Brad Richards Update

Darren Dreger passed along the information on Friday afternoon the Calgary Flames had got themselves in on the Brad Richards sweepstakes, presenting their own offer to the free agent centre.  The latest bit of information from Dreger has the Rangers as the front runner, with Calgary "very much in the hunt".  Flames GM Jay Feaster has a history with Richards from their time in Tampa, so it makes sense the team would at least put an offer in.

Nothing official is coming from the Flames, as you’d expect, with Jay Feaster not able to discuss anything that could or could not be in the works.  "I truly can’t talk about any specific players that we may or may not have talked to," said Feaster, taking part in his first July 1st at the helm of the Flames.  Brad’s a great guy," Feaster did say, "we had a special relationship from our time in Tampa.  You don’t win a Stanley Cup and not have a special relationship.  He’s a super young man."

Financially and cap wise, I have no doubt the Flames could finesse this thing to happen.  With where the Flames currently, I do wonder why Richards would pinpoint Calgary as a destination.  That said, if the team is offering the best term and the best dollars, why wouldn’t he consider the Flames, and there is of course the connection with Feaster.  I’m still skeptical this thing ends up going Calgary’s way, but I’m also willing to keep an eye on it.