Jan Levine: 20+ Offseason Questions: #2 - Should The Rangers Buy Out Brad Richards? Many factors impact the decision..

Simply put...yes. He needs to go elsewhere.

Sadly put...yes. New CBA is anti-Sather signing friendly.

Simply put...yes. He needs to go elsewhere.

Sadly put...yes. New CBA is anti-Sather signing friendly.
- mames11

Maybe I am being a softie but I wouldn't be against giving him another shot. I know the risk of injury is there which could preclude us from buying him out in the summer of 2014. I just have a hard time believing his skill just evaporated overnight, which is how it appeared this year.

All that being said, sometimes the hardest thing to do as a GM or evaluator is to first admit then walk away from, a mistake. I was 100% on the sign Brad Richards bandwagon. I thought he would be worth his contract for at least the first four or five seasons. And if we were to win a Stanley Cup in that time with Richards playing an integral role it would have all been worth it. I knew his contract was going to suck in the last few years but I was willing to take the risk to get a true #1 C. Now I just hope he rebounds to become a solid #2A with Step being a #1 and Brassard being a #2B so to speak.

Answer is clear, yes but it does not go without saying I'm glad he signed with us and he's a great guy but his on ice skill have surprisingly diminished over the past year and with only one more year to amnesty him it has to be done now without the chance for injury, I don't care about what money Dolan spends or what it costs him, just want what's best for this team

Maybe I am being a softie but I wouldn't be against giving him another shot. I know the risk of injury is there which could preclude us from buying him out in the summer of 2014. I just have a hard time believing his skill just evaporated overnight, which is how it appeared this year.

All that being said, sometimes the hardest thing to do as a GM or evaluator is to first admit then walk away from, a mistake. I was 100% on the sign Brad Richards bandwagon. I thought he would be worth his contract for at least the first four or five seasons. And if we were to win a Stanley Cup in that time with Richards playing an integral role it would have all been worth it. I knew his contract was going to suck in the last few years but I was willing to take the risk to get a true #1 C. Now I just hope he rebounds to become a solid #2A with Step being a #1 and Brassard being a #2B so to speak.
- gkmkiller

I would too Glen, if it weren't a huge risk, forget the contract, imagine if we were stuck with his skill set at even 36 or 37, oh god

I would too Glen, if it weren't a huge risk, forget the contract, imagine if we were stuck with his skill set at even 36 or 37, oh god
- HankdaTank

Not to mention that new CBA crap if he retires in the last few years of the deal, then the cap hit doubles and then triples. I just don't get how that works. Just let the guy go elsewhere. Such a shame, but a reality.

I would too Glen, if it weren't a huge risk, forget the contract, imagine if we were stuck with his skill set at even 36 or 37, oh god
- HankdaTank

I absolutely agree that he needs to be bought out but I can understand waiting until 2014 to do it. It's undoubtedly a risk but I do believe he will bounce back. If they were to buy him out I would completely understand though. It's an unfortunate byproduct of the owner's general incompetence.

Maybe I am being a softie but I wouldn't be against giving him another shot. I know the risk of injury is there which could preclude us from buying him out in the summer of 2014. I just have a hard time believing his skill just evaporated overnight, which is how it appeared this year.

All that being said, sometimes the hardest thing to do as a GM or evaluator is to first admit then walk away from, a mistake. I was 100% on the sign Brad Richards bandwagon. I thought he would be worth his contract for at least the first four or five seasons. And if we were to win a Stanley Cup in that time with Richards playing an integral role it would have all been worth it. I knew his contract was going to suck in the last few years but I was willing to take the risk to get a true #1 C. Now I just hope he rebounds to become a solid #2A with Step being a #1 and Brassard being a #2B so to speak.
- gkmkiller

I agree...I honestly think that, as long as his contract does not interfere in our signing our RFAs, or making other moves, I would love to give him a chance. I just cannot see how someone just loses it, just like that. If he comes back, and plays like he did in 11-12, I am perfectly happy with that.

I agree...I honestly think that, as long as his contract does not interfere in our signing our RFAs, or making other moves, I would love to give him a chance. I just cannot see how someone just loses it, just like that. If he comes back, and plays like he did in 11-12, I am perfectly happy with that.
- Blueshirt44

The problem I see in addition to the risk injury is that I really believe the Rangers need a physical player like Clowe or Cleary. If they keep Richards and sign their four RFA's they won't have any cap room left to make any impact addition of a physical, top-nine forward. Needless to say it's going to be a difficult decision one way or another.

The problem I see in addition to the risk injury is that I really believe the Rangers need a physical player like Clowe or Cleary. If they keep Richards and sign their four RFA's they won't have any cap room left to make any impact addition of a physical, top-nine forward. Needless to say it's going to be a difficult decision one way or another.
- gkmkiller

Added an update section under production that covers this a bit, which hit me after I posted the original blog

Not to mention that new CBA crap if he retires in the last few years of the deal, then the cap hit doubles and then triples. I just don't get how that works. Just let the guy go elsewhere. Such a shame, but a reality.
- mames11

You saved money on the cap by front loading his salary so much.

This was a cap-circumventing deal, no question.

Now, you pay back your "cap savings".

If your GM didn't sign a cap-circumventing deal in the first place, it would not be a concern.

With all of the issues with his contract and the new CBA, Richards has to get bought out by 2014, even if he stays one more year and has a decent season you have to buy him out otherwise risk losing 2-3 young core players? Maybe if he has a good year you can trade him?

I think the new CBA will create a bunch of free agents over next two years with so much risk for teams by keeping these types of contracts around, maybe this was even the intent in the cba.

Regarding filling our roster holes, someone like Clowe is needed on this roster but 2014 cap will be a big issue. Anyone know if for 2014 it goes up past the $64m?

I think we desperately need a D man who can shoot from the point , maybe even a winger too who can one-time. Anyone else notice none of our players shot one timers consistently on the pp? Richards tries but his shot is weak, Del Zotto can't hit the net, no one is a real threat to score from the point and that's huge for pp success.

You saved money on the cap by front loading his salary so much.

This was a cap-circumventing deal, no question.

Now, you pay back your "cap savings".

If your GM didn't sign a cap-circumventing deal in the first place, it would not be a concern.
- Aetherial

The problem I, and many other fans, have with this is that those deals were within the letter of the rules when they were signed and approved of by the NHL. The only contract rejected by the league for this reason was the initial deal signed by Ilya Kovalchuk with Jersey. I understand the league wants to eliminate these contracts and am fan with the new rule however I believe it is unfair to punish teams for playing by the rules. That's like a cop writing me a speeding ticket for driving 55 on a road last week where the speed limit was 55 but was reduced later to 45. If they had grandfathered the contracts signed under the old CBA then fine.

You saved money on the cap by front loading his salary so much.

This was a cap-circumventing deal, no question.

Now, you pay back your "cap savings".

If your GM didn't sign a cap-circumventing deal in the first place, it would not be a concern.
- Aetherial

You mean like most every contract signed leading up to the lock out, stop with the "it's always the Rangers" crying already, Toronto buried over $9 million in the minors this season, I'd still sign that contract two years ago, he was still a positive on our kids and the community, he's a pro and class guy, something Toronto has been missing since Sundin[/img]

With all of the issues with his contract and the new CBA, Richards has to get bought out by 2014, even if he stays one more year and has a decent season you have to buy him out otherwise risk losing 2-3 young core players? Maybe if he has a good year you can trade him?

I think the new CBA will create a bunch of free agents over next two years with so much risk for teams by keeping these types of contracts around, maybe this was even the intent in the cba.

Regarding filling our roster holes, someone like Clowe is needed on this roster but 2014 cap will be a big issue. Anyone know if for 2014 it goes up past the $64m?

I think we desperately need a D man who can shoot from the point , maybe even a winger too who can one-time. Anyone else notice none of our players shot one timers consistently on the pp? Richards tries but his shot is weak, Del Zotto can't hit the net, no one is a real threat to score from the point and that's huge for pp success.
- MatzCT

I believe the league is projecting the cap to grow to around the $70MM mark for that season. That's the projections anyway and I find it hard to believe they would overestimate that number but we won't know until at least the early part of the 2014 calendar year.

I believe the league is projecting the cap to grow to around the $70MM mark for that season. That's the projections anyway and I find it hard to believe they would overestimate that number but we won't know until at least the early part of the 2014 calendar year.
- gkmkiller

ok, so closer $70m gives us some room in 2014 but if it's something like $64-65m it will be a huge issue.

You mean like most every contract signed leading up to the lock out, stop with the "it's always the Rangers" crying already, Toronto buried over $9 million in the minors this season, I'd still sign that contract two years ago, he was still a positive on our kids and the community, he's a pro and class guy, something Toronto has been missing since Sundin
- HankdaTank[/img]

Toronto didn't bury any salary in the minors - it still counted against the cap (minus $100,000/contract).

Jan Levine: 20+ Offseason Questions: #2 - Should The Rangers Buy Out Brad Richards?
Many factors impact the decision..
- airjan23

I'm wondering if the lack of obstruction these days is taking its toll on older guys.

It just seems like across the league, the age where guys start to decline has been pushed down a year or two.

Toronto didn't bury any salary in the minors - it still counted against the cap (minus $100,000/contract).
- Atomic Wedgie

Didn't you bury Jeff Finger in the minors under the last CBA and then also exercise the buyout provision on both Colby Armstrong and Darcy Tucker? Toronto certainly used the allowances offered under the last CBA to their benefit in regards to those areas.

I'm wondering if the lack of obstruction these days is taking its toll on older guys.

It just seems like across the league, the age where guys start to decline has been pushed down a year or two.
- Atomic Wedgie

Perhaps. It certainly is a faster game today than it was before the supposed crackdown on obstruction. But players like Jagr find a way so I would think that Richards could find a way to produce too.

Maybe I am being a softie but I wouldn't be against giving him another shot. I know the risk of injury is there which could preclude us from buying him out in the summer of 2014. I just have a hard time believing his skill just evaporated overnight, which is how it appeared this year.

All that being said, sometimes the hardest thing to do as a GM or evaluator is to first admit then walk away from, a mistake. I was 100% on the sign Brad Richards bandwagon. I thought he would be worth his contract for at least the first four or five seasons. And if we were to win a Stanley Cup in that time with Richards playing an integral role it would have all been worth it. I knew his contract was going to suck in the last few years but I was willing to take the risk to get a true #1 C. Now I just hope he rebounds to become a solid #2A with Step being a #1 and Brassard being a #2B so to speak.
- gkmkiller

Honestly, I don't want to buy out Brad Richards because he had one crap season after an 8 month layoff. But this dumb ass Brian Burke retroactive cap penalty really makes it necessary to eliminate the risk. Personally, I think they would be a better team with a recommitted Brad Richards next year, but do you take the gamble? It may be stupid but I'm not going to be to upset if they keep him, because I like a player with a chip on his soldier seeking redemption.

I'm wondering if the lack of obstruction these days is taking its toll on older guys.

It just seems like across the league, the age where guys start to decline has been pushed down a year or two.
- Atomic Wedgie

Teemu wonders what you're talking about.

Honestly, I don't want to buy out Brad Richards because he had one crap season after an 8 month layoff. But this dumb ass Brian Burke retroactive cap penalty really makes it necessary to eliminate the risk. Personally, I think they would be a better team with a recommitted Brad Richards next year, but do you take the gamble? It may be stupid but I'm not going to be to upset if they keep him, because I like a player with a chip on his soldier seeking redemption.
- Pete V

If they do choose to keep him for one more year I won't be upset, he is gonna work his butt off this off season no matter who employs him, I would not expect a repeat and if there is then we still have the amnesty.

Teemu wonders what you're talking about.
- yzermaneely

Teemu's a freak of nature

If they do choose to keep him for one more year I won't be upset, he is gonna work his butt off this off season no matter who employs him, I would not expect a repeat and if there is then we still have the amnesty.
- HankdaTank

Tell him we won't buy him out if he promises not to claim injury next off season, even if his leg is falling off. Gentlemen's agreement?