Do we buy-out Richards and make a play for Stastny?

[stan the caddy]

If you didn't like Brad, Gomez, or Drury, you're not going to like Stastny either. He's not living up to fan expectations.

 

[TheTakedown]

If you didn't like Brad, Gomez, or Drury, you're not going to like Stastny either. He's not living up to fan expectations.

then again, what free agent centerman not names Toews, Sharp, or Crosby does?

 

[Blueblood 2]

Keep it simple. Richards must go. Put the money in an interest bearing account if necessary.

 

[Nanaki]

It wouldn't be a bad idea considering at this point we have 3 of 4 required top-4 defensemen locked into contracts (McD, G, Klein), with 2 all but guaranteed to resign (Staal, J. Moore), leaving a spot on the right side open for either Diaz or Allen (NHL ready and near-NHL ready, respectively).

Might as well move McIlrath + for low-to-mid end #1C... Also need to see how Diaz works with this team... Is he a PMD? Can he develop into one? Who knows

There is no way that we get a #1C for McIlrath right now. His value won't be even close to that until he can prove himself on the NHL level.

 

[eco's bones]

Diaz seems to be simply an insurance policy in case someone on the right side gets hurt in the next few weeks. Diaz is UFA when the season ends.

The Rangers are very unlikely to move McIlrath. Other teams are very unlikely to give enough value for him. McIlrath might not be progressing as fast as most of us would like but he's still very much in the Rangers plans.

Who replaces Richards? Some of us would replace him with Miller or at least give Miller a real shot at replacing him. Richards-Stepan-Brassard--you could slot them however you like as our 1-2-3 centers and Richards is the oldest, on the decline, the worst defensively of the three and is the carrier of a toxic contract that overpays him by a lot. Miller has 35 points in 31 AHL games. Not a big reach to think with regular ice time and regular line mates next year he could put up 35 to 45 points at the NHL level as a 3rd line center and for a lot more bang for the $--which would also leave us a lot more cap room that we could do other things with.

Miller has a lot of attributes that this team needs. He's young, has good size--plays with some physicality and energy and skill. He's cheap in terms of cap hit. There's not much left for him to prove at the AHL level. He's IMO ready for the next challenge and preferably not being stuck with the 4th liners.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

It might just be me but Stastny is a better version of Richards, because he would prob put up 60 points at least plus he is so much better defensively. Someone with 60 points consistently and good 2 way play I'd sign up for anyday.. If u can get two potential 60 point centers (or 50+ with Stepan) thats good down the middle. If we keep Brassard even better depth 1-3 and JT also can play RW

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Boston is the mold to build around. Which is why I'd welcome Stastny with Stepan, both could be 50-60 point players (potentially more) and good two way play

 

[Mr Atoz*]

The only positive thing here is that Richards is making this decision awfully easy.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Richards needs to be bought out and then we do something crazy and dont throw money around like idiots. this happened in the nfl after the salary cap was put in place old gms didnt kno wat to do. we have to build through the draft and by being smart not reactive. AS LONG AS SATHER IS GM THIS TEAM WONT WIN. Sather doesnt understand the new nhl and how it works. but the good news is i heard he is close to retiring possibly next yr

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Someone needs to get benched.

First it was Gaborik-Richards-Nash

Now it's Nash-Richards-St.Louis

What's the constant in both equations? Drop Richards ASAP, no legs, no passion, no defense, and worst of all, no more playmaking, except the PP. He's become a PP specialist with no legs who gets out-muscled by Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe. We all know we ain't dropping Nash and his $8 lemons a year! We made our bed, now we have to sleep in it.The guy is done. Move on to someone who still has their legs. Stastny maybe won't sign here but we need to have a viable 1C option or we are going nowhere. Give Boston a call, maybe we can work out something around Staal for Krejci? Maybe Brassard + Dorsett gets us a Zibanejad from the Sens. You never know unless you try.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Richards buy out - Dear god yes, get him off the team. Stastny, Im not sold on him, he has peaked already and is not going to be worth the money.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

Boston is the mold to build around. Which is why I'd welcome Stastny with Stepan, both could be 50-60 point players (potentially more) and good two way play

Problem is the contract Stastny will command. It's going to be an ugly contract that he'll never ever be able to fullfill.

If you can't find a bona fide 1C, then 2 two-way centers like Stepan would be suitable. Unless one of those two centers are paid like a 1C.

 

[TheTakedown]

There is no way that we get a #1C for McIlrath right now. His value won't be even close to that until he can prove himself on the NHL level.

I agree with you, which is why the + is a big one... I'm not sure how comfortable i'd be moving the few good prospects left in the barren farm that we have at this point... We have a year to get a 1st round pick back for the 2015 draft. We best do so.

Like someone just mentioned, you'd have to acquire someone similar to Stepan, that's the only way to get by without a #1C... Have 2 high end #2C's...

Feasible options include:
Paul Stastny
Derek Roy
David Legwand
Mikhail Grabovski
Dave Bolland

I'm not saying these SPECIFIC players, but we would have to realistically come up with a way to acquire another #2 Centerman, who is under 30 years old, that can produce .75 points per game in order to build a solid contender with a REASONABLE (under 5.5M AAV) cap hit.