retrieved it and made a nifty feed to Lupul.) He may be a tad bit pricey, but I'm not anxious to dump him.

One of the Ducks strengths has been their ability to roll four lines. The fourth line that you project---Fedoruk-Konopka-Moen---comes up real short on talent and finesse. I can't see the Ducks rolling four lines next year if that's their fourth line.

I'd think twice before commiting that long to McDonald. However they may be what it takes. Modin could be available, he makes over 2 for Tampa.

I'd rather give Chistov a shot at top 6 LW than any of the UFA's.

Frankly, I've given up on Chistov. Even if he can regain his touch, he's not exactly a Brian Burke-type player.

I like Marchant in a 3rd/4th line role and if Richards is a sign of things to come, he's not that overpaid....

I'd like to see Konopka in Moen's place... a guy with drive to play, and ra-ra, if someone slacks he gets the fill in. That also means we say bye bye to moen.

I think Fedoruk, Marchant, and Kunitz would be a very servicable 4th line. We may even put Bobby Ryan there if he's ready to play next year.

Keep Niedermayer and Pahlson together as our shutdown line. I don't like putting Lupul and Selanne on the same line. I'd rather see Penner or Getzlaf on the 1st line instead and Lupul on the 2nd.