RealGM

TSN has learned it is a 12-year extension for $69 million that averages out at $5.75 million per year for the cap hit.

Richards was scheduled to be a restricted free agent after this season, but the extension will take him off the market and keep him in Philadelphia.

A 12 year extension? That's rather risky. Although he's going to be an excellent player one day, I don't understand those types of contracts.

12?!!?!?!?!


What the....

I think this could be worse than Dipietro's

Yes Richards is younger but he's unproven... he's in the middle of 1 good year, had a crappy one last year... I woulda signed him to a 1 or 2 year deal if possible to see how it goes.

But with that said he was about to be a RFA so that might not have flown

Huh. That's reasonable.

Agree with MAS on the signing of a 2 year deal as opposed to a 12 year deal I mean wtf? Are there increases in his deal or is it just a flatrate per year?

xbl_sucks wrote:Agree with MAS on the signing of a 2 year deal as opposed to a 12 year deal I mean wtf? Are there increases in his deal or is it just a flatrate per year?

I'd think it would have to increase through the middle of the deal, before going down at the end of a contract to lessen the impact of a potential buyout. That seems like the smart thing to do anyway.

Holy jeebus, 12 years?

\Yeah I really don't like these longterm deals some of the clubs are dishing out right now. They should make it a rule that no contract can exceed say 7 years or so much money.

Snayr wrote:\Yeah I really don't like these longterm deals some of the clubs are dishing out right now. They should make it a rule that no contract can exceed say 7 years or so much money.

Especially in a sport that's so physical and takes such a huge toll on your body. 12-years playing hockey isn't guaranteed, let alone 12-years with one team and playing at a high level the whole time.

Ridiculous gamble.

A 2 year deal for Mike Richards? I don't think so.

You want to lock him up for a good 4-5 years, but 12? Ouch.

I wonder how many players in the league who sign even 5-6 year deals last the length of that contract let alone 12 years.

For those of you who think this is an outrageous deal for Philadelphia simply do not understand the logistics of the CBA and the NHL. The NHL is not like the other 3 major league sports, the NHL has a hard salary cap.

Mike Richards is one of the best players in the league, and he's only 22 years old. This is not just a 'lucky' season he has been having, he is quite simply the best player on Philadelphia (and that includes Daniel Briere) and will continue to be so for the next decade. Not only is Richards big, strong and tough, but he has soft hands, a rocket of a shot and has a hockey sense that cannot be taught. He is also a smooth and powerful skater. He's a thoroubread. Mike has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 32 games this season. He's on pace for 100. He's also a +7 with 18 PP points. Throw in 3 short handed points and 3 game winning goals, a fight every other game and a personality that oozes with leadership and you've got one of the best hockey players in the world. Gentlemen, this kid is no joke, he is the real deal.

He is a proven winner on all levels of hockey. Richards captained the 2005 Canadian National Junior Team to its first World Junior Championship gold medal since 1997. He was a member of a 2003 dominant Kitchener team that captured the Memorial Cup and was among the team's leaders in scoring. Richards joined the Philadelphia Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Flyers, for their playoff run, and became a key part of the Phantoms' Calder Cup Championship. Richards averaged over a point a game, lead the league in shorthanded goals scored, and finished second in rookie playoff scoring.

Mike Richards is as tough as they come, is a true leader and a true franchise player. He exemplifies everything you want out of your captain. He's already earned the captain of the Flyers. Richards is a superstar.

NHL contracts are growing continuously and signing a player of Mike's caliber for 12 years at 6 million a year is a bargain, even in todays league. 8 years from now he'll be the 2nd most underpaid player in the NHL next to Rick DiPietro.

This was an excellent move for the Philadelphia Flyers.

RoyceDa59 wrote:For those of you who think this is an outrageous deal for Philadelphia simply do not understand the logistics of the CBA and the NHL. The NHL is not like the other 3 major league sports, the NHL has a hard salary cap.

Mike Richards is one of the best players in the league, and he's only 22 years old. This is not just a 'lucky' season he has been having, he is quite simply the best player on Philadelphia (and that includes Daniel Briere) and will continue to be so for the next decade. Not only is Richards big, strong and tough, but he has soft hands, a rocket of a shot and has a hockey sense that cannot be taught. He is also a smooth and powerful skater. He's a thoroubread. Mike has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 32 games this season. He's on pace for 100. He's also a +7 with 18 PP points. Throw in 3 short handed points and 3 game winning goals, a fight every other game and a personality that oozes with leadership and you've got one of the best hockey players in the world. Gentlemen, this kid is no joke, he is the real deal.

He is a proven winner on all levels of hockey. Richards captained the 2005 Canadian National Junior Team to its first World Junior Championship gold medal since 1997. He was a member of a 2003 dominant Kitchener team that captured the Memorial Cup and was among the team's leaders in scoring. Richards joined the Philadelphia Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Flyers, for their playoff run, and became a key part of the Phantoms' Calder Cup Championship. Richards averaged over a point a game, lead the league in shorthanded goals scored, and finished second in rookie playoff scoring.

Mike Richards is as tough as they come, is a true leader and a true franchise player. He exemplifies everything you want out of your captain. He's already earned the captain of the Flyers. Richards is a superstar.

NHL contracts are growing continuously and signing a player of Mike's caliber for 12 years at 6 million a year is a bargain, even in todays league. 8 years from now he'll be the 2nd most underpaid player in the NHL next to Rick DiPietro.

This was an excellent move for the Philadelphia Flyers.

He's 5'11 and 195 pounds

thats not considered big in the NHL.

RoyceDa59 wrote:For those of you who think this is an outrageous deal for Philadelphia simply do not understand the logistics of the CBA and the NHL. The NHL is not like the other 3 major league sports, the NHL has a hard salary cap.

Mike Richards is one of the best players in the league, and he's only 22 years old. This is not just a 'lucky' season he has been having, he is quite simply the best player on Philadelphia (and that includes Daniel Briere) and will continue to be so for the next decade. Not only is Richards big, strong and tough, but he has soft hands, a rocket of a shot and has a hockey sense that cannot be taught. He is also a smooth and powerful skater. He's a thoroubread. Mike has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 32 games this season. He's on pace for 100. He's also a +7 with 18 PP points. Throw in 3 short handed points and 3 game winning goals, a fight every other game and a personality that oozes with leadership and you've got one of the best hockey players in the world. Gentlemen, this kid is no joke, he is the real deal.

He is a proven winner on all levels of hockey. Richards captained the 2005 Canadian National Junior Team to its first World Junior Championship gold medal since 1997. He was a member of a 2003 dominant Kitchener team that captured the Memorial Cup and was among the team's leaders in scoring. Richards joined the Philadelphia Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Flyers, for their playoff run, and became a key part of the Phantoms' Calder Cup Championship. Richards averaged over a point a game, lead the league in shorthanded goals scored, and finished second in rookie playoff scoring.

Mike Richards is as tough as they come, is a true leader and a true franchise player. He exemplifies everything you want out of your captain. He's already earned the captain of the Flyers. Richards is a superstar.

NHL contracts are growing continuously and signing a player of Mike's caliber for 12 years at 6 million a year is a bargain, even in todays league. 8 years from now he'll be the 2nd most underpaid player in the NHL next to Rick DiPietro.

This was an excellent move for the Philadelphia Flyers.

I stopped reading after here.

Crowned wrote:-= original quote snipped =-




I stopped reading after here.

Well he has been so far this season.

Griff83 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Well he has been so far this season.

He's been playing over his head so far this season. I don't know if he'll last... also i don't think he can repeat it

As far as Richards being one of the best in the league...no. He is very good, but i can think of at least 15 other forwards i would rather have (considering age too)

ajaX82 wrote:As far as Richards being one of the best in the league...no. He is very good, but i can think of at least 15 other forwards i would rather have (considering age too)

I could name 15 players id rather have also, but that doesnt change the fact that at this point in the season, Mike Richards has been one of the 15 best players in the league so far.

I would like to see the list of 15 forwards you'd rather have over Mike Richards, age included. Richards reminds me very much of Jarome Iginla, he plays tough hockey, he's not soft like some of the superstars in the NHL and he's not afraid to get in the corners or in front of the net. Richards is a proven winner and a leader, and he plays the style of hockey that consistantly wins come playoff time. He simply plays the game right, he has a high hockey IQ and sees the ice well, hes fast, strong, composed, tough... he has soft hands. He has everything needed to be a bonefide superstar in the NHL. Just because he didn't follow the normal path of 60 points rookie season, 80 the next, 100 the next, doesnt mean this year is a 'fluke' season. Richards has always had the talent and just now has finally found his groove. There is many a handful of players I'd rather take to build a franchise around over Richards, but he is definately in the same category as guys like Stastny, Kopitar, Heatley etc... He's the real deal.

RoyceDa59 wrote:I would like to see the list of 15 forwards you'd rather have over Mike Richards, age included.

Sidney Crosby
Evgeni Malkin
Alexander Ovechkin
Nicklas Backstrom
Anze Kopitar
Rick Nash
Marian Gaborik
Dany Heatley
Ilya Kovalchuk
Jason Spezza
Paul Stastny
Henrik Zetterberg
Pavel Datsyuk
Jonathon Toews
Patrick Kane
James VanRiemsdyk
Henrik Sedin
Daniel Sedin

All are pretty damn young and i would rather have any of the above, age taken into account on all. VanR. is kinda shaky, but i think he will be great. I believe players like Kyle Turris, Jordan Stall and Angelo Esposito will too, but i wont include them.

Again, Mike Richards is very good and i do like him, but 12 years is insane.