Apparently they have made an offer, as have the stars and Blue Jackets.

Though the offer isnt public i assume based on what Tampa Bay wwants it will be something like:

Luc Bourdon
Cory Schneider
1st round pick

or

Alex Edler
Corey Schneider
2nd round pick

This trade makes sense for Tampa Bay for lots of reasons. Richards makes 7.8 million a year and has 3 years left on his contract. They are getting a top prospect goalie and a top prospect defenseman, plus an early draft pick, plus cap room.

The Canucks should do this too! Yes Richards is -29 and has the worst +/- in the league. Yes he only has 55 points or so. But he plays with 2 AHL wingers and the team has no goalie and no system. The Canucks need goals BAD. REALLY BAD. Here are 8 reasons why.

1) They will not advance in the playoffs without more scoring. The Sedin's are a second line. Once a team focusses on shutting them down, besides power plays, they dont offer what a first line should.

2) Richards won the Conn Smythe and had 91 points just 3 years ago. He is still in his prime. Yes the contract is a bit of an issue.

3)He is a Canadian kid and will probably play with Naslund and/or Raymond. Speed and skill.

4) The Canucks are losing NO roster players (if they do the Bourdon trade, which is the one i would do.. dont think i would the other). They have Roberto Luongo, a world class goalie. When healthy, they have one of the top 1-6 defences in the league. Mitchell, Bieksa, Salo, Ohlund, Edler, Miller (Kraijeck is out for the season).

5) Naslunds 6 million dollar/yr contract is off the books after this year. Along with B Morrison's 3.5mil. These two guys, if they resign, will not be offered more than 3.5mil and 2 mil/yr respectively.

6) Roberto Luongo. He is the reason for this trade. If he isnt happy of the direction of the team, he'll walk after his contract.

7) The cap will probably go up, so they will have more room anyways.

8) You gotta take a chance. Even if it doesnt work you will always wonder what if. They wont be able to get a top 3 forward in the offseason. They dont offer 10 year contracts at 100 million like some teams. The window with this group is this year and maybe 2 more.

With the trade the canucks will have this lineup (line assumptions):

FORWARDS

Sedin/Sedin/Naslund (1a scoring line)
Richards/Raymond/Morrison (move to wing) (1b scoring line)
Cooke/Burrows/Kesler (shut down line that can score and penalty kills)
Lindon/Ritchie/Shannon/Isbister/Cowan (any 3 as a 4th line that can agitating and throw in the odd goal)

DEFENCE

Mitchell/Bieksa
Ohlund/Salo
Edler/Miller

GOALIE

Luongo

This gives the best chance for the Canucks to win. They cant score enough otherwise. You gotta take a chance! Pull the trigger Nonis!!!!!!!!!!!

Nic

fkng canadians love hockey way too much. gotta respect the devotion to his team though. jeez.

Hockey fans only reply. TY.

Edler is sick. I dont think they pull the trigger if he is involved. Your young players are worth more than ever before. Especiallyt with UFA age now 25 if u have been in the league for 7 years.

I do alot of phillies threads here but pretty sure philles fans outnumber canucks fans here 30 to 1. and its not because philly is a bigger city either.

Absolutely do not make this trade, especially if Edler is involved. I don't care how much cap room they have next year, paying Brad Richards, who is a great player, 7.8 million dollars a year is way too much. They'd be better spending that money on free agents in the off season. Besides, they have been clicking well lately. They'd be better making a trade for a much cheaper forward and a depth defenseman, which is exactly what they will do.

I believe he was making fun of the fact that his comment made zero sense whatsoever.

Ya, but the UFA's this year are slim picking. I would like to see them get a player at the deadline that can help them immediatly and it is not Richards at this time, like Nips said 7.8=WAY too much. If Nonis doesn't get an impact player at the deadline he is pretty much giving up on a Cup run because Luongo can only do so much, along with the Sedins. Any deal with not involve Edler, end of story but will involve, likely, Schneider and 1st rounders since the upcoming draft is so strong.

that is correct.

Perhaps I misspoke slightly. What I was referring to is how much better they are playing, absent of results. Yes, their results have been a lot better because they have been playing so well, but they quality of their play since the defense has become healthy is what has impressed me the most. For the record, and laugh all as much as you like, I think they should target Michael Ryder. The guy can flat out score, needs a change of scenery, and won't cost much to get. Yes, he is overpaid at his current pace, but he can score, and our depth at centre is already adequate. You did suggest moving Richards to the wing yourself, assuming with acquire him.

I have season tix for the canucks that I re-sell.

It would be really nice for them to get more than one or two playoff rounds out of them for once... though right now, I would settle for them just making the playoffs.

-------------------------------------------

I like Brad Richards.

I DON'T like trading Edler at all. I think he will be a top line defenceman within a couple of years.

My question is this... Does Brad Richards with the salary he is carrying and the cap room he is bound to take up really demand a goalie, a young defenceman AND a first round pick? Not sure.

Does it really matter? the canucks are irrelevant, apart from Luongo. The only good Canadian teams this year are Ottawa and Montreal.