Speculation: Rangers likely to use final buyout on Richards

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

The way I feel about Richards ... LOVE THE HEART OF THE PLAYER ... UPSET AT THE DECLINE ... HATE THE CONTRACT ... move on

I didnt see much heart from Richards at all on the ice. In fact, I can reference quite a few instances where he straight up quit on plays. He needs to go, now.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Please, Glen. Just ****ing do it already.

 

[tomobson]

Maybe there is a trade in the works. Get it done Sather!

 

[Ail]

Maybe there is a trade in the works. Get it done Sather!

Not sure what they could get back for him that would even make the risk worthwhile. Also if I am another GM I wait on the buyout and take my chances getting him on a better contract.

 

[Xref]

Both teams, apportioned based on the cap benefits enjoyed by each team. I think you meant that though.

This is true. We'd get the worst of it, though.

Not that I'm advocating for it, but the Rangers could possibly feel that they'd rather cross that bridge when the time comes than buy him out now. If Richards plays 3 more seasons, who knows what the cap will be at that point? $80M? More? Plus, who knows what the team will look like? If the Rangers say, "We can manage a $XX cap penalty for 2 or 3 years at that point" then they could certainly trade him.

Also, I believe the team that trades for him can also incur a bit of a penalty if he retires early.

Correct. If you do the math (I'm too lazy to do it!), the Rangers would take the brunt of the hit, I believe. Trading him with this baggage, AND his declining skills.....how likely is that? The best bet is to a team looking to reach the cap floor.....but wouldn't he be more likely to retire than to waive his NMC to go play for a cap floor team?

Sather needs to either pay up, or pull another rabbit out of his arse. Where's Bob Gainey?

 

[silverfish]

Maybe there is a trade in the works. Get it done Sather!

Nothing good could come out of us trading Richie. There's no way he plays this contract out. Just buy him out, and be done with it.

 

[Trxjw]

That's the key. They're evaluating each player on the roster and in the system. They know what the market for their players are, but now have to prioritize who they want back and place a number next to what they can afford and go forward on that basis. I haven't gone through the machinations yet, but I think losing Richards could create a hole, and keeping Richards could create a hole. I do think Staal improves year over year. I think McDonagh continues to improve. I think Stepan and Kreider can improve. I don't know if Nash improves or regresses. Add that to who leaves (Boyle and Richards, or Pouliot and Stralman) and who comes up, and I don't know if this team is better on paper compared to the team that just played in the finals. There are more variables I am not considering, including improving the powerplay, and all kidding aside, it doesn't automatically improve if Richards departs, but Sather will need to find a way to be creative this Summer in order to ice a playoff hockey team.

Agreed. They need to do some creative maneuvering to get a quality team in place. The question on my mind is whether or not they're planning on trying to load up for another run, or if they're going to take this year to wind up and then go for it again the following year.

 

[Trxjw]

Correct. If you do the math (I'm too lazy to do it!), the Rangers would take the brunt of the hit, I believe. Trading him with this baggage, AND his declining skills.....how likely is that? The best bet is to a team looking to reach the cap floor.....but wouldn't he be more likely to retire than to waive his NMC to go play for a cap floor team?

Sather needs to either pay up, or pull another rabbit out of his arse. Where's Bob Gainey?

Eh, nobody thought they could trade Gomez either, but they did. Sather has been pretty good at dumping his mistakes on other people while netting a decent piece.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Agreed. They need to do some creative maneuvering to get a quality team in place. The question on my mind is whether or not they're planning on trying to load up for another run, or if they're going to take this year to wind up and then go for it again the following year.

Lundqvist is going to be 33 years old next season and MSL will be 40 in the last year of his deal.

The Rangers look for any excuse to "go for it" in this coming season. Those are actually 2 good excuses, so I think they'll be loading up for another run.

Its going to be extremely difficult with 11 free agents on the roster, however. And its going to be even more difficult if Sather and company push for a #1C and power forwards that just aren't on the market.

 

[Fletch]

Agreed. They need to do some creative maneuvering to get a quality team in place. The question on my mind is whether or not they're planning on trying to load up for another run, or if they're going to take this year to wind up and then go for it again the following year.

this is the dangerous part of the question, but given the fact they're a bit constrained with payroll and do not have top picks the next two seasons, Sather will not be able to do anything crazy. I think MSL was brought here not just for this past run, but for a run this season (again, my original thinking was to try to salvage the Richards investment). It's going to be an interesting offseason.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

this is the dangerous part of the question, but given the fact they're a bit constrained with payroll and do not have top picks the next two seasons, Sather will not be able to do anything crazy. I think MSL was brought here not just for this past run, but for a run this season (again, my original thinking was to try to salvage the Richards investment). It's going to be an interesting offseason.

Agreed. Personally, I don't see what Richards brought to the team to be terribly difficult to replace by current players' increased production due to natural development (e.g. Kreider) or players being better than they were this past season (e.g. Nash).

 

[Xref]

Eh, nobody thought they could trade Gomez either, but they did. Sather has been pretty good at dumping his mistakes on other people while netting a decent piece.

Yep, hence the Bob Gainey reference.......

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Agreed. Personally, I don't see what Richards brought to the team to be terribly difficult to replace by current players' increased production due to natural development (e.g. Kreider) or players being better than they were this past season (e.g. Nash).

Agreed. Richards was actually hurting the team by the end. I think his buy-out is the easiest decision of the off-season because it shouldn't be followed with the obligatory "how do we replace him?!" I really dont think that'll be too difficult.

On the other hand, this team sure could use some size up front and an upgrade at center. No idea where thats coming from, however.

 

[LORDE]

There is 0% chance he is on this roster next season and even less a chance he's traded.

I'm not even worried about it.

He will be bought out.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

There is 0% chance he is on this roster next season and even less a chance he's traded.

I'm not even worried about it.

He will be bought out.

Regarding a trade, aren't the Rangers on the hook for the recapture should be retire even with a different team? Does Richards look like a guy thats got 6 years left on him? Does he look like a guy that would net anything positive in a trade?

I expect the buy-out announcement any day now.

 

[Fletch]

Agreed. Personally, I don't see what Richards brought to the team to be terribly difficult to replace by current players' increased production due to natural development (e.g. Kreider) or players being better than they were this past season (e.g. Nash).

I guess what still needs to be done is 20 goals/50 points + the PP point need to be filled. Hopefully MSL will be an upgrade to Callahan offensively over a full season and there is increased production and then the natural progression of others get you even. The question will be, who will play on a line with MSL, as you don't want to keep him down. And then do other lines get affected and face tougher defenses if the focus comes off Richards' line and does that affect them adversely? Finally, if Stepan becomes the #1, Brassard #2, who is the #3 who will get 15-ish goals and 40-ish points? Maybe I'm missing someone or not adding right; not as in touch with the organization as I was five years ago. And all joking aside regarding the PP, it needs to improve and over the course of 82 games, I don't know if there was someone better on the point than Richards. That needs to be addressed. None of this is insurmountable; I am just anxious to see what the roster is going to look like since it's really tough to speculate.

 

[Trxjw]

Yep, hence the Bob Gainey reference.......

Sorry, missed that. Haven't had enough coffee yet!

 

[Gardner McKay]

Regarding a trade, aren't the Rangers on the hook for the recapture should be retire even with a different team? Does Richards look like a guy thats got 6 years left on him? Does he look like a guy that would net anything positive in a trade?

I expect the buy-out announcement any day now.

Im sure he would net something in a trade. Unless that "net" is 4 1st round picks, it won't be worth the recapture penalty. I don't see a scenario where he doesn't get bought out.

 

[LORDE]

The real question really is, WHEN he is bought out what does Sather... In ALL of his INFINITE wisdom, do to fill the holes.

Where does he find a #1 center, how does he deal with Nash and the lack of size on this roster, and who does he resign and who does he let walk?

Toughest questions of his tenure as GM of this club.

There's no magic wand this time folks (as so many posters are fond of displaying at times).

 

[Trxjw]

Lundqvist is going to be 33 years old next season and MSL will be 40 in the last year of his deal.

The Rangers look for any excuse to "go for it" in this coming season. Those are actually 2 good excuses, so I think they'll be loading up for another run.

Its going to be extremely difficult with 11 free agents on the roster, however. And its going to be even more difficult if Sather and company push for a #1C and power forwards that just aren't on the market.

this is the dangerous part of the question, but given the fact they're a bit constrained with payroll and do not have top picks the next two seasons, Sather will not be able to do anything crazy. I think MSL was brought here not just for this past run, but for a run this season (again, my original thinking was to try to salvage the Richards investment). It's going to be an interesting offseason.

I think you're right, BRB, but to Fletch's and your point, where's the money? How do they load up without dismantling, or at least seriously disrupting the current team? They certainly have a few issues they need to address such as size down the middle, offense from the blue line, depth at center with Richards and at least one of Boyle and Moore no longer with the team.

The irony is that the Rangers have been without a true #1C for years now, and here they are with no cap space, and few tradeable futures with several legitimate #1C's on the trade market. I have to wonder, can Sather restrain himself from pulling another Nash-esque deal to address team deficiencies?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I think you're right, BRB, but to Fletch's and your point, where's the money? How do they load up without dismantling, or at least seriously disrupting the current team? They certainly have a few issues they need to address such as size down the middle, offense from the blue line, depth at center with Richards and at least one of Boyle and Moore no longer with the team.

The irony is that the Rangers have been without a true #1C for years now, and here they are with no cap space, and few tradeable futures with several legitimate #1C's on the trade market. I have to wonder, can Sather restrain himself from pulling another Nash-esque deal to address team deficiencies?

I doubt it, actually.

Im really worried that Staal will be dangled this off-season, perhaps in conjunction with a guy like Brassard to create a package for a big-time center.

If something like this happens, you've got your upgrade at center, but you also likely have lost some depth and have John Moore slotted for top 4 mins. Thats worse than the status quo, IMO.

 

[Fletch]

I think you're right, BRB, but to Fletch's and your point, where's the money? How do they load up without dismantling, or at least seriously disrupting the current team? They certainly have a few issues they need to address such as size down the middle, offense from the blue line, depth at center with Richards and at least one of Boyle and Moore no longer with the team.

The irony is that the Rangers have been without a true #1C for years now, and here they are with no cap space, and few tradeable futures with several legitimate #1C's on the trade market. I have to wonder, can Sather restrain himself from pulling another Nash-esque deal to address team deficiencies?

This is where I have no idea, unless Sather makes a couple trades a goes even more top heavy offense, sacrifices defense, and has some rookies dispersed throughout the lineup to keep costs down. Even then I'm not sure how it works. Just hoping he doesn't do something drastic.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

This is where I have no idea, unless Sather makes a couple trades a goes even more top heavy offense, sacrifices defense, and has some rookies dispersed throughout the lineup to keep costs down. Even then I'm not sure how it works. Just hoping he doesn't do something drastic.

My worst fear is letting Stralman walk, trading Staal for offense, and being left with HUGE question marks on defense that involve John Moore as a top 4 guy and the likes of Diaz/Allen/McIlrath battling it out for the 3rd pair. Thats a nightmare.

The Rangers need some more size and skill up front, but they can't dismantle the defense to do it.

 

[Fletch]

I doubt it, actually.

Im really worried that Staal will be dangled this off-season, perhaps in conjunction with a guy like Brassard to create a package for a big-time center.

If something like this happens, you've got your upgrade at center, but you also likely have lost some depth and have John Moore slotted for top 4 mins. Thats worse than the status quo, IMO.

I am in a bit of a minority, but I think Stralman struggles a bit without Staal, and especially with Moore. Just saw too many instances against top teams when Stralman had difficulties but Staal was there. Further, just thinking that Staal gets better next season. Injury free and focused after getting that close to the Cup, in a family that really knows what the Cup means having been around it a couple times. That tandem was as important, if not more important, to shutting down top lines as was Boyle and Moore. This is a tough offseason. A good GM would figure it out. At least Lundqvist will still be in nets.

 

[Fletch]

My worst fear is letting Stralman walk, trading Staal for offense, and being left with HUGE question marks on defense that involve John Moore as a top 4 guy and the likes of Diaz/Allen/McIlrath battling it out for the 3rd pair. Thats a nightmare.

The Rangers need some more size and skill up front, but they can't dismantle the defense to do it.

Just thought about that too - think that would actually be catastrophic.