Are The Rangers Trying To Trade Brad Richards?

Anthony Scultore Updated: May 29, 2020

Brad Richards on the move, one way or another (MSG)

All inter-organization rumblings indicated the New York Rangers are buying out Brad Richards. Glen Sather and company even asked if Richards was open to go on waivers, to which he declined. So are the Rangers trying one last ditch effort to trade him and save themselves some money?

Before you say it is out of the question, realize that Vancouver did the same thing with Roberto Luongo. They even ate some of his salary and it was still cheaper than a buyout. Why, so they can save their buyout for David Booth. Brad Richards does have a No Move Clause, which could make it tricky.

Now try this bombshell on for size – what if they are doing this in order to shed Richards’ salary so they could buyout Rick Nash? This is pure speculation on the part of FullTilt Magazine, but an eyebrow raiser for sure.

What makes Brad Richards interesting to other teams? Well, for any team with cap space, he is a veteran that can lead a young group of players. While his cap hit is $6,666,667 for the next 6 seasons, the last three of those his salary is a measly $1,000,000.

Of course it isn’t that simple as Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News wrote:

For example, assuming the Rangers were to trade Brad to the Anaheim Ducks and he retired in 2016, the Blueshirts would be hit with recapture penalties of $4.16 million annually until 2020, when his contract was due to expire. The Ducks would be penalized $916,000 annually over the same period.

If NY were willing to eat some of his contract over the next few seasons, a deal could be had if Richards is accepting to it. Nonetheless, the likely move is the Rangers will announce a buyout and look for a #1 center to play with Rick Nash.

Still, when you ask yourself what’s taking the Rangers so long…it makes you wonder if Sather is playing mind games with some poor GM’s.