The New York Rangers are now cleaning out their lockers after a disappointing ending to the 2012-13 season. After getting eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Bruins, they will now enter into the offseason with several decisions to be made. The first will revolve around Brad Richards and his large contract. After a sub-par season, his return for another year in uncertain.
Richards earned $12 million in the second year of a nine-year, $60 million contract that he signed in the summer of 2011. The 2012 season was a struggle for Richards. He finished the regular season strong with 34 points in 46 games, but he failed to carry that success into the postseason. He pulled after just playing 8:10 in Game 3 and did not see the ice again for the rest of the team's run.
Head coach John Tortorella scratched Richards after demoting him to the fourth line. He did not feel that Richards was playing well compared to Derek Stepan, Darick Brassard and Brian Boyle. Richards has since said he intends on trying to regroup during the offseason and figure out how to get his momentum back.
The question is whether or not he will get that opportunity. He currently has seven years and $36 million remaining on his contract. The team might consider using their final amnesty buyout on him. Due to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams have the option of buying out healthy players contracts either during this summer of the summer of 2014. The Rangers already bought out Wade Redden's contract and Richards is well aware he might be next.
"I signed for longer than a year and a half, but I do understand everything that's going on," Richards said.
If the Rangers buy out Richards' contract, they would owe him $24 million over the next 14 years. He would then be free to sign with any other team and the Rangers would eliminate $6.67 million off their books.
Richards vows to make some changes in the offseason. He said one of the reasons he struggled was because of the lockout. He did not handle his offseason training well enough to carry success into the postseason.
Tortorella is confident that Richards can make necessary changes to his training and regime to ensure a better 2013.
