Breakdown of Brad Richards Contract With Rangers

Gord Miller of TSN is reporting the year-by-year details of Brad Richards contract with the New York Rangers.

2011-12 season: $12 million ($10 million signing bonus, $2 million salary)
2012-13 season: $12 million ($8 million signing bonus, $4 million salary)
2013-14 salary: $9 million
2014-15 salary: $8.5 million
2015-16 salary: $8.5 million
2016-17 salary: $7 million
2017-18 salary: $1 million
2018-19 salary: $1 million
2019-20 salary: $1 million


Larry Brooks of the New York Post also passes along that the Richards will get a full no-movement clause for the entire length of the contract.  The full no-movement can be very restrictive for the club down the line as it was with Drury, but the fact that it was given is not unexpected given Richards desire to end his career wherever he signed this summer. 

Given the full no-movement clause the Rangers are likely hoping that the deal is as the numbers suggest essentially a 6-year, $57 million deal unless Richards really wants to play for $1 million those last three seasons.  If his skills do erode severely heading into the last three years and he doesnt want to retire there could be a Drury like buyout coming down the road, but for now the Rangers should be very happy that they got the deal they did.

Rangers Trade Brodie Dupont For Andreas Thuresson

In addition to this morning’s blockbuster deal with top free agent Brad Richards, the New York Rangers made a minor league trade.  New York sent 2005 third round pick Brodie Dupont to the Nashville Predators in exchange for 2007 fifth round pick Andreas Thuresson.

The fact that New York moved Dupont should not be a surprise to anyone as while he was a solid player in the AHL, the writing was on the wall in terms of him not getting a chance to make it was the Rangers at the NHL level.  This deal, much like the Byers deal, gives the prospect a chance to reach the NHL level while the Rangers get back a different prospect looking to make their name.

Dirk Hoag of On The Forecheck described Thuresson this way…

@mleetch352 he's a moderately physical winger, suited for 4th-line work. Pretty hard working and dependable, but unspectacular.

That sounds a lot like Brodie Dupont and says that the Rangers felt it was time to move on from Dupont and see if they can get more out of Thuresson down the line.  Last season Thuresson had 14 goals and 24 assists in 76 games for Milwaukee.

Brad Richards Chooses New York Rangers

According to Andy Strickland and confirmed by Darren Dreger Brad Richards has decided he wants to spend the rest of career with the New York Rangers.  The star of the 2011 class will bring his immense talents to Broadway in hopes of bringing the Stanley Cup to the Rangers.   The 31-year-old center brings the Rangers the first line center they have been lacking for years and will hopefully be able to spark a resurgence for Marian Gaborik and aid the Rangers mediocre power play.

Dreger reports the terms of the deal are a 9-years at $6.5 million per season.  The value per season is good for a player of his caliber and considering the market this summer, but the length of the contract is likely to come back and hurt the Rangers down the line.  The deal is likely to be heavily frontloaded in the first two seasons to caution against the next CBA as well.  With the deal being that frontloaded it is likely that the last 2-3 years of the contract are ones in which Richards will never see.  This is a gamble for the Rangers, but there is a clear statement they feel they are ready to compete for a championship and Richards is the piece they feel they need.

Update: According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet the deal will pay Richards $50 million in the first five seasons.

Update: Dreger corrects early numbers with slight change to 9 years, $60 million with a per cap charge of $6.67

Varying Reports Over Rangers Potential Offer For Richards

As we await the Brad Richards today there are conflicting reports floating around about what exactly the New York Rangers offered the center to come to Broadway.  Last night, after it was decided there would be no decision, Bob McKenzie of TSN reported that the Rangers were offering a heavily front-loaded deal for nine-years that could be worth $63 and $65 million


Larry Brooks of the New York Post counters that report this morning with one suggesting a shorter term if not less per season.

It is believed the Rangers originally offered a frontloaded deal of between 6-8 years representing an average of $6.5-7M per, the contract structure largely based on Buffalo's Christian Ehrhoff model, with huge money and signing bonuses pushed into the first 12 months to provide protection against a possible rollback or lockout.

The key to the differential in the two reports could simply be that Brooks had sources on the Rangers original offer and New York upped what they were willing to give in response to the other offers out there.  This would make sense because Brooks did say yesterday that the Rangers would be given the chance to match other offers in the end.

Both sets of numbers are frightening in terms of the long-term impact to the team, but obviously the six year end of the speculation is a lot better than the nine-year term would be.

No Decision For Richards Tonight; Rangers, Flames Said To Be Favorites

The Brad Richards sweepstakes will carry over until the second day of free agency and Richards attempts to make a final decision on where he wants to spend the rest of his career.  After spending the day talking to numerous teams, both in person and via conference call, Richards is said to be mulling it over for the night and likely to decide tomorrow.  

The only offer that has been reported out with figures is the suggest 9-year, $64 million dollar deal of the Calgary Flames.  Beyond pure money the relationship with Jay Feaster is a factor in Richards interest in Calgary as is Jarome Iginla who personally lobbied Richards to come join him today.  The Rangers offer was not disclosed, but various reports say that the money is certainly lower than what Calgary is offering.

All accounts suggest that the Rangers are still the favorites for his services, but the Calgary Flames are a close second at this point with Los Angeles and Toronto still in the mix.

Bob McKenzie of TSN:

I suspect NYR favorite to win out, but I would guess CGY is ahead of TOR or LA or other suitors at this point. Will find out soon enough.

Darren Dreger of TSN:

Folks...indications suggest the Rangers are still the frontrunner, but make no mistake about it, the Calgary Flames are in the hunt.

Larry Brooks of New York Post:

Rangers appear to be in good position here with Richards though not sure of numbers.

The fact that New York is reportedly not the highest bid and still considered the favorite does speak, at least on some level, of a desire to come here.   Whether he will ultimately come to the Rangers or play elsewhere in unknown at this point, but the answers should come soon.

Rangers Re-Sign Ruslan Fedotenko

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN the New York Rangers have re-signed veteran winger Ruslan Fedotenko to a one year, $1.4 million dollar contract.  Fedotenko, age 32, recorded ten goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 66 games played with the Rangers last season.  Fedotenko had great chemistry with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust and is one of John Tortorella's favorites in the room so the team looking to bring him back was no surprise.  The fact that it is a one year deal makes this a good move for New York as they will have replacements for Fedotenko coming through the system.

Rumor: Flames Dive Into Richards Sweepstakes With Massive Offer

With the combination of large dollar amount and long contracts being handed out the free agents are flying off the board very quickly on Day 1 of NHL free agency, but Brad Richards is still on the board and getting plenty of attention.  Richards held a series of in person meetings with teams and conference calls with others.

Little has come out in terms of what the teams are offering except for Jesse Spector reporting on what the Calgary Flames have offered:

Source: Flames offer Richards nine years, $64 million. Other source: "He won't go there."

Those are crazy figures and the Rangers should not approach anywhere near those numbers to try and acquire Richards.  For the Flames it is a desperation attempt to add talent to a team that has failed to make anything in the draft in recent years.  It is highly unlikely Richards would sign in Calgary as their chance to win is remote, especially with an aging team that has little reinforcements on the way.

Rangers Sign Mike Rupp To Three Year Deal

LlThe New York Rangers made their first signing of free agency 2011 and no it is not Brad Richards.

According to Nick Kyreos of Sportsnet the Rangers have come to terms with Mike Rupp on a three year, $4.5 million dollar deal.

The signing of Rupp continues the tradition of signing enforcer type players on July 1 though Rupp does bring more to the table. The move likely spells the end for Ruslan Fedotenko in New York.

Jaromir Jagr Signs With Philadelphia Flyers

After weeks of speculation on the destination and days of waiting since he was supposed to make a decision, Jaromir Jagr has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Flyers were not among those teams publicly named in the chase for the 39-year-old right wing, but according to their official twitter they have signed him for next season.

Per #Flyers GM Paul Holmgren: The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a contract with free agent RW Jaromir Jagr.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings both pulled their offers for the right wing before free agency commenced at noon.  For those who thought it was not about the money for Jagr, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet is reporting that the Flyers exceeded the $2 million that the Penguins were offering. 

Update: The numbers are in and according to Darren Dreger of TSN, Jagr is going to make $3.3 million next season in Philly further proving it was about the money.

As if the Flyers rivalries with Pittsburgh and New York needed any more fuel, this will bring it.

Rangers Not Sending Delegation To Meet Directly With Richards Today

The Brad Richards sweepstakes is in full swing just ahead of the opening of free agency this afternoon.  According to Darren Dreger teams are lining up to make presentations and offers for the 31-year-old center.

LA will go hard after Richards. Teams lining up to meet and make presentations today. Teams owners involved. Will be a feeding frenzy.

One team that is not there for an in person meeting/presentation for Brad Richards is the New York Rangers.  That might surprise some, but Larry Brooks reports that the Rangers are not there because Richards knows coach John Tortorella and what he would be signing up for.

Rangers are not sending delegation to meet with Richards. He knows Tortorella well enough by now.

While it is certainly the case that Richards knows Tortorella it is still somewhat strange to not at least send a delegation to make a pitch when he is clearly the best player on the market and you have significant interest in him.  Certainly is not because the entire New York organization is staying back here to work on making lots of other moves today.