I don't think the Rangers would trade him midseason regardless of how bad/good he was doing. The main point of buying him out is getting out from under the new cap penalties so they don't go on the salary cap. If the Rangers trade him and he stinks and calls it quits with years remaining on his deal it doesn't matter that he's on a different team. The Rangers would still get hit with those penalties. I would think they'll just wait till the end of the year, hope he helps deliver a cup and then send him a buyout check.
- pcjr307

I just want to say this, if Richards plays a significant role in the Rangers winning a Stanley Cup this year (i.e., 20 playoff points, big playoff goals, et.), he will not be bought out. He will achieve immediate sainthood in eyes of Rangers fans, and would be allowed to live out the remainder of his contractual term here, whether his play declines or not. And, I don't think any of us would care less.

I just want to say this, if Richards plays a significant role in the Rangers winning a Stanley Cup this year (i.e., 20 playoff points, big playoff goals, et.), he will not be bought out. He will achieve immediate sainthood in eyes of Rangers fans, and would be allowed to live out the remainder of his contractual term here, whether his play declines or not. And, I don't think any of us would care less.
- Pete V

Yea and Stu Bickel will win the Norris.

I just want to say this, if Richards plays a significant role in the Rangers winning a Stanley Cup this year (i.e., 20 playoff points, big playoff goals, et.), he will not be bought out. He will achieve immediate sainthood in eyes of Rangers fans, and would be allowed to live out the remainder of his contractual term here, whether his play declines or not. And, I don't think any of us would care less.
- Pete V

If he helped deliver a cup he definitely would be treated differently in Rangers fans eyes. I personally like Richards and I thought last year was just an aberration and he was going to have a really good year this year. He is too talented to fall off the map like that in 1 year. If they did win the cup with him being a big part of it it would be interesting to see what the Rangers would do. I just have a feeling this is it for him regardless.

I don't think the Rangers would trade him midseason regardless of how bad/good he was doing. The main point of buying him out is getting out from under the new cap penalties so they don't go on the salary cap. If the Rangers trade him and he stinks and calls it quits with years remaining on his deal it doesn't matter that he's on a different team. The Rangers would still get hit with those penalties. I would think they'll just wait till the end of the year, hope he helps deliver a cup and then send him a buyout check.
- pcjr307

What? Is that a new CBA clause?

I just don't see why he would do that.

If he waits until the off season, he'll get an 18 million buyout check and then have the opportunity to sign as a free agent with any team he wants.

I am not sure why he would let the Rangers choose his next team.
- jimbro83

I am the biggest Richards hater here and I would not deal him unless I a Rick Nash haul. "Why?" you ask. "Are you (frank)ing crazy tom?" No I am not. Cap Recapture sticks with the team who signed him. It makes it irresponsible to trade him.

What? Is that a new CBA clause?
- mames11

Cap Recapture dude.

Cap Recapture dude.
- mrhattrick27

You mean "Anti-Sather-Cap Recapture"

That's fvcking insane. That lockout was Sather's fault, then.

I like Stralman, too; and agree on his poor shot blocking skills. That will change this year, though. I doubt we will see many players going out of their way to block a shot.

Stralman is underrated (and with Stall out, he's a top-4 d-man). The guy has offensive abilities and under a coach that may actually let him show it, then he may flourish better this year. His main weakness is that he gets beat a lot on the outside. Too many people go around him.
- mames11

Stralman is one of the most improved players in the league, he was cut by 3 other teams and has turned into a valuable cog, Torts did have a positive effect while here

I am the biggest Richards hater here and I would not deal him unless I a Rick Nash haul. "Why?" you ask. "Are you (frank)ing crazy tom?" No I am not. Cap Recapture sticks with the team who signed him. It makes it irresponsible to trade him.
- mrhattrick27

Why trade anyone then? You risk of getting a cap penalty if the player retires early.

What I also don't get is that Lilly Kovalckuk retires and his contract becomes void. If Richards retires early, then the Rangers get smacked with cap penalties. What am I missing? Is it an age thing?

I just want to say this, if Richards plays a significant role in the Rangers winning a Stanley Cup this year (i.e., 20 playoff points, big playoff goals, et.), he will not be bought out. He will achieve immediate sainthood in eyes of Rangers fans, and would be allowed to live out the remainder of his contractual term here, whether his play declines or not. And, I don't think any of us would care less.
- Pete V

If he wins us a Cup I will help find him a new home in whatever city he plays next, that contract with the new CBA is an organizational killer, needs to be executed

Yea and Stu Bickel will win the Norris.
- mrhattrick27

Why trade anyone then? You risk of getting a cap penalty if the player retires early.

What I also don't get is that Lilly Kovalckuk retires and his contract becomes void. If Richards retires early, then the Rangers get smacked with cap penalties. What am I missing? Is it an age thing?
- mames11

The NJ Devils did not avoid the cap recapture. They are on the hook for a cap hit of about 250K for the next 12 years or something like that.

The NJ Devils did not avoid the cap recapture. They are on the hook for a cap hit of about 250K for the next 12 years or something like that.
- Coburns_Nose

That penalty is nothing, they should be on the hook for more, Lou got away with trying to dupe the league

The NJ Devils did not avoid the cap recapture. They are on the hook for a cap hit of about 250K for the next 12 years or something like that.
- Coburns_Nose

If Richards retires early, then the Rangers get hit with the full 6M+ each year plus the remaining hit divided by the number of years left (something like that). If he retires two years early, then the Rangers cap hit can reach 16M+ each year (not exaggerating, though my number may be off a little).

Lou and the Devs get 250k cap penalty? Really? What am I missing?

If Richards retires early, then the Rangers get hit with the full 6M+ each year plus the remaining hit divided by the number of years left (something like that). If he retires two years early, then the Rangers cap hit can reach 16M+ each year (not exaggerating, though my number may be off a little).

Lou and the Devs get 250k cap penalty? Really? What am I missing?
- mames11

No, if Richards retires after this season the Rangers get stuck with a penalty north of 2 million dollars till 2020.

No, if Richards retires after this season the Rangers get stuck with a penalty north of 2 million dollars till 2020.
- tomburton99

That's after this season. But a few years further down the line, that number grows shockingly high.

Again, if the Rangers get hit with a few million cap hit on Richards retiring early, then why does the Devs only get a 250k hit from Lily retiring?

No, if Richards retires after this season the Rangers get stuck with a penalty north of 2 million dollars till 2020.
- tomburton99

That's after this season. But a few years further down the line, that number grows shockingly high.

Again, if the Rangers get hit with a few million cap hit on Richards retiring early, then why does the Devs only get a 250k hit from Lily retiring?

That's after this season. But a few years further down the line, that number grows shockingly high.

Again, if the Rangers get hit with a few million cap hit on Richards retiring early, then why does the Devs only get a 250k hit from Lily retiring?
- mames11

Because his contract is shorter. And he has 3 years where his contract dips to 1 million. It's all explained on Capgeek's recapture option.

If Richards retires early, then the Rangers get hit with the full 6M+ each year plus the remaining hit divided by the number of years left (something like that). If he retires two years early, then the Rangers cap hit can reach 16M+ each year (not exaggerating, though my number may be off a little).

Lou and the Devs get 250k cap penalty? Really? What am I missing?
- mames11

Ok I am going to give a simple example. And the 250k makes perfect sense too.

Player A has a 10 year contract for 70M. So $7M cap hit. BUT it is front loaded. By year 7 he retires. So there is $21M of CAP left on the deal (49M spent in CAP). BUT the way it was front loaded, you paid out, you 58M in REAL dollars to the player. Well you saved $9M over the course of the contract in cap space vs. real money paid out. They take that $9M divided over the remaining years and get a penalty of $3M for the remaining 3 years of that players contract.


For Kovi the odd thing about his contract is he (basically) was paid what his cap hit was in real dollars. The Devils saved no cap space vs. real $ in these first 3 years of his deal as they paid him around $7M in real $ for a cap hit of $6.66M. The "circumvention" was to come in the next few years. Paying him $10-12M with only a $6M cap hit. Kovi retired BEFORE these years came into play. He was paid what his cap hit was i.e. there was no cap to recapture.


Richards was paid $12M each of the first 2 years while having a cap hit of $6.6 M, essentially allowing the Rangers to pay him money but it not effect the cap i.e. there is cap to be recaptured compared to real $.

Because his contract is shorter. And he has 3 years where his contract dips to 1 million. It's all explained on Capgeek's recapture option.
- tomburton99

That makes no sense. A cap hit is the AAV on the deal, regardless of what the player makes each season. Richards deal is similiar, is it not where he makes less near the end of the contract? I thought his deal was front-loaded in the first few years.

All I say is that the Kovalchuk "retirement" needs to be looked into more. A 250k cap penalty is highway robbery.

That makes no sense. A cap hit is the AAV on the deal, regardless of what the player makes each season. Richards deal is similiar, is it not where he makes less near the end of the contract? I thought his deal was front-loaded in the first few years.

All I say is that the Kovalchuk "retirement" needs to be looked into more. A 250k cap penalty is highway robbery.
- mames11

I just hope the Devils win the lottery next season and forfeit the #1 overall pick. I couldn't be rooting harder for that to happen.

That makes no sense. A cap hit is the AAV on the deal, regardless of what the player makes each season. Richards deal is similiar, is it not where he makes less near the end of the contract? I thought his deal was front-loaded in the first few years. All I say is that the Kovalchuk "retirement" needs to be looked into more. A 250k cap penalty is highway robbery.
- mames11

Thought wrong as most people did. Kovi was beign paid right around what his cap hit was. While Richards makes double the first few years immediately. The fishy part for some people (Jimbro) is why would they structure it so the big money comes a few years in and not immediately? Either way, the 250k makes sense and is fair because Kovi barely got paid any dollars that didn't go on the Devils cap.

I just hope the Devils win the lottery next season and forfeit the #1 overall pick. I couldn't be rooting harder for that to happen.
- jimbro83

That would be perfect

I just hope the Devils win the lottery next season and forfeit the #1 overall pick. I couldn't be rooting harder for that to happen.
- jimbro83

I still don't know how Lou isn't taking any heat for not forfeiting the 29th pick.

That makes no sense. A cap hit is the AAV on the deal, regardless of what the player makes each season. Richards deal is similiar, is it not where he makes less near the end of the contract? I thought his deal was front-loaded in the first few years.

All I say is that the Kovalchuk "retirement" needs to be looked into more. A 250k cap penalty is highway robbery.
- mames11

It's fine to me. If Kovalchuk retired 5 years from now the cap hit would have been much higher. Teams like Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit and Vacouver could all be in the same position as the Rangers when it comes to recapture penalties.