Is Brad Richards A Trade Target?

[Declan]

Today, Mike Heika of the Dallas News responded to a question by a Rangers fan about a possible trade for Brad Richards involving Rozsival & Dubinsky. This same type of trade has been thrown about on internet messageboards for weeks now. I don't think the NYR are interested in bringing in another high contract like Richards, but who knows....

Q: I am writing to you as a New York Rangers fan. There was a rumor about a week ago about the Stars and Rangers hooking up on a trade that would send Brad Richards and another player to NY for Brandon Dubinsky, Michal Rozsival and a prospect. Supposedly, the Rangers are having trouble signing Dubinsky (Restricted Free Agent) and really need a first line center. The person who wrote this rumor said he talked to a Dallas Star official and he said there was some truth to the rumor. Do you know anything about this? Is there any truth to it? Thanks! Steve.


HEIKA: Hey Steven, I doubt that it came from someone within the Dallas Stars. All I can find out is that the Stars would rather not have Michal Rozsival or Wade Redden be a part of any deal. I actually don't mind Rozsival, and I think his contract is manageable at $5 million a year for the next three years. But he is definitely overpaid for what he does, and that is a concern. I also like the edge that Dubinsky gives, and I like his history of performing well in the playoffs at the lower levels.

So the deal does make some amount of sense on the surface.

But the Stars, I believe, have simply asked: Are we better with Rozsival on defense and Dubinsky as the No. 2 center or are we better with Brad Richards as our No. 2 center and the current defense? They have decided, I believe, they would be better with Richards as the No. 2 center and the current defense.

Now, the Stars are on a very tight budget and would probably listen to offers that allowed them to move Richards for top prospects so that they could shed his $7.8 million salary (for the next two seasons) and possibly acquire a bigger name defenseman. But, the proposed deal with the Rangers doesn't save them any money, so I believe they are simply looking at this as they would rather have Richards than the other players.

Also, remember, Richards does still have a no-trade clause (although I wonder if he would waive it to get back with John Tortorella and playing on the East Coast).

So, in conclusion, I don't think this is going to happen. If the Rangers can somehow move Redden or Rozsival someplace else and get the Stars some youngsters like Dubinsky and a prospect, I think the Stars would talk.

starsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/08/summer-mailbag-richards-trade-unlikely.html