TSN: Brad Richards NOT being bought out

[Clown Fiesta]

Sather can talk all he wants about puck possession and the like, he either was lying or has mistaken Richards as a player who will help in that capacity. Puck possession teams have players who can skate with the puck, players who can break up ice and into the zone. Players who can win a board battle.

The only puck possession ability Richards had was making good reads when he had the puck, that ended last season, so unless that comes back he has no puck possession abilities.

This is a bad gamble.

Maybe, maybe not. I have hard time believing he cratered that hard after a decent season his first year, it's on him to prove otherwise. Withholding judgment until then, however I would have rather seen him bought out and another team given him a chance. But I also understand why the Rangers would give him a vote of confidence.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

You can only lol on this one

 

[JohnC]

This would NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF MESSIER WAS STILL HERE!!!!!!

I love you

 

[Hire Sather]

Theres really no way to win this.

If we DOES have a good season, I fear that they will keep him.. which will KILL the franchise at some point becuase theres no way hes effective for the next 7 years

 

[Bardof425*]

Brad Richards will out produce Brassard, so that makes Brassard the 3rd line center.

I think Richie will start centering Nash on the first line and Step will center a checking line with Hags and Cally. Which makes Brass the 2nd line center although Step will get more ES minutes.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Yikes, looks like Stepan's going to be the team's checking center according to AV's 2 line scoring, 2 line checking system. Both Brassard and Richards are terrible defensive centerman. Poor Stepan.

Stepan still should get top 6 minutes. Putting him in a checking line role will ruin him. I think you're underrating Brassard's defensive game, but I agree, he's far from an ideal checking center.

Does this front office actually think this team can win a cup as is with a new coach? That's the only reason to buy out Richards later as opposed to now. Good ****ing luck. I want some of what they're smoking.

 

[Rangers79]

I still don't see how this is going to kill the franchise with the cap going up more, even if they do keep him. Honestly, this is a lose- lose situation. If he was bought out and they brought in a rookie center who didn't play well, the fanbase would complain. If a center was signed, no matter how cheap and he sucked, people would still complain. If Richards stays and sucks, complaining, if he stays and does well, complaining he won't be signed out.

This whole situation is a loss no matter what happened.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

I think people are clinging a little too hard to AV's statement about the roster/lines.

 

[GAGLine]

Honestly (outside of the injury risk) can you name me a better option for center for us next season on a ONE YEAR CONTRACT? thats about what it amounts to.

Are we winning the cup next year because Brad ****ing Richards is on the team?

 

[OverTheCap]

Sather not ready to concede that this signing is a mistake, I guess. Or maybe Dolan said enough is enough with the buyouts.

Either way, LOL. I will be rooting for Richards to bounce back and stay healthy. He should be bought out next summer regardless, but if they didn't buy him out now, who knows if they will next summer? This organization never fails to disappoint/surprise.

 

[Jabroni]

I wouldn't care if the entire team walked the next day after we won a Cup.

Agree to disagree then.

I just hope he doesn't get injured and we are not able to buy him out.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Stepan still should get top 6 minutes. Putting him in a checking line role will ruin him. I think you're underrating Brassard's defensive game, but I agree, he's far from an ideal checking center.

Does this front office actually think this team can win a cup as is with a new coach? That's the only reason to buy out Richards later as opposed to now. Good ****ing luck. I want some of what they're smoking.

I still don't see how this is going to kill the franchise with the cap going up more, even if they do keep him. Honestly, this is a lose- lose situation. If he was bought out and they brought in a rookie center who didn't play well, the fanbase would complain. If a center was signed, no matter how cheap and he sucked, people would still complain. If Richards stays and sucks, complaining, if he stays and does well, complaining he won't be signed out.

This whole situation is a loss no matter what happened.

Sums up every situation ever related to the Rangers.

 

[Crease]

I still don't see how this is going to kill the franchise with the cap going up more, even if they do keep him. Honestly, this is a lose- lose situation. If he was bought out and they brought in a rookie center who didn't play well, the fanbase would complain. If a center was signed, no matter how cheap and he sucked, people would still complain. If Richards stays and sucks, complaining, if he stays and does well, complaining he won't be signed out.

This whole situation is a loss no matter what happened.

Or ya know, buy him out and replace him with a cheaper option that outperforms him. That'd be a win-win.

 

[GAGLine]

I still don't see how this is going to kill the franchise with the cap going up more, even if they do keep him. Honestly, this is a lose- lose situation. If he was bought out and they brought in a rookie center who didn't play well, the fanbase would complain. If a center was signed, no matter how cheap and he sucked, people would still complain. If Richards stays and sucks, complaining, if he stays and does well, complaining he won't be signed out.

This whole situation is a loss no matter what happened.

You think people are complaining now? Wait and see what happens if we can't buy him out next summer.

 

[Kreider Luvs Goalies]

I'm happy that he's back for the sole reason that all of you said he had zero chance of coming back.

Constant negativity about every player here

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

so...

Hagelin-Richards-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc/trade
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan (shut down line) will still get a ton of minutes
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

shrug?

 

[Kershaw]

Stepan still should get top 6 minutes. Putting him in a checking line role will ruin him. I think you're underrating Brassard's defensive game, but I agree, he's far from an ideal checking center.

Does this front office actually think this team can win a cup as is with a new coach? That's the only reason to buy out Richards later as opposed to now. Good ****ing luck. I want some of what they're smoking.

AV's idea of checking center wants his 3C(Malhotra) to start sub 40% of shifts in the offensive zone. If Stepan takes that role, I doubt he breaks 50 pts. It's classic catering to Richards so he'll put up respectable point totals, despite being the inferior talent at this point in his career. AKA the Sedin effect.

 

[Bardof425*]

The problem is you have no recognition whatsoever of a bigger picture, or potential financial impacts down the line.

And you have no idea what any of this will look like at this time next year or years after that. If you read, the question was where does he fit on the roster. I answered that question and get attacked by one of the labotomy twins.

 

[Jabroni]

so...

Hagelin-Richards-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc/trade
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan (shut down line) will still get a ton of minutes
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

shrug?

Stepan should be in a top 6 role. That means Brassard would be on the 3rd line. He doesn't belong there either.

 

[Thirty One]

so...

Hagelin-Richards-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc/trade
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan (shut down line) will still get a ton of minutes
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

shrug?

Too many minutes for Hagelin. I'd put Boyle on Step's wing.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

and somehow I had Hagelin on 2 lines lol..

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Now we have a guy playing center knowing he's going to get bought out the following year.

So much for his mental state.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Too many minutes for Hagelin. I'd put Boyle on Step's wing.

that could work..Boyle is much better on the wing IMO

 

[Bardof425*]

Are we winning the cup next year because Brad ****ing Richards is on the team?

Maybe

 

[stan the caddy]

so...

Hagelin-Richards-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc/trade
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan (shut down line) will still get a ton of minutes
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

shrug?

That line is scary, for Rangers fans.