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[Speculation] Brad Richards could be bought out


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http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/10/hartnett-richards-is-making-buyout-an-easy-call-for-rangers/

So a few new york reporters believe that Brad could be bought out.

RICHARDS HAS PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED HIS BUYOUT

To the surprise of most everyone last summer, Rangers general manager Glen Sather opted to retain Richards instead of exercising his final compliance buyout. The decision was a gamble and proved to be a wise one.

Richards played an instrumental role in pulling this team together after Sather shipped out former captain Ryan Callahan to acquire evergreen 38-year-old Martin St. Louis. Immediately, Richards stepped forward to assume the role of de facto captain. Along with the supremely-confident St. Louis, Richards helped instill an atmosphere of genuine self-belief in the Rangers’ dressing room.

Following the much-publicized falling out between Richards and former head coach John Tortorella, Vigneault was able to rebuild Richards’ confidence and squeezed the most out of a declining 34-year-old veteran. 51 points in 82 regular season games isn’t bad production. It just isn’t the kind of production that makes retaining Richards’ $6.67 million per year cap hit running through the 2019-20 season an intelligent decision.

Should Richards suffer a career-ending injury or retire during the remainder of the contract, the Rangers would be subjected to significant cap recapture penalties. Sather has until June 30 to decide whether to utilize his final amnesty buyout. Jettisoning Richards appears to be a no-brainer.

The Rangers’ roster will continue to evolve to suit Vigneault’s uptempo philosophies. Speed and puck possession are the two biggest trademarks of a Vigneault-coached team. Richards offers neither of these things. At his current age of 34 and beyond, Richards will continue to lose foot speed.

According to Capgeek.com, the Rangers have $53.9 million committed to 13 players including Richards. That figure does include the salaries of restricted free agents Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, John Moore and Justin Falk. Nor does that amount include potential unrestricted free agents Benoit Pouliot, Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle, Raphael Diaz, Dominic Moore and Dan Carcillo.

Next season’s salary cap is projected to be between $70-71.1 million. Buying out Richards would get the Rangers’ 2014-15 cap payroll commitments down to roughly $47.23 million. In addition to paying raises to a number of RFAs and re-signing key UFAs, the Rangers will be looking to extend alternate captain Marc Staal during the summer. Staal is set to earn $5.45 million in the final year of his five-year contract and is commanding an annual cap hit of $3.975 million.

Despite his likely buyout, Richards will be remembered as a Ranger who was a positive locker room influence. Rick Nash and Derick Brassard are among Rangers who have endorsed all-situation defenseman Ryan McDonagh as the Rangers’ next captain. McDonagh is considered a “captain in waiting” and will have benefited from studying the way Richards has conducted himself throughout the Rangers’ run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

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How does Sather still continue to have his job?

This guy burns money left and right.

Traded a terrible contract for McDonagh and his team made the SCF.

Holmgrem does the same thing and got promoted instead... Although at least for them he isn't in control anymore.

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How does Sather still continue to have his job?

This guy burns money left and right.

Well for starter, Stanley Finals 2014....Eastern conference finals 2012. He must be doing something right. So much money is coming in too, specially with the renovated MSG, tickets prices must be astronomical this year.

Traded for McDonaugh, Nash, St-Louis and Brassard.

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How does Sather still continue to have his job?

This guy burns money left and right.

The Rags have money to burn.

With the compliance buyout option still on the table the dent in their pocketbook would be practically negligible.

Let's see how he does after using his last Get Out of Jail Free card.

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Well for starter, Stanley Finals 2014....Eastern conference finals 2012. He must be doing something right. So much money is coming in too, specially with the renovated MSG, tickets prices must be astronomical this year.

Traded for McDonaugh, Nash, St-Louis and Brassard.

The guy's a terrible GM.

I'm sure any one of you guys would do a better job, performance wise, than this guy. He has an owner that spends like crazy.

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