The Eve of Free Agent Frenzy
Neil Parker
2015-06-30
Minor signings, Mike Richards, the Dallas Stars and more …
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It is definitely the calm before the storm.
So with that in mind, I’ll pick up a couple thoughts from where Dobber left off in yesterday’s ramblings …
First, I agree with his assessment for Sam Gagner. However, now, being bought out isn’t as cemented as it first looked. If it was my call, I put him with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek and see.
So often offensive players are expected to do too much in other areas of the ice, and in this situation, Gagner would thrive. It is one way to shore up your top-nine group while leaving some offensive jam for your next two lines.
Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and Michael Raffl, and then Matt Read, Sean Couturier and R.J. Umberger, or whoever you throw on that wing. At this stage of his career, we know what Gagner is and isn’t.
He is capable of being an offense-first player, and he isn’t capable of carrying two linemates. Philadelphia is stocked up and under the cap, and they’re not a legitimate contender. Why not see what you have in a former highly regarded player who already has 562 game on his resume by 26.
Enjoyed this read from Ryan Kennedy at TheHockeyNews.com – 2015 Draft Wrap: sleeper picks for all 30 NHL teams.
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The situation surrounding Mike Richards isn’t going to play out well for his character, I suspect. I’m not into speculating. This is a pretty decent overview of what’s going on.
And here is speculation, albeit convincing speculation.
All weekend we heard character cited alongside skill, speed and talent.
Richards has won a lot, and it is a shame he accepted a hefty contract that has now put his personal life under scrutiny. Whatever his shortcomings are wouldn’t be reaching our attention, at least to this degree, if he was signed to a contract relative to his ability.
He really has been dragged over the coals the past few seasons.
People make mistakes, and in this case, the person who made the biggest mistake is nowhere to be seen. I’ve said this before here: It isn’t the player who is overpaid who is at fault.
It is the general manager who recklessly threw the money around. In this case, it was Paul Holmgren.
I’m a huge fan of Mike Richards, he has won me numerous pools in the regular and post season. He is a fine NHL player who can help each and every team in the league.
With all that said, if he did in fact breach his contract, I hope Richards signs a deal with a solid team at a reasonable cap hit and returns to being 40-point, two-way winner.
There will be all kinds of developments and news in the near future surrounding this situation.