During a conversation with Chris Botta of Islanders
Point Blank, Darren Dreger of TSN reports that he expects Brad Richards to
get a long term contract averaging at least $6.5 million per season. That part of the conversation was nothing
new. What was interesting was to hear
Dreger volunteer the fact that he doesn’t think the Rangers are willing to do
that kind of deal.
“I don’t think the New York Rangers have the stomach or the where-with-all to get in on that kind of a run at $6.5-7 million dollars per year.”
To hear Dreger say that is somewhat surprising given the
history of spending within the organization, but might just signal that things
really have changed in terms of giving out the long-term deals to aging
players. I am on record as saying that
signing Richards for anything more than four years will likely end up a mistake
as the deal goes on and with Pierre LeBrun of ESPN
reported yesterday that Richards is looking to sign the final deal of his
career this time, four years is not what Richards is looking for now.
