DAILY RUMORS: Doubtful on NY Rangers acquiring Brad Richards from Dallas

We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have partnered with the one of the best in the NHL blogosphere….Lyle Richardson of SpectorsHockey.net. Daily Rumors with Lyle Richardson will now be a regular feature on HI this summer and beyond…

Nick Montemagno recently posted on the blog “Blueshirt Banter” Rangers GM Glen Sather suggested he’s not done “tinkering” with his roster.

Montemagno wrote Dallas Stars center Brad Richards was among several players linked to the Rangers.

http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2010/7/23/1584125/rangers-analysis-rangers-to-pursue

This isn’t the first time Richards has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the Rangers. Montemagno noted fitting Richards’ $7.8 million salary for next season under the cap would be a problem though he suggests the anticipated demotion of Wade Redden and his $6.5 million salary for next season could make it easier to fit Richards under their cap.

Montemagno believes Dallas “would be seeking a defenseman of some sort and a prospect at least. The asking price could very well be greater, but I am just going based on the needs of the Dallas Stars.”

He’s correct the Stars would want a defenseman, but not just one “of some sort”. Reports out of Dallas for some time noted Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk would like to add a puck-moving defenseman, someone who could quarterback their power-play.

At least Montemagno isn’t suggesting a Richards for Redden swap because if Nieuwendyk did that it would cast his competence as a general manager into serious doubt, not to mention such a move would weaken the Stars.

Richards also has a “no-trade” clause and would have to be willing to accept a trade to the Rangers. Given that the Stars will be holding part of their training camp this September in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (not far from Richards’ family hometown of Murray Harbour, it doesn’t appear likely Nieuwendyk entertains any plans to move Richards.

Montemagno also forgets the Rangers still need to re-sign defenseman Marc Staal, and acquiring Richards would almost certainly push the Blueshirts over the cap once Staal is re-signed, unless Sather were to consider including the defenseman as part of the return for Richards, which is unlikely.

Sather would probably love to add a quality top line center but they don’t come cheap and to land one could end up costing him depth elsewhere in the lineup.

It’s doubtful, at least at this point in the year, Sather will be able to land a notable center like Richards.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey