Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean isn’t the only one with a proverbial hard on for Brad Richards. With young players like David Backes foregoing unrestricted free agency to ink contracts with their current clubs and an unresolved ownership situation in Dallas, Richards is almost assured of being the marquee name when July 1st comes around. (Note: I’m hesitant to even mention Alexander Semin in the conversation about potential UFAs. He’s already earning $6.0-million per year and Washington has $22 million in cap space next season.)
In the last year of a contract that averages a $7.8-million cap hit, it’s tough to envision what the then 31-year old Richards will fetch on the open market. But with each road game, fans around the NHL are privy to the naivety that Richards could one day be theirs. Recently, it was Toronto’s turn and now it’s Ottawa’s turn. With close to $16 million in projected cap space, some underwhelming production from their centers not named Jason Spezza and a dearth of offensive center prospects in the system, Richards is an intriguing option to consider. More so when you recognize recent trends and an even worse free agent crop in 2012.
Let’s look at Ottawa’s situation:
- Chris Kelly coming off the books in the books in 2012;
- All of Ottawa’s best forward prospects are scoring wingers;
- The team already has the young defencemen (ie. Wiercioch, Cowen, Karlsson, Rundblad, Gryba) and goaltender of the future (Lehner) accounted for;
- The organization has a desire to remain competitive on an annual basis and hope that the stars align for that one season;
- $16 million in cap space on July 1st, 2011;
According to Cap Geek, here is the projected cap space for each NHL team on July 1st, 2011:
| Team | Payroll | Bonuses | Cap Space | Roster Spots | $/Opening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Stars » | $37,895,001 | $145,000 | $21,504,999 | 17 | $3,584,167 | ||||
| Phoenix Coyotes » | $24,268,750 | $0 | $35,131,250 | 11 | $2,927,604 | ||||
| Colorado Avalanche » | $28,610,000 | $2,885,000 | $30,790,000 | 12 | $2,799,091 | ||||
| Atlanta Thrashers » | $28,966,666 | $3,087,500 | $30,433,334 | 12 | $2,766,667 | ||||
| New York Islanders » | $23,489,833 | $3,087,500 | $35,910,167 | 10 | $2,762,321 | ||||
| Los Angeles Kings » | $40,268,334 | $2,690,000 | $19,131,666 | 16 | $2,733,095 | ||||
| Florida Panthers » | $23,929,167 | $425,000 | $35,470,833 | 10 | $2,728,526 | ||||
| Nashville Predators » | $33,833,333 | $987,500 | $25,566,667 | 13 | $2,556,667 | ||||
| Washington Capitals » | $37,159,572 | $80,000 | $22,240,428 | 14 | $2,471,159 | ||||
| Carolina Hurricanes » | $26,637,500 | $615,000 | $32,762,500 | 9 | $2,340,179 | ||||
| Edmonton Oilers » | $40,000,000 | $3,787,500 | $19,400,000 | 14 | $2,155,556 | ||||
| Ottawa Senators » | $42,887,500 | $425,000 | $16,512,500 | 15 | $2,064,063 | ||||
| Toronto Maple Leafs » | $38,786,666 | $1,000,000 | $20,613,334 | 13 | $2,061,333 | ||||
| St. Louis Blues » | $35,429,166 | $2,350,000 | $23,970,834 | 11 | $1,997,570 | ||||
| Tampa Bay Lightning » | $37,663,583 | $2,737,500 | $21,736,417 | 12 | $1,976,038 | ||||
| Buffalo Sabres » | $37,717,024 | $562,500 | $21,682,976 | 12 | $1,971,180 | ||||
| Columbus Blue Jackets » | $44,368,749 | $1,350,000 | $15,031,251 | 15 | $1,878,906 | ||||
| Montreal Canadiens » | $34,086,309 | $400,000 | $25,313,691 | 9 | $1,808,121 | ||||
| New York Rangers » | $41,850,000 | $212,500 | $17,550,000 | 13 | $1,755,000 | ||||
| Detroit Red Wings » | $44,558,711 | $0 | $14,841,289 | 14 | $1,649,032 | ||||
| Boston Bruins » | $49,852,975 | $2,850,000 | $9,547,025 | 17 | $1,591,171 | ||||
| Anaheim Ducks » | $44,933,333 | $500,000 | $14,466,667 | 13 | $1,446,667 | ||||
| Minnesota Wild » | $50,745,277 | $202,500 | $8,654,723 | 17 | $1,442,454 | ||||
| Vancouver Canucks » | $46,608,333 | $0 | $12,791,667 | 14 | $1,421,296 | ||||
| Chicago Blackhawks » | $42,385,503 | $0 | $17,014,497 | 10 | $1,308,807 | ||||
| New Jersey Devils » | $50,788,332 | $0 | $8,611,668 | 16 | $1,230,238 | ||||
| San Jose Sharks » | $47,150,001 | $425,000 | $12,249,999 | 12 | $1,113,636 | ||||
| Pittsburgh Penguins » | $51,133,333 | $0 | $8,266,667 | 13 | $826,667 | ||||
| Calgary Flames » | $56,778,333 | $425,000 | $2,621,667 | 18 | $524,333 | ||||
| Philadelphia Flyers » | $57,585,823 | $1,700,000 | $1,814,177 | 18 | $362,835 | ||||
Would Richards ever want to play in Ottawa? I’m not sure. If he doesn’t, hopefully Bryan has a good plan B.
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