Do we buy-out Richards and make a play for Stastny?

[Hunter Gathers]

Tough situation. Really should buy him out but I hate the idea of Stepan-Brassard as the 1-2 combo.

Would be one of the worst 1-2 combos in the league.

 

[egelband]

Does Richards cap hit shrink at any point? I kinda cant see them cutting him. The devil you know, and such.

 

[egelband]

Richards should be bought out. Sather should avoid Stastny.

The only problem is we don't have a replacement 1 or 2C going into next season. So, Richards won't be bought out. Yippee....

If they do buyout richards, i am fine with them passing on stastny. I think any buyout of richards is about three or four years down the road. Not about the next couple. Its just the contract length. Richards is still a solid player.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Mentioned this in the Staal thread:

Trade Staal this summer, get a top-notch, young center, buy-out Richards, and find a cheap-ish left-side option on the market, shorter-term. Sign Skjei to his ELC once his season at Minnesota ends. Allow John Moore and Skjei(in Hartford) to develop.

Now you have your other top 2 center to play in tandem with Stepan. You freed some cap room and can improve the roster in other areas. Such as some size on the wings.

 

[Made Dan]

Would be one of the worst 1-2 combos in the league.

For sure. Don't see many viable options through UFA, last thing I want to do is give Stastny an even worse contract than Richies.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Mentioned this in the Staal thread:

Trade Staal this summer, get a top-notch, young center, buy-out Richards, and find a cheap-ish left-side option on the market, shorter-term. Sign Skjei to his ELC once his season at Minnesota ends. Allow John Moore and Skjei(in Hartford) to develop.

Now you have your other top 2 center to play in tandem with Stepan. You freed some cap room and can improve the roster in other areas. Such as some size on the wings.

Who is trading us a "top-notch, young center?"

For sure. Don't see many viable options through UFA, last thing I want to do is give Stastny an even worse contract than Richies.

And that's the problem. If there was another viable option, I have no problem buying out Richards. This team has a really nice window of about 5 years, IMO.

 

[Thirty One]

I would prefer we stay away from Stastny, but if the choice is he or Richards, easily him.

Richards @6.67 for 6 years from 34-39

vs.

Stastny @~7M for 7 years from 28-34

No brainer.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I would prefer we stay away from Stastny, but if the choice is he or Richards, easily him.

Richards @6.67 for 6 years from 34-39

vs.

Stastny @~7M for 7 years from 28-34

No brainer.

I'm fine with signing Stastny and buying out Richards. I have no problem with that move.

Buying out Richards and doing nothing would be Pejorative Slured.

And I'm not sure we have the trade chips to get an adequate replacement.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Would be one of the worst 1-2 combos in the league.

Im more than willing to go with Stepan/Brassard if the only other alternatives are keeping Richards or signing Stastny

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I'm fine with signing Stastny and buying out Richards. I have no problem with that move.

Buying out Richards and doing nothing would be Pejorative Slured.

And I'm not sure we have the trade chips to get an adequate replacement.

Why? Why is it so bad to wait a bit when a good solution doesnt present itself immediately?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Im more than willing to go with Stepan/Brassard if the only other alternatives are keeping Richards or signing Stastny

Yuck. No.

This team is going to be contending for the next half a decade. They won't go with Stepan and Brassard.

 

[Thirty One]

Keeping Richards or signing Stastny would require some cap maneuvering if the cap is around 68 million.

 

[Gottokeeponrisin]

Don't buy out Richards and stay away from Paul S. He will want a big payday as suggested. Can't Sather just resist for 1 summer?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Yuck. No.

This team is going to be contending for the next half a decade. They won't go with Stepan and Brassard.

Just another example of how the "this team is contending" mantra apparently gives liberty to make poor decisions.

 

[pld459666]

Hey guys, long time no see. School, work, girlfriend, lots of stuff taking up my time. I'm not sure if this belongs in a different thread, but if so feel free to move it.

I was just looking at the impending free agents for this summer and saw that Paul Stastny is headlining the Centers. I remember the Rangers have been linked to him multiple times in the past during trading season, so there must be an interest level from the front office. Richie has played well this year, no doubt about it, but he is turning 34 years old and has a 6.67 cap hit, which you all know.

My opinion is that we have to buy him out, because as a 34 year old, I don't see how he'll be worth that money in say two years. Do you guys think we will buy him out and use that money to go after Paul Stastny?

Just curious for your opinions.

I think the Richards Buyout is a gimme. Declining prodction from a soon to be 34 year old center with 6 years remaining at 6.66. I just can't see the logic or rationale in retaining that player.

Regarding Statsny, while I think on the whole he's a better player than Richards is today, I'm not sure he's going to get to UFA status so him being an option may not be available.

Personally, I'd prefer to use that cap space that we save in the Richards buyout and either go and get a legit top 6 LW'er.

Imagine:

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Vanek - Miller - MSL
Hagelin - Brassard - Zuccs
Fast - Lindberg - Carcillo

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Just another example of how the "this team is contending" mantra apparently gives liberty to make poor decisions.

Quick, Lundqvist only has 7 years left on his contract, we must win NOW!

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

I can envision Sather throwing bags of money at Vanek.

 

[Kane One]

I don't see the Rangers buying him out, nor do I think they really should.

 

[Kane One]

I'll look at the cap later, but my opinion made sense under $71m. I'll check if it's possible under $68m.

 

[aufheben]

They still have this year's first......

I know you're being facetious, but are we allowed to trade a 1st that is technically included in a trade?

 

[Thirty One]

I'll look at the cap later, but my opinion made sense under $71m. I'll check if it's possible under $68m.

If you had a chance to sign a 34 year old Richards to a six year deal worth $6.67 million per, would you?

 

[Thirty One]

I know you're being facetious, but are we allowed to trade a first that is technically included in a trade?

As long as the condition can't happen, they can.

The Rangers traded this year's 7th rounder as a conditional pick in both the Mashinter and Carcillo trades.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Tell me who we are replacing him with and maybe I'd agree. We aren't replacing him with rookies or draft picks (unless we trade rookies or draft picks for a replacement).

This is a point I have made many times. If they buy out Richards and sign Stastny, (who is only 28, not 34 and will be 34 by the time his contract ends, not 1/3rd of the way through) it gives them a Stastny - Stepan/Brassard - Miller combo for Centers. This allows you to take Brassard or Stepan and package them up to fill a different need. Both of these guys have value. Maybe get a top 6 winger or a true puck moving defenseman?

 

[Kane One]

If you had a chance to sign a 34 year old Richards to a six year deal worth $6.67 million per, would you?

No, but that's already been done and I doubt Dolan will be a fan of paying Richards to not play just to sign another big contract, especially since Richards and his cap hit isn't that bad.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Stastny isn't the answer.