Short answer no.
Long answer no, why take the cap hit when it runs all the way through 2020. He's a hit away from being Ryane Clowe.
- smellmyfinger
Clowe's cap hit is for 3 more years, he's played 60ish games for the Devils. Devils management didn't care about his concussion issues.
Your argument is that he would be injured, off the cap, and not on the team taking a roster spot. IF we were getting LA's first, 13th overall, a player that would be in the top ten every other year doesn't interest you?
We are a bad team offensively and their first would help in righting the ship. We won't be a cap team for years, and ELias, Zubrus, and Ruutu will be coming off next season, which means we'll have to spend money, at least to the cap floor. We would have to overpay for forwards and get NOTHING in return, except high expectations because of the money and term and most likely production that doesn't equal that.
It comes down to four options with Richards the Devils could play him(better option than anyone we have for the third line), send him down to Albany, buyout, or trade. The fourth one would depend on his game(production,etc).
