Richards recently a healthy scratch, if LA would keep some of his caphit, would you bring him back if Kings would take Vinny the other way? What amount of caphit would Kings have to retain before you even consider?
No he was not a healthy scratch, he hasn't lost a reg. season game since the 8 games in Nov/Dec of 2011 due to a concussion. He's been (from his coach yesterday post practice ) sick all week, didn't play in the 3rd period vs the Rangers on Thurds and didn't practice on Friday as a result was a yellow jersey.
And Vinny is nothing the Kings would want or ever need, unless he is a top 4 right handed D, which is the only thing Lombardi has been hunting for since Oct.
But it's not the easiest trade this year, it's a seller's market, too many teams looking for that D (including Hexy) and the few available are overpriced to some extent. As Mar 2 gets closer, depending on how desperate some teams are , some GM might overpay.
Hextall said (and he's right) the only trades he will make are to get younger and better. G is about to turn 27 and I don't think Hexy will trade for a player older that that as the Flyers future , their build for success is largely stil in the AHL or juniors ( the 4 D and sTOLarz) He will try to make this team better thru drafting young talent (hopefully stud winger Crouse or even Strome or better (top 4 or 5 pick this year) and if trading , getting rid of the older players like Vinny for picks or prospects.
As for Richards, he's played fine this year, despite his coach stripping his confidence away by keeping him on the 4th line wher ehe doesn't belong. His measureable metrics (corsi, defensive zone starts, PK, points per minutes played/60, etc.) have been good. He came to camp in great shape, but Sutter will not move SToll (whose been dreadful in most measurable metrics this year, esp PK, on the ice for 35% of the PK goals against) off of the 3rd line. He has more ES shifts and all the 2nd PP unit time that Richards doesn't have and SToll has produced very little , less points that MR despite a lot more TOI with top wingers and PP time.
Of the 4 Canadian teams that have been asking about Richards since July, the Leafs are pushing the hardest. But have to move $$ either Clarkson (good luck there 5M plus ) or Lupul (good player but made of glass, ) to clear salary. Richards is a loaded with Leadership which the leafs desperately need and they'll get a nice return when they trade Kessell and Phanuef this summer. With a new coach who puts him back in the position to succeed , al ess severe system, centering a 2nd or 3rd line with scoring wingers on reg. basis, back on the PP and more PK time, Stabilty, he'll be fine. And he's a great playoff performer, 7-0 in game 7's and only player to be on 2 teams coming back form -0-3 for a reason. He thrives , elevates his game in those critical games, playoffs, OT , game 7's. YOu can't coach or teach that. He'll be fine once he's out of LA