Jason Lewis: Phaneuf for Richards: Does It Make Sense?

Neon Dion shoots left.

No..






Ok Maybe....

Neon Dion shoots left.
- BoringBob69

Prefers to play the right side...

Neon Dion shoots left.
- BoringBob69

Bah. Left shooting-right side preference. My wires are crossed.

Thanks for the catch.

Prefers to play the right side...
- BoTtLePoLiCe

Caught. Mia culpa

Bad for the leafs. We need youth, draft choices, not a Richards at this point in our team development.

No sense at all, what have you been smoking?? This is a total homer view and Phaneuf has 10 times the value as Richards meaning Richards has little value.

No sense at all, what have you been smoking?? This is a total homer view and Phaneuf has 10 times the value as Richards meaning Richards has little value.
- flyerdude17

I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help.

Bad for the leafs. We need youth, draft choices, not a Richards at this point in our team development.
- sparky

If you can get rid of phanny, i think you do it, no matter what comes back as long as its less money

If you can get rid of phanny, i think you do it, no matter what comes back as long as its less money
- rferrone

Truth.

I feel like no one likes a hockey trade these days. One team has to be done over by the other, otherwise it's bad.

You aren't getting rid of Phaneuf's bad contract without taking one back of your own. It's just all in what you value.

No sense at all, what have you been smoking?? This is a total homer view and Phaneuf has 10 times the value as Richards meaning Richards has little value.
- flyerdude17

Maybe not 10 times the value but he is worth more than Richards+.

I could definitely see the Kings making a play for Dion though.

This rumor is idiotic for the Leafs. First, you never trade defense for offense unless the offense coming back is a guaranteed improvement on what you currently have. Richards isn't. If the Leafs want to get rid of a bad contract, it makes zero sense to take on another bad contract.

Truth.

I feel like no one likes a hockey trade these days. One team has to be done over by the other, otherwise it's bad.

You aren't getting rid of Phaneuf's bad contract without taking one back of your own. It's just all in what you value.
- Jason_Lewis

Difference here though is that Phaneuf isn't as worthless to Toronto as Richards is to LA. While yea we would had to take back a bad contract to off load Phaneuf we would also have to get a solid young piece with value to make it worth it.

Also by all LA fans and blogger's own admission, Phaneuf would be a 3-4D with LA (possibly 2 or 5 depending how the change of scenery pans out for Dion) which is an upgrade to what you have. Richards can still play 4C with Toronto, which is a really bad thing, as you know.

Based on that alone Phaneuf has a lot more value than Richards. The only way the Leafs make this trade is if they get back a great piece with Richards. This gives LA a lot more risk as they could give up a solid piece for a bad contract playing on the 3rd pairing but not making this deal definitely leaves LA with a bad contract.

I personally wouldn't make this deal unless Toronto gets a great piece with Richards AND are definitely going the full rebuild route. Of course if LA has to give up another asset they may not want to make this deal but do you trade Richards and hopefully dump a bad contract for an asset (overpaid but still an asset), or keep Richards and definitely hold onto a bad contract.

If Dean can make it work for the future. Id rahter have Dion than Richards. It makes sense on team needs for LA. It would release some pressure off Drew.

Difference here though is that Phaneuf isn't as worthless to Toronto as Richards is to LA. While yea we would had to take back a bad contract to off load Phaneuf we would also have to get a solid young piece with value to make it worth it.

Also by all LA fans and blogger's own admission, Phaneuf would be a 3-4D with LA (possibly 2 or 5 depending how the change of scenery pans out for Dion) which is an upgrade to what you have. Richards can still play 4C with Toronto, which is a really bad thing, as you know.

Based on that alone Phaneuf has a lot more value than Richards. The only way the Leafs make this trade is if they get back a great piece with Richards. This gives LA a lot more risk as they could give up a solid piece for a bad contract playing on the 3rd pairing but not making this deal definitely leaves LA with a bad contract.

I personally wouldn't make this deal unless Toronto gets a great piece with Richards AND are definitely going the full rebuild route. Of course if LA has to give up another asset they may not want to make this deal but do you trade Richards and hopefully dump a bad contract for an asset (overpaid but still an asset), or keep Richards and definitely hold onto a bad contract.
- Steven_Dean

richards/ a second/ some midlevel no name for Phaneuf, buy out richards. Because you cant buy out phaneuf

If Dean can make it work for the future. Id rahter have Dion than Richards. It makes sense on team needs for LA. It would release some pressure off Drew.
- poisondhearts37

Agreed, but also might put more pressure on Quick...

richards/ a second/ some midlevel no name for Phaneuf, buy out richards. Because you cant buy out phaneuf
- rferrone

How about Neon for Richards and Pearson?

How about Neon for Richards and Pearson?
- Bieksa#3

Wouldnt do dion at half price for Pearson. Dont think they gonna get a prospect like that.

Dion at 7 million is far better value than Richards at 5,75 million.

Difference here though is that Phaneuf isn't as worthless to Toronto as Richards is to LA. While yea we would had to take back a bad contract to off load Phaneuf we would also have to get a solid young piece with value to make it worth it.

Also by all LA fans and blogger's own admission, Phaneuf would be a 3-4D with LA (possibly 2 or 5 depending how the change of scenery pans out for Dion) which is an upgrade to what you have. Richards can still play 4C with Toronto, which is a really bad thing, as you know.

Based on that alone Phaneuf has a lot more value than Richards. The only way the Leafs make this trade is if they get back a great piece with Richards. This gives LA a lot more risk as they could give up a solid piece for a bad contract playing on the 3rd pairing but not making this deal definitely leaves LA with a bad contract.

I personally wouldn't make this deal unless Toronto gets a great piece with Richards AND are definitely going the full rebuild route. Of course if LA has to give up another asset they may not want to make this deal but do you trade Richards and hopefully dump a bad contract for an asset (overpaid but still an asset), or keep Richards and definitely hold onto a bad contract.
- Steven_Dean

Which is complete horsebleep.

Sure Richards is a 4c on the Kings, and you can argue he would be a 3c 4c on the Leafs. What he does do as a 3c or 4c on the Leafs is push the 1c and 2c. If Richards makes a resurgence.......and at what 29 years of age, he still could, the 1c and 2c on the Leafs would need to step it up. I would create a nice competition at centre, a little veteran leadership and possible up side if his carreer gets back on track. That said, for the Leafs at this time subtraction of Phaneuf in itself is an addition. I have never been one of the get rid of Phaneuf bunch, but right now, with all that's going on, it's time for him to move on. He's just not the leader the Leafs need, and with the Leadership hole open, Richards could have an interest to step things up, especially if it meant playing alongside Kessel. I say do it!

Sure Richards is a 4c on the Kings, and you can argue he would be a 3c 4c on the Leafs. What he does do as a 3c or 4c on the Leafs is push the 1c and 2c. If Richards makes a resurgence.......and at what 29 years of age, he still could, the 1c and 2c on the Leafs would need to step it up. I would create a nice competition at centre, a little veteran leadership and possible up side if his carreer gets back on track. That said, for the Leafs at this time subtraction of Phaneuf in itself is an addition. I have never been one of the get rid of Phaneuf bunch, but right now, with all that's going on, it's time for him to move on. He's just not the leader the Leafs need, and with the Leadership hole open, Richards could have an interest to step things up, especially if it meant playing alongside Kessel. I say do it!
- Bullot

Forget about age. Richards is a very, very old 29.He can't push Kadri and Bozak because both are clearly better.

Dion on the other hand can still play top minutes and get 40+ points a season.
Richards plays a style you stay away from once he nears 30. He's very small and plays that grinding style that has killed his body.

How about Neon for Richards and Pearson?
- Bieksa#3

Id rather keep Richards and see what else is out there if it wasn't just a pure swap for Phanuef... Pearson isn't going anywhere I'm 99.999999% sure of that, but anything can happen

Which is complete horsebleep.
- RogerRoeper

Well id pair him with DD, but that's just me