Tampa Bay Lightning Amid Quite a Few Teams to Make a Pitch for Brad Richards
Jumat, 01 Juli 2011 by Android Blackberry
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| Pitch for Brad Richards |
Tampa Bay Lightning Amid Quite a Few Teams to Make a Pitch for Brad Richards
As anticipated, Brad Richards is finding a lot of consideration from various teams hoping to sign the free-agent center, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman was one among a number of teams that built the trip to Toronto to meet with Richards' associates at their Newport Sports activities offices. That actually worked out properly for Yzerman, who was there to converse to agents for All-Star middle Steven Stamkos, who became a restricted cost-free agent and is also represented from the exact same firm as Richards.
Groups creating proposals incorporated the Kings, Rangers, Maple Leafs, Flyers and Flames. The Sabres also have been assumed to have curiosity but apparently bowed out following signing left wing Ville Leino for six years, $27 million.
Yzerman isn't kidding himself. He knows Richards, 31, would have to agree to just take way significantly less than current market value to return for the Lightning, with which he was the MVP with the 2004 Stanley Cup run. But Richards' ties on the Tampa Bay spot are powerful. Two of his very best buddies are Tampa Bay forwards Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. Richards no longer owns a property inside the spot but rents a spot and uses it as a base to train at Saddlebrook Resort in neighboring Pasco County. The Lightning, which drafted Richards inside the third round in 1998, also presents two factors Richards deems essential, stable ownership with Jeff Vinik and a possibility to win.
Will that be adequate to compensate for a lot less money? Richards, who, before he was traded in February 2008 to your Stars inside Mike Smith offer was thought to get a foreseeable future Lightning captain, has stated he will be "flexible" in evaluating every team's predicament individually.
Kings optimistic immediately after 'all-in' presentation to Brad Richards.
The Kings' eight-man delegation had about 90 minutes for making a presentation to Brad Richards and his agent, Pat Morris, on Friday in Toronto, rising optimistic about luring the prize no cost agent ahead on the West Coast.
Tim Leiweke, chief executive from the Kings' parent company, AEG, led the group. He said the presentation "went well. He was pretty impressed. Our team did the most beneficial player presentation I have ever before noticed."
The Kings' pitch, members of the group reported, included game video that highlighted the team's possible and in which Richards would suit in, recruitment messages from celebrities these kinds of as Hollywood mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer -- an avid hockey enthusiast -- and Lakers star Kobe Bryant, and strategies for possible residences according to the home Richards now has.
"It was all-encompassing," said Mike Altieri, the Kings' vice president of communications. "It talked with regards to the business, hockey operations, life-style. We went all-in."
Leiweke stated just after the presentation that he spoke one-on-one with Richards.
"He not just asked inquiries, we stayed powering and talked one-on-one. He is a very good man, and I liked him lots," Leiweke reported by mobile phone for the strategy to the Toronto airport.
“He was pretty experienced in addition to a good-character man.”
It's actually not very likely that Richards will create a determination these days, due to the fact other teams plan to generate pitches to him in addition. The new York Rangers are expected to become last and are also expected to throw massive funds within the table. Leiweke declined to go over the price or length on the Kings' provide, nevertheless it is believed to possess an typical annual value of $6.five million for 7 to nine several years.
Leiweke also said the process would not turn into the circus, as being the Kings' negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk did final summer time. They went back and forth with Kovalchuk, who visited La, and elevated their present many occasions to about $80 million through 15 decades.
Kovalchuk took a $102-million, 17-year provide from New Jersey that was later modified to $100 million through 15 a long time after the NHL said the 1st contract circumvented the salary cap.
"This can be quite unique," Leiweke explained. "This is not a bidding contest. I think the choice will likely be designed in a very specialized way."
The Tampa Bay Lightning, Richards' initial NHL cease and the team he led to your Stanley Cup in 2004, also manufactured a presentation. Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman advised Canada's TSN network that he was endeavoring to place the team's most effective foot ahead -- and continue on negotiations on a contract for limited cost-free agent Steven Stamkos, whose agent, Don Meehan, works while in the exact workplace as Morris at Newport Sports.
The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs are also in pursuit of Richards.
As anticipated, Brad Richards is finding a lot of consideration from various teams hoping to sign the free-agent center, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman was one among a number of teams that built the trip to Toronto to meet with Richards' associates at their Newport Sports activities offices. That actually worked out properly for Yzerman, who was there to converse to agents for All-Star middle Steven Stamkos, who became a restricted cost-free agent and is also represented from the exact same firm as Richards.
Groups creating proposals incorporated the Kings, Rangers, Maple Leafs, Flyers and Flames. The Sabres also have been assumed to have curiosity but apparently bowed out following signing left wing Ville Leino for six years, $27 million.
Yzerman isn't kidding himself. He knows Richards, 31, would have to agree to just take way significantly less than current market value to return for the Lightning, with which he was the MVP with the 2004 Stanley Cup run. But Richards' ties on the Tampa Bay spot are powerful. Two of his very best buddies are Tampa Bay forwards Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. Richards no longer owns a property inside the spot but rents a spot and uses it as a base to train at Saddlebrook Resort in neighboring Pasco County. The Lightning, which drafted Richards inside the third round in 1998, also presents two factors Richards deems essential, stable ownership with Jeff Vinik and a possibility to win.
Will that be adequate to compensate for a lot less money? Richards, who, before he was traded in February 2008 to your Stars inside Mike Smith offer was thought to get a foreseeable future Lightning captain, has stated he will be "flexible" in evaluating every team's predicament individually.
Kings optimistic immediately after 'all-in' presentation to Brad Richards.
The Kings' eight-man delegation had about 90 minutes for making a presentation to Brad Richards and his agent, Pat Morris, on Friday in Toronto, rising optimistic about luring the prize no cost agent ahead on the West Coast.
Tim Leiweke, chief executive from the Kings' parent company, AEG, led the group. He said the presentation "went well. He was pretty impressed. Our team did the most beneficial player presentation I have ever before noticed."
The Kings' pitch, members of the group reported, included game video that highlighted the team's possible and in which Richards would suit in, recruitment messages from celebrities these kinds of as Hollywood mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer -- an avid hockey enthusiast -- and Lakers star Kobe Bryant, and strategies for possible residences according to the home Richards now has.
"It was all-encompassing," said Mike Altieri, the Kings' vice president of communications. "It talked with regards to the business, hockey operations, life-style. We went all-in."
Leiweke stated just after the presentation that he spoke one-on-one with Richards.
"He not just asked inquiries, we stayed powering and talked one-on-one. He is a very good man, and I liked him lots," Leiweke reported by mobile phone for the strategy to the Toronto airport.
“He was pretty experienced in addition to a good-character man.”
It's actually not very likely that Richards will create a determination these days, due to the fact other teams plan to generate pitches to him in addition. The new York Rangers are expected to become last and are also expected to throw massive funds within the table. Leiweke declined to go over the price or length on the Kings' provide, nevertheless it is believed to possess an typical annual value of $6.five million for 7 to nine several years.
Leiweke also said the process would not turn into the circus, as being the Kings' negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk did final summer time. They went back and forth with Kovalchuk, who visited La, and elevated their present many occasions to about $80 million through 15 decades.
Kovalchuk took a $102-million, 17-year provide from New Jersey that was later modified to $100 million through 15 a long time after the NHL said the 1st contract circumvented the salary cap.
"This can be quite unique," Leiweke explained. "This is not a bidding contest. I think the choice will likely be designed in a very specialized way."
The Tampa Bay Lightning, Richards' initial NHL cease and the team he led to your Stanley Cup in 2004, also manufactured a presentation. Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman advised Canada's TSN network that he was endeavoring to place the team's most effective foot ahead -- and continue on negotiations on a contract for limited cost-free agent Steven Stamkos, whose agent, Don Meehan, works while in the exact workplace as Morris at Newport Sports.
The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs are also in pursuit of Richards.
