Flyers Extend Richards Contract

[eleven24]

TSN.ca is reporting that the Flyers have extended the contract of Mike Richards.

Details to follow...

UPDATE: Reported deal has Richards here for his career. 12 YEARS, $70M. The cap hit is $5.83M per year & Richie will be here until 2019.

UPDATE 2 (MIKE TALKS ABOUT THE DEAL WITH TIM P):
Two months ago, Paul and I had a conversation after season started and talked about the future and what we wanted," he replied.

"I told him I wanted to be part of Philadelphia and the organization as long as I can. Things started rolling. When Paul asked me if I were serious, I was.

"I wanted to be here. I love the city, I love the organization and when given the opportunity, I was excited to be here the next 12 years."

Where does he see himself?

"I haven't thought about that too much, this just happened last night," he replied. "I feel that I'm a little bit of a leader on this team. I hope to be for a long time. Right now, I am just learning things from how different players carry themselves around the dressing room."

The money?

"It's a lot of money. The next 12 years of my life is going to be fun. I think that is overlooked by the opportunity I have to play in Philadelphia. Ed Snider has given the chance I wanted to be here ...

"I talked to a couple of guys around the room - if they would sign it if they wanted to be here. The consensus was this was a first-class organization. Nobody treats you better - the city, the fans - nobody treats you better ..."

[Ryan20]

Woo hoo!

[Wes]

Brilliant move. If we can re-sign Carter long-term we'll be golden. I'd only consider re-upping Umberger if he plays as well as he has ALL season long.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Nice, very nice to see this done before anyone can throw offersheets Richards' way. Hopefully the same can be done for Carter too.

[BILLY LEANO fan]

It is going to be huge if Homer can get both Carter and Umberger under contract before the off season.

[dudebeer]

ya fan 590 and sportsnet are confirming with league approval that it will be a done deal. Merry Christmas boys.

[eleven24]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Flyers leave Carter out there past July 1 to see if anyone tenders an offer sheet. They could very well let him walk for the 4 draft picks they'd get in return - especially with guys like JVR, Downie, Nodl, Matsumoto, and Giroux in the pipeline.

Umberger is the cheaper option, and still a very good player.

[BILLY LEANO fan]

12 yrs 70 mil!!!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2007/...s_flyers_deal/

[Drew]

YES. YES. YES.

<3

God willing, there's our future captain, and Flyer for his career.

[Ryan20]

This about sums up my reaction:

[Andy]

Fucking excellent.

I'm excited. Brilliant move, Homer.

[Flatline]

[Chris]

This has made my day.

Brilliant move, Homer. Good job.

[BILLY LEANO fan]

You know in 10 years from now Richards will be way under market value.. Holmgren is a genious!

Originally Posted by eleven24

I wouldn't be surprised if the Flyers leave Carter out there past July 1 to see if anyone tenders an offer sheet. They could very well let him walk for the 4 draft picks they'd get in return - especially with guys like JVR, Downie, Nodl, Matsumoto, and Giroux in the pipeline.

Umberger is the cheaper option, and still a very good player.

Definite possibility, Although I'd rather see us keep Carter, we are overflowing with propects as is... Let the man Develop, We already are gonna need to do some house cleaning to get
JVR, Downie, Nodl, Matsumoto, Giroux, AND Maroon, on the team as regulars, by that time Carter could possibly a top forward with the #1 draft picks in the minors.

[Andy]

Rob - May I ask, you don't think Briere's worth what he's getting?

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by Andy

Rob - May I ask, you don't think Briere's worth what he's getting?

He's thinking well, neither do I.

[Andy]

He has 32 points in 28 games.
What makes you think he's not worth it?
He's a Forsberg caliber player in the sense that he makes everyone dangerous when he's on the ice. So, his defensive skills aren't the best, but still. At least we have a high-powered offense man there.

[eleven24]

Originally Posted by Andy

Rob - May I ask, you don't think Briere's worth what he's getting?

It's not that he isn't worth what he's getting TODAY, because I think he is - marginally so, but I think he is. It's the 7-year deal that will have Danny here until he's 38 years old, and sucking up $6M of cap space.

Briere is the beneficiary of the new rule changes, a small speedy guy who previously couldn't make his way through the neutral zone with the puck. So much so that just a few years ago (pre lockout) he was put on waivers by Phoenix and nobody picked him up. If he truly had elite level talent, someone would've absolutely snagged him.

Post lockout he was dynamite, but he also put those numbers up on a wide open free wheeling Sabres team. The style suited him perfectly, as did his speedy linemates. But that was only two seasons of elite level production after the NHL completely rewrote the rulebook. Now, teams are learning to play defense again and the obstruction calls aren't as frequent as they were in the first few months following the lockout... a trend that I expect to continue. If it does, Danny's numbers go down.

To me, you pay a player an elite level salary if he has elite level talent. Briere has a lot of talent, but not elite... in my opinion. Put it this way, Forsberg, Crosby, St.Louis, Sakic, Gomez... they were all dangerous players before and after the lockout. They have elite level talent.

So, my long winded explanation...

I like Briere today... and next year... and maybe the year after that. But he isn't going to be the reason the Flyers ever win a Cup... Mike Richards, on the other hand...

...lets just say this may have been Homer's best move yet.

[The Mac]

Originally Posted by Andy

He has 32 points in 28 games.
What makes you think he's not worth it?
He's a Forsberg caliber player in the sense that he makes everyone dangerous when he's on the ice. So, his defensive skills aren't the best, but still. At least we have a high-powered offense man there.

I agree completely. He's here to be an offensive threat and he is. If I were to discuss a contract that turned out to be too much I would look at Hartnell long before I would look at Briere. He's just not producing here... it reminds me of Calder from last year. Timonen may be a little overpaid too... but our powerplay has improved dramatically, so I'm more willing to give him a pass.

I can't decide if the Richards deal or that win on Tuesday made me happier. Probably the Richards deal... because that will last for 12 years of awesomeness.

[The Mac]

Originally Posted by eleven24

It's the 7-year deal that will have Danny here until he's 38 years old, and sucking up $6M of cap space.

I certainly could be wrong... but I thought they front-loaded his contract to avoid just that. I don't have the cap rules in front of me, but I thought that only if the player signed the contract after he was 35 did he take up his yearly average in the cap, and otherwise it was the real money he received that counted against it?