The Top Free Agents on the NHL Free Agency Market: Dallas Stars Centre, Brad Richards
With the latest increase in the National Hockey League’s (NHL) salary cap, many teams will now have the opportunity to grab free agents from all around the league.
One of the most desired agent will be Brad Richards, the former-to-be Dallas Stars' centre superstar player.
Richards cut ties with his team a long time ago, after the team ended its third consecutive season, failing to reach the playoffs and blaming it on the management issues and not being able to find a new owner.
He is not only looking to be on a new team now, but looking for more of a chance at the Stanley Cup.
"It's been too long since I had that chance to win the Stanley Cup", Richards said during a recent appearance on NHL Live. "I kind of thought we'd have a couple more cracks at it by now. That will be the main focus".
Unable to meet his demands, Dallas Stars did not offer him a chance to re-sign, as it knew it would go in vain after many negotiation attempts.
The 31-year-old, is certainly capable of being called one of the best centre players in the whole league, making him the top player available in this year’s free agency.
The Canadian native from Murray Harbour, PE, was drafted in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft as the 64th pick overall by Tampa Bay Lightning.
Richards certainly has ambitions about going back to his original team, Tampa Bay, and remains flexible in negotiating, but it depends on whether if it is willing to negotiate or not.
"If you say only one thing, you're not going to give yourself any options", Richards told the St. Petersburg Times by phone from his Prince Edward Island home. "There's different ways to do things. … That's why it's important to have an open mind. I want
to see that if a team is looking at me, I can make the right call".
For now, nothing is clear on where Richards will be heading, since Tampa Bay's general manager, Steve Yzerman, currently has his hands full with his own issues.
Lightning's top players, Steven Stamkos and superstar goalie Dwayne Roloson, are set to become free agents, thus, negotiating with them on a new contract is obviously his top priority.
After that, their position on Richards will be known.
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