Brad Richards; How to structure a Leafs contract

Leafs need to think beyond just making the playoffs

I'll soon be posting my goals for the 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs season, and to achieve them, the Leafs will need to bring in Brad Richards plus a high scoring forward, or an up an coming offensive centre and another two offensive threats. The Buds have to think about a Big Nine up front, and a Big Six in front of Reimer, if and when they want to be taken seriously as a Stanley Cup contender.

Although it is likely that Richards will sign with New York Rangers, there's no reason why Brian Burke and his Toronto Maple Leafs should not make an offer that makes sense to the Buds.

Leafs cannot afford a full no-trade clause in a Brad Richards contract

Part A - Intangibles

Brad Richards would become a clear offensive leader on a goal-starved Leafs team, however the significant age differential between Richards and the youthful core means that a pure no-trade deal wouldn't work for Toronto. One scenario would have a no-trade clause in the first year, an 8-team clause (8 teams he'd be willing to be traded to) for year two, and a 16-team clause for year three. Beyond that, no guarantees.

Part B - Financial

It's crucial that an extended Leafs contract not impact the Leafs negatively a few years down the line, so here are suggestions for contract offers to Richards, that could also make sense for the Maple Leafs.

One year deal - $9.5 mil


Two year deal - $17 mil

Year 1 - $9.5 mil, Year 2 - $7.5 mil



Three year deal - $22.5 mil

Year 1 - $9.5 mil, Year 2 - $7 mil, Year 3 - $6 mil


Four year deal - $28 mil

Year 1 - $9.5 mil, Year 2 - $7.5 mil, Year 3 - $6 mil, Year 4 - 5 mil


Five year deal - $35 mil

Year 1 - $10.5 mil, Year 2 - $9.5 mil, Year 3 - $6 mil, Year 4 - 5 mil, Year 5 - 4 mil

Considering that it's likely a three to five year deal will be required to ink Richards, it is worth reflecting on the fact that 22 to 35 mil would go a long ways towards the Leafs being able to sign other free agents and keep all or most of the most promising talent in the system.

I wouldn't be surprised if Burke only offered Richards a one to three year deal, with Brad picking the term. This way the full cap hit will be only $9.5 to 22.5 mil; a 3 year deal would create significant room in the 2014-2015 season, when Burke could then try and resign Richards (who will be 33 by then) if it was working out perfectly, or use the money to re-sign younger players if that was deemed wiser.

It may all be moot if Richards has no intention of considering Toronto, however the PEI connections of current and former leafs, plus the team's dominant fan base there, means that Toronto should be in the game, unless it gets prohibitively expensive and constrictive (eg severe no-trade clauses).

Thanks You Leafs, for a true grit 2nd half

Optimus Reimer the key to turnaround; Phaneuf rock solid

The Stanley Cup tourney will go without the beloved Buds, however they certainly didn't defeat themselves in the 2011 portion of the NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a strong youthful core in place for the 2011-2012 NHL season, and Burke's wizardry promises to augment this crew further. Stay tuned for an exciting off-season and a highly anticipated 2011 Leafs training camp.

A few highlights:

- King James Reimer carries a struggling team on his back and turns around a franchise

- Dion Phaneuf steps up after Kaberle leaves, earns his big Leafs "C"

- Phil Kessel emerging as a top playmaker over the final weeks of the season

- Luke Schenn's continued growth as a solid, stay-at-home defender

- Nikolai Kulemin a 30-goal scorer!

- Mikhail Grabovski excels as a 2nd line centre

- Nazem Kadri learning to play with smarts and finesse

- Joffrey Lupul regains scoring touch, clicks with Kessel

- Clarke MacArthur solidifies 2nd line, needs to be re-signed

- Boyce and Crabb show promise alongside Kadri

- Aulie, Lashoff perform under pressure after callup from Marlies

Burke's priorities have to be signing a bona fide #1 centre (hello Brad Richards!) plus a solid veteran goaltender, who is willing to play 25-30 games in support of James Reimer.

Thanks Buds, for the playoff intensity of the last couple of months. We're moving in the right direction, and hopeful for next season.

Go Leafs Go!!!

3 Top 2011 NHL Free Agents that can help Leafs win the Stanley Cup within two years

Maple Leafs may look at Richards, Leino, Upshall ... and Bryzgalov

Brad Richards - He'll be 31 on May 2nd yet Richards remains at the top of his game, one of the world's premier centres. Burke wants to win now and Richards has two to three more years as a number one centre and a few more after that as 2nd line centre and a role payer, so a four or five year deal for 30 or 35 mil is not out of the question.


Ville Leino - Playoff hero for Philly last Spring when he scored 21 points in 19 playoff games, his 49 points so far this year come with some impressive kickers, such as Plus 14 (47th in league), and 15.5% shooting percentage (56th in league), with his 32 assists putting him 61st in the NHL. The Flyers will likely go 8 or 9 mil for three years if they can afford it, so the Leafs or another bidder may have to go 10 mil for 3 years of 15 mil for 4. This would put him in the range of Kulemin, Grabovski and MacArthur, and just under Kessel, so he could be a good signing.


Scottie Upshall - His 20 goals rank him 75th in the NHL right now, and as a physical 27 year old, fits the Leafs style. Could be crucial to get someone like Scottie if MacArthur decides to bolt, though it seems likely he will stay.



Brian Burke can afford to sign all three, which would make the 2011-2012 training camp the most exciting in a decade.



Goaltending - The Leafs need to sign Giguere or another proven NHL goalie to be a backup / challenger to Reimer, then trade Gustavsson to a team that will give him a fair, fresh chance, possibly getting a goalie who has worn out his welcome in another town in return. With Reimer being a young number one and there being no clear number two, we need to go into camp with at least three proven NHL goaltenders, unless Burke manages to also sign free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

Bryzgalov and Reimer...