Toronto Maple Leafs and Brad Richards, a potential 5-year deal

The Leafs need a bona fide #1 NHL centreman, and Brad requires a team that will keep him young and competitive for years to come. Maple leafs GM Brian Burke can certainly afford to sign Burke for 2011-2012, and here's a typical 5 year contract for a player of Richards' caliber:

NHL Season - Salary

2011-2012 - $9 mil
2012-2013 - $9 mil
2013-2014 - $8 mil
2014-2015 - $7 mil
2015-2016 - $7 mil


That's 40 million over 5 years, however the stipend is declining over time, allowing the Leafs to continue to be able to re-sign talent or acquire new players as the contract runs on.

What if Brian and Brad were to get really creative, and come up with a contract that would land Richards, plus allow the Buds to stay competitive over the full five years of the deal? Here's how that may look:

2011-2012 - $10 mil
2012-2013 - $10 mil
2013-2014 - $9 mil
2014-2015 - $6 mil
2015-2016 - $5 mil

It requires biting hard on the bullet for the next few seasons, then frees up some stretching room as Brad reaches his mid-30s and we may need more support up the middle, or elsewhere on the team to stay among the NHL's elite (I mean that).


Canada Day, please come soon!