Richards dealt to Dallas

Lightning center Brad Richards has been dealt to the Stars with goaltender Johan Holmqvist for goaltender Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern and left wing Jussi Jokinen.

-- DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Eric]

Would have liked to see a draft pick in there, preferably a 1st rounder.

Jokinen and Halpern won't set the net on fire but should be decent pick ups. I have to think they are going to try making a splash in free agency this summer.

Hope Smith proves to be capable of handling a #1 job. If nothing else, he always has cool goalie masks :-/

[Nate Dogg]

Great...so as of this point, if Brad waives his NTC, He got ourselves:

1) Mike Smith- a promising back up who has been Turco's apprentice for a couple years now. (remember...Denis was also once a promising backup)

2)Jeff Halpern- a 3rd/4th line center

3) Jussi Jokenen- still a somewhat young player who used to tear it up over in Finland, but really hasn't taken that "next" step that he's able to

Smells kinda fishy...I really don't think we got enough compensation for Brad. Who knows...maybe the whole unstable ownership situation has really held us back from getting anything substantial.

If Smith has that much promise...why don't they just trade Turco straight up for Brad? That way we get our true number one goalie and their forward depth gets a LOT better...food for thought...

[Nate Dogg]

oh wow, I totally missed the whole Holmqvist part of the trade...definetly a bad trade now. horrible

[Another Joe]

I think what the team is doing is getting to be a better defensive team. I like Smith I think he's an upgrade.

Ill miss Richards its been a great run!

[Eric]

Denis wasn't a backup, he was considered a bondafide #1 almost all around the league. Sure he was a promising backup at SOME point, but not when we traded for him.

Smith is younger and less expensive than Turco. It fits with the plan of shedding some salary to (hopefully) make some moves in free agency and sign Lecavalier to a new deal. It would also fit with a plan to just shed salary to save $$$...hopefully not the case.

I think Halpern is a better version of Gratton, a bit more skilled. And Jokinen certainly is a step up over Hlavac, Darche, Ward, etc. At least you would think...(and I am hoping)

Lets not forget, either, that we will have a very high pick in the draft. If we can land Stamkos....

[Anita]

My day just keeps getting worse. Holmer a part of Richards deal????? Between Holmer, Richards and Prospal I am sick to my stomach. I wish all those guys the best and hope they find the new organizations treat them better than the Lightning has this year.

I can only hope that Feaster is done at this point. I mean, who's next...St. Louis? Gratton? Sheesh!

[Anita]

My day just keeps getting worse. Holmer a part of Richards deal????? Between Holmer, Richards and Prospal I am sick to my stomach. I wish all those guys the best and hope they find the new organizations treat them better than the Lightning has this year.

I can only hope that Feaster is done at this point. I mean, who's next...St. Louis? Gratton? Sheesh!

[Gene]

I will miss Brad, but it is a business and he was too expensive to keep in system the way it is now. Maybe if/when OK takes over, there might have been more money. Maybe his Mono has limited his play more than anyone realizes. If both are true, it will be sad to see him rebound with someone else next year, but this is here and now and the team has to deal with what we have. He was not producing and his contract prevented us from fixing the holes!

[James]

Mike Smith is highly touted. A huge upgrade. Dallas has lots of goalie prospects so they could give him up. I love this trade. Love Richards but it was time to go. The Lightning aint working the way it was. They almost had Mike Fitrich (Stars #1 pick on D in 04) too.

Richards is a great player, but this move makes sense. He hasn't produced (perhaps no fault of his own, and rather a function of line mates), but Richards can't bring us out of the cellar. We need goaltending despartely, and Holmer just isn't it. This Smith kid might pan out, but i love the cap room we get.

[Nate Dogg]

Erik...Yes, I was referencing the days of Denis being a member of the Avalanche, when he was a backup there.

I understand anything first and foremost extending Lecavalier, while setting yourself up with the lowest salary cap going into summer...but do you really think we're gonna make a huge splash in free agency? With 38-40 million self imposed cap by the ALLMIGHTY Marc Cuban?

[bear]

Basically the deal is Jeff Halpern for Brad Richards. The others are UFA's.
Straight salary dump.

[Lisa]

Smith plays behind a great defense. I have no faith in him or in Feaster after seeing the horrible trades that have just taken place. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with the Denis deal, but we have been completely and totally fleeced. We traded good players for garbage and for moderate prospects. Just wait, we will get the #1 pick and instead of getting Stamkos, they will get some guy noone even heard of. (or we will trade the #1 pick today to Philly for another AHL player).

[karma]

Bear,
You are exactly correct.
Salary dump. I'm hoping that when the details are announced, there's a first rounder in there, or at least a second.

[James]

Trading away two gauranteed 60-90 points a season between both Richards and Prospel for nothing of the same consistancy or value is rediculous. I don't mind trading these players away because the Lightning as is was not working but to not get an "Elite" goalie between these two deals in missing the whole freaking point. WTH are they doing here? They better be posturing for some splash in FA.

[olin]

If this is true including Johan in this deal JF, I have just lost all the remaining bit of respect I had for you after trading away Freddy Mo. What is going on in your mind dude,????? You and Tort's are the cancer of this team, brought on down from the 2 puppet's TW and RC/PSE.... by throwing in Johan in this deal, PSE/OK will not see my 9 year run of season ticket holder $'s any longer...best thing now is to fire yourself and the coach. I am sick to my stomach of this move.....YOU are self destructing this team...if you had rid the coaching cancer a month ago- you would had seen a different team with the roster you had. All you would have to do is tweak the defense through the summer. Of course sign DB now, letting Johan go in this deal was a major mistake. Let me know if you need a box of fruit loop's to play with with your korn flakes....

[Cheap Seats]

And people wonder why they are in last place... NOT ME!

[Eric]

Smith makes less than Holmqvist this year. He can and will be resigned for probably close to that. He has a chance to prove himself as a #1 here, and he will most likely sign on for that chance. He hasn't earned himself a huge payday yet.

Smith for Richards is this trade, not Halpern. Halpern and Jokinen provide some more depth up front, but Smith was the bell cow of this deal.

The front office is not stupid. They know they will be able to select a top-flight forward in the draft, as well as potentially add more skill through free agency. Nobody knows what Koules will spend if he ends up owning the team, so thats speculative.

They have positioned themselves to improve this summer, IMO. Thats all you can ask for given the uncertainties surrounding the franchise.

[f. chum buddy]

I thought we were getting Mike Fitrich in this deal, too!?!?! Wow. Feaster you really do suck. You throw in Holmqvist and you still can't get Fitrich or at least a pick back!? Wow. You suck so bad.

Feaster's next move will be to trade Vinny and Marty for Jagr. That appears to be the way the day is going. Get rid of value and get a bag of pucks in return.

[CW]

Why would another team trade us their number one goalie for Richards if they are in the playoff hunt? You people are idiots. Nobody is going to give up an "ELITE" goalie in February. It doesn't happen. There are not enough ELITE goalies to go around and everyone knows goaltending is the key to having success in the playoffs.

Richards - you'll be missed, not only for your outstanding play on the ice, but for your work in the community.

Otherwise, the move was a smart business decision. Brad was making too much money here and the Bolts are not going anywhere this season. Time to regroup and plan for next year.

[Patrick]

Neither Mike Smith or Jokinen are UFAs... at least they are not on any 2008 UFS list I can find on the web. If their contracts are up, they are restricted free agents - they are both probably too young to be free agents.

I guess our team now will have Gratton centering Jokinen and Oulette, since oulette has seemed to played his best with Gratton.

It makes sense to me to include Holmqvist in the deal because Ramo is only going to improve if he gets to play. The lightning are rebuilding, not trying to make a cup run next year, or they wouldn't have ditched Richards.

I plan to follow the Stars in the playoffs and root for them to win it all. What validation that would be for Richards.

[Mike]

The really frustrating part is that the Capitals were able to get Huet for a DRAFT PICK. Why can't Feaster get that kind of deal for a bona fide goalie? Why do we dump Brad, arguably the biggest profile player in this trade deadline, for potential?

[Mike]

CW, I hate to say you're wrong but...Washington-Montreal?

[Lisa]

They have not positioned themselves to improve next season. Instead of getting high level prospects, we are getting a back up goalie who is a product of his defensive system and has not been proven at all, and mid level prospect and an old, injured player that costs $2 million. Not what I call improving the team.

Huet was traded for a second round pick. We could have made a good trade with Montreal which would include Huet and young prospects (which MOntreal is stacked with), instead of going for an unproven back up and a mid level prospect and a washed up old player.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. And I was not a Feaster critic before this. I though everyone can make a mistake (like Denis) and I didn't criticise for overpaying Richards, etc. But these 2 deals yesterday and today have been off the chart horrible.

[Jonathan]

This is a GREAT trade for the organization. Trades a goalie for a goalie, and in my opinion, we get the better out of that part of the deal by far. It doesnt prevent us from going after anyone in the summer if Smith doesnt work out. But Smith has had time with Turco and learned from a true #1. Holmer hasnt had that same opportunity.

For those of you that are already picking on Halpern because he is a 3rd line centre, please understand that he is the second coming of Andreychuk. No matter what you think of Vinny and no matter how much you want him to wear the C, Halpern is almost guaranteed at least the A and will make a big difference in this locker room. Something very difficult to put a price tag on. The only knock on this is that Halpern was to skate with Dallas this morning to test out his groin, which has been hurt.

Jokinen is a LW that will likely end up as a second line player unless Vinny requests him as a linemate.

I wonder what our lines will be now?
1) Hlavac/Lecavalier/St Louis
2) Jokinen/Halpern/Ouellet
3) Darche/Gratton/Ward
4) Tarnasky/Macdonald/Roy

I see this trade being the beginning of something big. Ill miss Prospal, and I wish we had the money to keep Richards and get him solid linemates. But we didnt, and this is our team now. I like it, I am very positive on it. Now, lets look forward to the team coming together in the locker room and on the ice. Offseason is fast approaching. We have a good shot at a great draft. We have some cap money that we havent had in years.

We are going to be good next year.

[JKR]

Folks, we weren't supposed to get BETTER on this trade. We were SELLERS in this deal, which means our priorities were:

1. Get younger
2. Shed salary

We've done that. I was hoping for a defensemen in the deal; but then again I didn't think we'd be able to pry a good goaltender from a contender at this point. I figured we'd address defense now, then try to sign/trade for a goaltender in the offseason.

I like the forward depth we just added. This is a better trade than I expected. Now if we can get a new coach we'll be set.

The problem with this team is not the players. It is Tortorella. The team was flat,unmotivated and probably bored with the same-old-same-old. When this happens to so many talented players all at once, it can only be one thing, the head coach. Bounce him, and I believe the team would have gotten a second wind. Hi Robin.

[dffds]

This is a sad day for Tampa Bay hockey. Richie was a good player and a better person. At least I'll have someone in the West I can root for now.

[Lisa]

CW: Montreal traded Huet, who may not be an elite goaltender, but is the best that is available, and I would say a much better deal than Smith.

And what we have now is not planning for next season. I had accepted that Richards had to be moved, but I expected to get value in return. Jokinin is not Olli Jokinen: he is nothing more than a 3rd line winger who may or may not improve in the future.

And we may not have Gratton by the end of the trade deadline, so don't expect to have him center the second line. Expect him to be traded before 3PM today (and for us to get nothing in return).

[karma]

We don't know the constraints which ownership is putting on Feaster. So don't judge the deal until you know what he's being allowed to do.
You can however do as I just have, and found a friend more interested in going to Wednesday's and Friday's games then I am. Hockey is my sport of choice, but just not in the mood at present.
Richie is a great guy and has a great chance to win the Cup again this year. I can see him taking over for Modano soon.

[Patrick]

Lisa,

I agree trading Richards for Smith is very questionable. But I think you are blaming the wrong person.

The new owner is the one supposedly forcing these trades to be made. And he hasn't even purchased the team yet. Feaster was quoted as saying on scale of 1-10, it was a 20, on how much the new owner was involved - and feaster didn't sound happy about it.

And it's been leaked so much that really hurts your chances of getting good value when people know you HAVE to make a trade.

I would only blame feaster if we find out another team was offering something better, because Feaster apparently didn't have much choice about trading Richards.

I read earlier that Dallas has some other goaltending prospects who are much younger, perhaps that is why they let Smith go. They think Turco can hold them over until their prospects are ready.

[karma]

damian,
How about a better picture of Richie up there? Like maybe holding the Conn Smythe or the Cup over his head. Not that "Beaten puppy" look that TSN is reporting.

[Steve]

By the way, Smith is signed through next year (and I believe he only makes 1-2 million). This will give us plenty of opportunity to see if he can be our #1 goalie at a very low cost (financially speaking of course).

[CW]

Obviously the Habs don't have much faith in Huet - they have a shot to win the Eastern Conference title and to trade him for a second round pick and turn the team over to Price in time for the playoffs really shows that the coaches/GM did not have confidence in Huet to lead the team. Huet is a free agent after this season, so there's no guarantee that he'll still be in Washington next season. Would it be worth it for Huet to come here for two months of a last place season? Just a tease, so that we would know what we're missing when he signs elsewhere in the offseason?

[Lightning rod]

It was just confirmed on NHL.com, the only addition was a 4th round pick in 2009 for the Lightning.

[Jamie H]

Brad has been on a downhill slide since he won the Conn Smythe award. I'm happy to have him gone instead of having his bloated salary hanging around. Good Riddance. At least we didn't have to pay part of the remaining salary. This gives us a perfect chance to make a Free Agency Splash.

[Mr. Bolt]

Remember, all of you shouting and whining that the trade isn't over yet. It carries into the offseason with the freed payroll. When we get the final asset this summer you can START to weigh the deal. Give the kid a chance. Just because we got burned by Denis doesn't mean every goalie we get will be a piece of swiss cheese.

[Jonathan]

And for everyone crying that we are done and we'll never improve again, keep this in mind.
Monday's Payroll (old Boyle salary): $46.4
New Payroll(including Boyle's new salary and new players): $43.1

We have room for free agency. Add a rugged, top 2 defensemen, a goalie, or a scoring centre/winger and the fairweather fans that came out of the woodworks to complain about Richards being traded will go back in their caves.

[chaz]

Am I the only one who thought we could have gotten this deal done without throwing in Holmer? I don't see how Feaster couldn't manage to squeeze a pick out of them for throwing in the goalie. Or maybe even Fitrich (as was being reported). I've never been much of a Feaster basher, but at the end of today he should just turn in his resignation. He should be boooooed everytime he ever shows his face in Tampa again - even walking down the street people should boo him. Pi$$-poor negotiator on so many levels.

[Lisa]

We won't be doing much in free agency. It is obvious they are just dumping salary, and if they hope to get Vinny to extend his contract, they better have more than this to convince him to stay. I expected prospects, but I expected more top line prospects, and we did not even get one top line prospect or top draft pick for anyone. Very, very disappointing.

[Deriq]

good trade. richards is overpaid and they need to free up money to sign lecavalier long term. he won't come cheap.

smith is a good goalie who could always be packaged at the draft for a more proven #1, should they doubt him.

why trade for huet? he's unrestricted at the end of the season and there's no guarantee he'd resign. way too much of a risk.

the only part i don't understand is halpern. i don't see how he helps the situation, unless a trade of gratton is imminent.

[Lisa]

Jonathan, most of us realise that richards needed to be traded. But we got very little in return. And for Prospal, I can't imagine any worse deal than that. We didn't even get a mid level prospect out of Philly, we got the player they didn't want. Imagine how much people are complaining about OBrien: who is -4: imagine having a defenseman who is -24 (in 62 games). And you tell me we actually got something of value for Prospal.

[Deriq]

what's the point of keeping holmer? he's unrestricted and you've got rammo. plus, if dallas is moving a goalie, then you need to give them a new backup. holmer has no place in the organization.

[Patrick]

Lisa,

I agree trading Richards for Smith is very questionable. But I think you are blaming the wrong person.

The new owner is the one supposedly forcing these trades to be made. And he hasn't even purchased the team yet. Feaster was quoted as saying on scale of 1-10, it was a 20, on how much the new owner was involved - and feaster didn't sound happy about it.

And it's been leaked so much that really hurts your chances of getting good value when people know you HAVE to make a trade.

I would only blame feaster if we find out another team was offering something better, because Feaster apparently didn't have much choice about trading Richards.

I read earlier that Dallas has some other goaltending prospects who are much younger, perhaps that is why they let Smith go. They think Turco can hold them over until their prospects are ready.

[fogelberg]

Another thing... why wouldn't Feaster hold onto Prospal until he dealt Richie to Dallas? Play some of these teams against each other! With the Stars and Sharks both improving (some would say dramatically) I have to think he would have gotten a better prospect/deal out of Detroit.

Has anyone even looked at the list of potential FA this season? Really not all that impressive once you get past the 35 and ups (and Hossa and Redden aren't coming here, sorry). For anyone thinking that its going to solve all our woes, well, good luck with that.

They got hosed today, plain and simple. No "you don't know hockey" and other cliches are gonna work this time. Richards was a scapegoat when he had absolute crap on his line, and he deserved better.

Keep dreaming of Stamkos

[Not The Marlboro Man]

The waiting is over and now Richie is gone. I hope Mike Smith has more than promise to his resume. The Bolts could have traded for Huet who went to Washington for a second round draft pick. But I guess we don't have a second round pick...! Things just got better in Washington for sure.

Now that Holmqvist is with a defensive minded team, everyone will see that that he can play NHL caliber hockey.

Provided that we get a goaltender here that can stand on his head every game, nothing will have changed in Tampa. Tampa allows too many open unabated shots from the point and the slot with regularity. The Bolts have to find a way to bring in better defensemen and then change their scheme, or we are no better than an exit-in-one play-off team again.

[ajax]

If we don't trade Richards today we wake up tomorrow with
Boyle 6.7 mil
Richards 7.8 mil
Homer 1.0 mil, total 15.5 mil cap
We trade him per what is reported:
NHL.com says the deal is DONE.
We wake up with
Boyle 6.7 mil
Jokinen 1.8 mil
Halpern 2.0 mil
Smith 1.0 mil
total 11.5 mil cap Have we made our forwards stronger?
Have we made goaltending stronger?
I believe we have.
We have also, and please look at the total deal not just the players. So many blogs skip right over the fact that the final equation isn't done on the deal. We got money!!!!
We also have 4 million to spend and then the total deal can be looked at. You add a 4 million dollar free agent Dman and we have 4 roster players where before we had two. Take Boyle out of the equation and we have two everyday forwards and 4 mil for a hammer Dman. The goalie trade is a salary wash, actually a win because he makes less and is signed, Homer is a UFA. I really believe this(goalie) will be a win going forward. Time will tell, but I like the age and the size and the upside of this goalie swap.
Ladies and Gentleman I believe the Hockey Nation of Tampa Bay won today.
We lost a fan favorite but we made this team a helluva lot deeper with proven NHL players.
If they prove not to spend the money saved, all of this is moot because VL4 isn't staying for a 3 year plan. The new owners aren't idiots. They know they have to field a team to get him to stay and frankly to get you me and 18,000 others to stay.
I feel a lightness in the air, a breath of fresh air has hit this club. I am going to enjoy the news until it is proven otherwise.
I am putting my rosies back on and we are going to make the most unbelievable run to get back in the race. Smith goes 4-0-1 in his first five starts. The 3rd and 4th lines knowing their days are numbered start actually blocking shots. It is contagious and we see a huge turn around. Go Bolts Bo. Hey ya gotta have hope or all is lost. Today gave me hope.

[deriq]

kudos to you, ajax. someone who sees things how they really are.

[zepdog]

Salarywise, we picked up a goalie for a goalie about even up. We gave up $7.8 mil in Richards for $3.8 mil for Jokinen and Halpern. Of the $4 mil the Bolts put in the bank in this deal, Vinny4 should pick up the lion's share of that savings if they try to resign him this summer as his $7 mil salary could bump as high as the $10 mil range. That leaves about a mil for team snacks and paying off the Denis mis-read. Lets give Oren some time to step up and spend some Saw cash in free agency this summer to beef up the D and give us real second line center!

[Dave]

Give Feaster credit for moving the guys who were at the end of their contracts. Prospal might end up right back here in 6 months, along with Picard, a decent looking young d-man who shows a knack for getting assists. Why let the trade deadline go and get nothing? Same with Homer. They weren't going to re-sign him.

[ted]

Ladies and gentlemen, crack kills

[Patrick]

Clearing up cap space is only good when you are getting rid of mediocre players. It's never a good thing to clear up cap space by getting rid of good players. Brad Richards is an excellent player. But the average poster here only knows how to judge a player by looking at a stat sheet.

It's hilarious to see someone suggest that it's "fairweather" fans coming out to support Richards. The only people still supporting Richards are the ones who have watched him his whole career with lightning and understand how good he is and understand why his stats have gone down the last two years.

The only people not sad to see Richards go are those who don't know much about hockey or those who haven't followed the lightning for very long.

[Bob]

Well, if you haven't written the season off, you can do it now since Vinny and Brad are gone. Not surprised they were traded, but with two of our scoring leaders gone the wins will be fewer. Good luck to all of them. God help us.

[Jonathan]

Its not that I didnt want more for Prospal. Ill always want more. But Im not altogether unhappy. Philly breeds defensemen much better than Norfolk. I believe we get an ok player, not great. I think we should have gotten a conditional 1/2 pick instead of a 2/3 pick. Or add another pick to compensate. But also, I think we should have shopped elsewhere, I just cant recall what other teams were offering for Prospal since we flooded the market with Richards and Boyle and Prospal. That actually is more of a fault for Koules than Feaster, although Im not absolving Feaster completely.

Now, the Dallas trade. I love this deal. And I do not believe for a minute we could get rid of Holmer AND get another pick for him. I think that was actually a benefit of the trade. We freed his salary which is great because we werent going to carry him and Smith and Ramo.

Smith is 25 (26 next month) and is locked down at $850k for this season and next. Plenty of time to try him out this year and/or package him in offseason, during draft or next year. It gives us options. If he's great, than he is a UFA in summer 2009 that we have to lock down. I'm not at all upset at the Dallas deal. Columbus wasnt going to give us what we want, so why not make this trade.
Halpern is locked down until 2010.

I'm not at all unhappy. I'm looking longer term than the remainder of this year.

[Top-Shelf Short-Side]

No Fistric?? Way to go Feaster and thank you for reminding us what pure stupidity is again... Modin for Denis was a few years ago now and I almost forgot... thanks again!

Ok Lightning fans, what's next?? Marty for a trip to Disneyland? Vinny for a bag of pucks?

Oren you're too late, save your money and pullout on the purchase agreement. There has to be another team you can purchase where the value isn't in a nose-dive.

[Dave]

I agree with Ajax but what's this about going after a d-man? The Bolts are growing into a young D with Lundin, Obrien, Ranger and now maybe Picard. The free agent money needs to be spent on forwards, assuming Smith is numero uno. We can't win with Hlavac, Karlsson, Oueltte, Ward, and co. and we've got nothing in the minors.

[Top-Shelf Short-Side]

No Fistric?? Way to go Feaster and thank you for reminding us what pure stupidity is again... Modin for Denis was a few years ago now and I almost forgot... thanks again!

Ok Lightning fans, what's next?? Marty for a trip to Disneyland? Vinny for a bag of pucks?

Oren you're too late, save your money and pullout on the purchase agreement. There has to be another team you can purchase where the value isn't in a nose-dive.

[Jeff]

Guess the Ramo experiment is out the window now.

Can't wait to see Jokinen struggle on the 2nd pair and then hear these fairweathers whine about not having a stud C on the line.

Hint: He's in Dallas now, but all you saw was salary.

[patricia]

I guarantee that Holmer will go to Dallas and kick a--! He is an awesome goalie given the experience and the right system. Holmer you will be missed and thanks for all the hard work. As far as for richards being shipped, I am ok with that, but somehow I feel like we got the bad end of this deal???

[Dave]

Hey Patrick, I've sat up in those stands for two years watching Brad get shoved off the puck. This year he's taken to making bad passes and not getting back on D. Dude is -25 for a reason. If anything, his stats distort his production to the up side. I'll always love him for 04 but he's hasn't been an elite player since then. Even his fellow NHLers consider him overrated.

[ajax]

VL4 ain't getting 10 million and if he does, see ya, and we will get 2 more proven players and 5 million more to spend AND NUMBER 1 DRAFT PICKS. $$8 to 8.5 will be the numbers. And if not, we surely will get every Gm banging down the doors with players, draft picks and cash to spend. Cheer up people we are moving forward and filling gaps. If Feaster plays his cards right over the summer, Vinny is the biggest "asset" on the market. You won't be held hostage and you will be dealing from a position of ultimate power. Today was good, say it until you believe it.

[bear]

I have knocked Richie as much as anyone the past year.

This can only be a revitalizing windfall for him playing on a pretty good team. He will finally smile again.

Bolts have gained some cap space but who knows what their financial state will be until the deal/ no deal happens or not.?

I see this team going to the frugal Minnesota/Columbus defence first trap style game which will require a #1 goalie. Thats where the cap savings will likely be placed.

Again thats why it all only works if Vinny is traded very smartly this summer for some great young 2 way forwards and a dman.

[Mike]

I think it's funny that on Yahoo, some Dallas fans are claiming that they might have given up too much.

[Mike13]

Salary breakdown:

Richards: 7.8 (-)
Holmqvist: 1.0 (-)
Halpern: 2.0 (+)
Smith: 0.95 (+)
Jokinen: 1.875 (+)
---------------------
Net: 3.975 (-)

[Dave]

Trade Vinny? You think Koules wants to buy this team to trade Vinny? If so, you're nuts. Vinny is one of the top 5 players in the world in the prime of his career. He'll be wearing the C next year and probably for many more to come. This team is a goaltender and a solid second line away from being competitive. A team like this adds to Vinny. It doesn't trade him.

[bear]

I think that you would be wrong on that one Dave..the cupboard is bare and V4 will replenish it.

BTW, think he wants to be part of a rebuild?

[Ace]

great trades with dumping Richards and Prospal. its been a lost season, so why not start to reshape the team now? i am a little disappointed that we took almost all the money we saved with Richards and gave it to Boyle, but that's another story. hopefully we have a top notch goalie in either one of Ramo or Smith

[Jonathan]

Patrick, I dont consider you a fairweather fan, but when people are talking about rooting for Dallas because Richie is there, that is what I am referring to. I hope he does okay, but thats it.

Speaking of Richards and salary and stats. So many are complaining about him leaving, but if he stayed, what do we do to make the TEAM better? I'd love to hear suggestions.
Get him wingers? With what money?
Get a goalie that will stop his turnovers when they come back the other way? With what money?
He is worst in plus/minus for a reason. He doesnt score even-strength because we cant afford wingers for him. Fine. That's not going to change. How long should we have to live with that excuse without changing anything? Until his contract runs out?

I've been playing hockey since I was a kid. I know the game. I'm a season ticket holder and have been for all but 3 seasons. I love this team.
Vent today if you must. Just remember to cheer tomorrow.

[Patrick]

Mike,

I read some posts on the official forums of the Stars about the trade and very few seemed to think they gave up too much. Most seemed ambivalent about jokinen going, saying he had become soft (how does that sound to you ajax?) and some think he's just a 3rd liner, no one seemed to care too much about halpern and some seemed to think Smith was gonna be a good goaltender, but they for the most part seemed to be very happy about getting richards for the package.

I can see the responses coming now....

"They must not know his salary!!" (repeat 100 times)

[Bishop]

I love this trade. Both Brad and Homer were so inconsistent in their play on the ice. And for $6 million a year it shouldn't be that way. I'm ready to buy my season tickets again.

[Lisa]

We are not building anything but a losing team with the trades we just made. If they move Vinny in his prime, they may as well move the team because noone is going to go watch the garbage that is put on the ice in that case.

I hope that the fact that Danny was willing to stay means that the managment and ownership managed to convince him that they have some kind of a plan to improve the team, because based on today, I would have to say that their plan (other than dump salary) is not evident.

[Patrick]

Jonathan,

The lightning will always be my favorite team. But I do fully intend to follow the stars throughout the playoffs and root for them to win the cup now that Richards is on their team. We're not in the playoffs, how would that make me a fairweather fan? If it does, I don't really care.

I'm loyal to the lightning team and the PLAYERS that have made it so successful. I don't stop caring about my favorite players just because they get TRADED to another team. I would say that makes me loyal, if nothing else.

[Dave]

Ok, Bear. Meet back here in September and we'll see. I say that besides it being an incredibly dumb hockey move, trading Vinny would be a disastrous business play, especially after Richey's departure. Koules isn't about to trade his marquis player on the heels of a losing season. And, hopefully, he knows that isn't necessary because the team isn't that bad. If it were, Boyle would have been traded instead of getting a nice new contract.

[sarah]

Don't think this is the fix either. Move Boyle to forward that's what he plays. Tort's will be on the warpath now. Don't forget V4 and Brad are best friends. This move has to be upsetting to both players.

[boltflasher]

Most of you bloggers don't seem to understand free agency...Holmer was a UFA, Huet was a UFA..Why else would Montreal let Huet go for 2nd round pick?...and do your homework before stating Smith and Jokinen were free agents....Why would we pick up a UFA, Huet or otherwise, for only a month's play when we are not even going to the playoffs....GEEZUSS!!! Think before you blog...

[ajax]

Montreal traded Huet, their number one goalie and got a 2nd round pick. The Prospal deal looks good compared to that. Things are tight gang.
The best blog was the one that said, what if today never happened?? Status quo for the wrost team in hockey. Talk about optimism. They weren't going to sign Homer anyway. I read a million, no zillion blogs about get a true Number 1 goalie. We probably didn't get one, but we did get nothing less than a wash(but plenty of upside) Two forwards that will be on our roster. Guarenteed, everybody is slamming Jokinen and he has 17/14/14 goals on a Defensive hockey team, and he is 24. Halpern is a good, not great 2 way player. Kills penalties!! has had 19/21 goal seasons, again for a team that stresses D first. IF they spend the 4 million on a D this is a no brainer on improving the overall team. There are probably only 20-30 Dmen in the whole league making 4million. We can now add a real player to man the blue line and clear out the net on Penalty kills. Or trade Smith and use his million to get a 5 million dollar goalie. Think of the upside. Think of thin roster. Think of worse team in the NHL up until today. 2nd and 3rd line players for Dallas I am 110% are better than what we have. LOTS

[Nick]

I don't hate the trade, since it was necessary, but I don't think the Bolts got enough out of it.

Halpern is a year younger than Gratton and at this stage, they're statistically almost identical. I wouldn't keep calling him old, he's 31 and a solid two-way forward. He's not a 30-goal scorer and never will be, so this looks a lot like he'll replace Gratton. I'd move Gratton for another young prospect, since Feaster and the scouts haven't proven that they can draft well.

[boltflasher]

Good comment Ajax, however, these guys aren't going to get it, and don't want to get it...They are going to complain no matter what...

[Dave]

The Jokerman is 25 with 14 goals, 14 assists and is +2 in 52 games.

Hlavac is 32 with 9 goals, 13 assists and is -10 in 62 games.

We just improved at left wing, folks.

[geo]

Ted crack doesnt kill torts and feaster are still alive

[Not The Marlboro Man]

Hey dodo brain,

I don't think anyone would have went after Huet unless they were willing to sign him long term. Washington is in position for that since Kolzig is on his way out. UFA or not Huet was the best goaltender out there. The Bottom line is Washington got a bonifide starter and Tampa got another bonifide back-up. Hopefully the back-up status changes and this kid can right the ship. Regardless of what happened in trades today we are still behind the eight ball when it comes to defense. Anyone who thinks we can make a play-off run next year with all the rookies and inexperience we have, is kidding themselves. We still need one or two solid stay at home defenders. The kind like Cory Sarich was and then we need one more. We need a defender like a Scott Stevens someone who can take over a hockey game. I thought that we were going to get that with O'brien but I was sadly mistaken. O'brien is still a good 2 or 3 seasons away from ever making his break though. Lundin seems like he is 1 or 2 seasons away from making it click but he doesn't have the size to take over a game.

[Lisa]

If you are complaining about O'Brien and Lundin, wait until we have Picard (Mr. -24) on our defense.

[keith]

Loosen up those panties guys!
How about a wait and see!
How about things have changed (a lot) as we all have been begging for. Richie bashers rejoice...he's gone. (Watch him light up the West!)Sad to see him go, but he should feel good about his time in Tampa.
There were/are no silver bullets out there.
I remember, not so long ago, getting a barely known MSL from Calgary. No one could have predicted his growth. Jokkinen....who knows. Im with Ajax. Good trades today. I'm excited (for the first time in a long time) about what can happen.
Not going to 2nd guess until Ive seen the new team together.
Found a little tiny bit of that "faith" to grow on. Go Bolts.

[Brendan]

For all those delusional fans out there who thought Holmer was going to be here next season... WAKE UP!!! Management has already said that they are going after a #1 goalie this summer. By bringing up Ramo and dumping a 29-year old inconsistent backup who has not improved his glove-side in 2 years, and getting another YOUNG highly talented goalie we have made improvements to our team for the future!!! Let's give this guy a chance and see what happens over the next 20 games. This season is a wash. Swallow you pride, stop bickering, and support the team you love! DAMN!!!!

[David]

Holmer was gone anyways, I'd rather they have moved Denis as a requirement for getting Richards.

All this deal did was get us salary space, and there won't be a premier goalie available. We finally have a solid backup in Smith but still no proven #1 and the UFA list looks weak.

Feaster got schooled again in the past two days, he has no business still holding his job. I don't think he has the intestinal fortitude to play chicken with other gm's or his own players.

I guess he was so fixated on a goalie he chose Smith over the alleged, and if true, better deal from Columbus that didn't include a goaltender.

Poor Richards, Dallas is going nowhere fast too. Don't know why he agreed to go there.

[jr]

ajax,

I guess I'm closer to your view in that I won't criticize but am in a wait and see mode. There's been bab blood between Halpern and V4 so I will wait and see how the team chemistry works out. Smith, though "promising" is a number 2 so I'll wait and see how he works out. The jury is out on Joker though I'm inclined to view him as a good pickup. Not optimistic about Pickard.

We did, however, overpay Boyle. He's gotta helluva agent. And speaking of agents, that guy that came on as "Brad's agent" a couple of days ago was right: Dallas is playing at St. Louis tonight.

[Herb]

To whom it might concern (Bear in particular) Halpern still has 2 years left on his contract. Jokinen is signed through next season/ 2008-2009 and then he is a RFA not a UFA. Smith has 1 more year on his contract as well so please get your info right. None of them are UFA after this year. Google "NHL salary cap" to get the info for yourself.

[Craig]

You are the most negative bunch of pansies I've ever seen. Who am I talking to? The people who have commented here. I loved Brad as much as any of you, but I understood that he has not produced well for us lately and his contract took up a lot of cap space. Holmqvist, whom some of you say are the reason you will no longer go to games should never have been a starter to begin with. Inconsistent to say the least. That's not to say that he couldn't improve and do better down the line, but we need consistency now. And how dare you vilify Jay Feaster. How easily you forget what he has done for this organization. Denis was not his fault, it was Denis' fault. We all had hope and held our breath and cheered when Denis came on board. Then we all cried when he turned out to not be what we thought he was.

I'm disappointed in you fans. How does it feel to give the Canadians and northern U.S. teams more reason to say that we don't deserve a team? I love my Lightning, good or bad, thick and thin. And while I'm worried about what the future may hold, I'll stand by them win or lose. John "Shut your yap" Tortorella is an amazing coach who knows how to motivate his players. Now, shut up and watch the game!

[Vee]

Jonathan,
I am a stars fan and I understand where your coming from as far making as decisions about your team's future. If you don't have money, there will not be any change. When I first heard about the deal for Richards, I knew his salary and was against it for that reason. The stars did not negotiate for the contract to be restructured. Now that the season's over, it has set in. We have only $5 million left to spend in the free agent market and 6-7 free agents on the roster. We are now the ones faced with no money and an aging roster. Not everyone in dallas loved the trade. Don't be surprised if you hear that the team has asked him to restructure. We're in trouble.