Will Tampa keep or trade Richards?

[charlio lemieux]

Richards needs a new contract this season. Unlike 99% of NHL Players he is not having an amazing year when he is due for a raise. Ofcourse it is more of a team issue, but having low numbers won't get you a bigger check.
Speaking of checks. Tampa currently writes two very large checks to St. Louis and LeCavalier, for 6.5 and 6 million dollars a year respectfully. If you use LeCavalier as the benchmark, Richards has put up stats that are as good, without question. So does that make him worth $6 million a season?
Maybe. He should atleast get $5.5million anywhere. If he isn't re-signed he is gone. Unrestricted Free Agent at 26.
Side note: Free agency at 26 is going to be the owners worst nightmare. On the flipside, reverse arbitration will be their best friend.
So can Tampa afford to sign Richards, and still keep a contender together? That will be atleast $18million for 3 players. The Cap is going up next year, so that may help Tampa keep him. But even with the increase that leaves $24.5million for the rest of the roster.
Should Tampa trade Richards? Tampa would be able to address several issues with what could be demanded in return. Like the Thornton trade it would have to involve multiple players in return.
Either way it time is running out.
What should Tampa do?

[wildboy26]

As much as they could benefit from the extra money I really dont believe they could lose Richards. He is invaluable to the team. Then again they might need a quality starting goalie even more than they need Richards, and the price of the two could be comparable. Richards seems like a nice guy, maybe he will accept a milliion and a half less a year or so to keep the teams core intact? Then again even nice guys are probably not that nice, especialy when he has always been in LeCavalier's shadow in alot of ways to begin with.