Jim Harbaugh is, and always has been, really difficult to get along with. Every employer is going to have to make the decision as to whether it's worth it or not.
- buffalofan19

Good luck with Colin Kaepernick, SF.

Stevie Johnson deserves better. Like a 9-7 Bills team better.

#3 and a 1st
- TheSabresTaco

How much would they have to take back?

SPORTSNET: Mike Johnston lists the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers as five clubs who should consider making a claim for Richards. He also cites colleague John Shannon claiming via Twitter the Calgary Flames don’t intend to put in a claim for the Kings center.
- homiedclown

LA is basically hoping someone claims him because they don't want the contract on the books. They're in cap hell right now and something's got to give.

They couldn't trade him because nobody wants to give up assets for a guy who's contract is probably a good 3 years longer than anyone wants it to be.

Someone seems bitter.....
- HonkFortheGoose

At least you didn't say butt-hurt.

But yes, I can be quite the bitter person.

LA is basically hoping someone claims him because they don't want the contract on the books. They're in cap hell right now and something's got to give.

They couldn't trade him because nobody wants to give up assets for a guy who's contract is probably a good 3 years longer than anyone wants it to be.
- HonkFortheGoose

Hey LA its Buffalo. Richards (15% salary held) and a 3rd rd pick for a 7th.

Deal?

Little salary nugget. Hodgson is getting paid 3 mil this year and gradually increases over the course of his contract. This was structured in a similar fashion to JVR. Not saying they're the same player, but JVR has gotten at least a little better every year. He had a tough year in 2011 after he signed his contract but really started taking off the past 2 seasons. The Sabres (Darcy) also projected Hodgson to increase his play as time went on. Ennis on the other hand actually has a decreasing salary. Time will tell of course, but I'd like to give him at least a year or two to turn it around before getting rid of him.

Hey LA its Buffalo. Richards (15% salary held) and a 3rd rd pick for a 7th.

Deal?
- ImThatGuy

They were talking to clubs about taking back a bad contract. We could certainly do better than this.

Back to Richards talk, I see it has been mentioned to some degree but LA can take on up to half his celery, no? So a guy for 6 x 2.75 and it helps LA with cap issues, did they really try to make a trade go through or they want all of it gone? Because I'd take him in a heartbeat at less than 3m per for 6 years.

Hey LA its Buffalo. Richards (15% salary held) and a 3rd rd pick for a 7th.

Deal?
- ImThatGuy

Pass

How much would they have to take back?
- Slump Buster

If I were making the decision, the max, which I think is 50%

Hey LA its Buffalo. Richards (15% salary held) and a 3rd rd pick for a 7th.

Deal?
- ImThatGuy

I don't think LA agrees to it because of that. They need to clear up some serious space, and keeping that 15% could be the difference between being able to give one of their young guys the raise they want when the time comes. Yes, getting rid of 85% of that contract now helps them, but in 2 or 3 years when they're still paying that 15%, it could potentially be an issue.

I just don't think many teams are willing to really give anything up for him because they know how badly LA needs to make some room somewhere.

I don't think LA agrees to it because of that. They need to clear up some serious space, and keeping that 15% could be the difference between being able to give one of their young guys the raise they want when the time comes. Yes, getting rid of 85% of that contract now helps them, but in 2 or 3 years when they're still paying that 15%, it could potentially be an issue.

I just don't think many teams are willing to really give anything up for him because they know how badly LA needs to make some room somewhere.
- HonkFortheGoose

I can't imagine a scenario where they have much of a choice. They are either taking on salary and/or taking on a bad contract.

Little salary nugget. Hodgson is getting paid 3 mil this year and gradually increases over the course of his contract. This was structured in a similar fashion to JVR. Not saying they're the same player, but JVR has gotten at least a little better every year. He had a tough year in 2011 after he signed his contract but really started taking off the past 2 seasons. The Sabres (Darcy) also projected Hodgson to increase his play as time went on. Ennis on the other hand actually has a decreasing salary. Time will tell of course, but I'd like to give him at least a year or two to turn it around before getting rid of him.
- TheSabresTaco

Hodgson doesn't have a Kessel to play with either

Pass
- TheSabresTaco

I honestly think one of the best places for him is Edmonton. I think he could actually be helpful to them at this point. He's a good vet guy, lots of experience. He's used to playing with a decent amount of youth around him.

I can't imagine a scenario where they have much of a choice. They are either taking on salary and/or taking on a bad contract.
- Slump Buster

They're trying to get rid of a bad contract, why would they take one back?

Good luck with Colin Kaepernick, SF.

Stevie Johnson deserves better. Like a 9-7 Bills team better.
- DynamicThreads

Stevie Johnson is overrated. He's a good player, but nowhere near a great one like he proclaims himself to be. I didn't even notice he was gone this year.

I honestly think one of the best places for him is Edmonton. I think he could actually be helpful to them at this point. He's a good vet guy, lots of experience. He's used to playing with a decent amount of youth around him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Timing's not too bad either, since Hall's contract expires the same year, and RNH is signed 1 year longer than Richards

Stevie Johnson is overrated. He's a good player, but nowhere near a great one like he proclaims himself to be. I didn't even notice he was gone this year.
- buffalofan19

Stevie who ?

They're trying to get rid of a bad contract, why would they take one back?
- HonkFortheGoose

Depending on the length of said bad contract, I could see it.

GR would be all over it if the Sabres put a claim in for Richards.

I don't think LA agrees to it because of that. They need to clear up some serious space, and keeping that 15% could be the difference between being able to give one of their young guys the raise they want when the time comes. Yes, getting rid of 85% of that contract now helps them, but in 2 or 3 years when they're still paying that 15%, it could potentially be an issue.

I just don't think many teams are willing to really give anything up for him because they know how badly LA needs to make some room somewhere.
- HonkFortheGoose

Its either they pay him a $4.8MM cap hit to play in the minors or $825K to play in Buffalo.

That would be there choice.

Not really my point. I make equal to or less than 20k a year to have my hands around dangerous machinery in a job market that offers no advancement, no rewards for hard work or showing up on time with a good attitude and very rarely offers benefits. And at best I can make maybe 4k per year more to answer phones all day. With no opportunity for advancement and a bad back.

Plus, in this case, it was the player that wanted to break contract and pretty much the team saw it.
- DynamicThreads

I understand that professional athletes in the major sports get paid a lot of money to do what they do because most people in the world can't do what they do. They're the best and they get paid like the best, as in every white collar profession. If for your job, your company signed a contract with you, and your union at your back, to work for 5 years and get paid 50k a year and you sign it, with a provision in there that says you simply can't get fired, only fined and suspended, you sign it because you like the company for whatever reason. 3 years down the road, you show lack of interest or you become slower at your job and not as productive. Boss man calls you in, says what's going on, you speak your mind. At the end of the conversation, like Ehrhoff's case, you both seem like you're willing to part ways. That contract says the company must pay you for all 5 years or just buy you out. You, as the worker, must work while under contract or be suspended without pay. Boss says I'd rather pay you 15k for the next 3 years to not work here. You come to an agreement and you're gone.

Not that you needed to know how a buyout works, just putting in perspective for a blue collar worker in this unrealistic situation.

I bet the Leafs grab Richards

They're trying to get rid of a bad contract, why would they take one back?
- HonkFortheGoose

Because the incoming "bad contract" might be for a guy who they deem more useful than the one going out. I think that is why they were talking to the Leafs about Phaneuf.

I bet the Leafs grab Richards
- SABRES 89

According to "sources", they won't (TSN person put that on twitter yesterday)