12/13/11 Rangers vs. Dallas Stars

We just put Sir Isaac Newton in the drivers seat.

Rangers against the Dallas Stars.

This is the first and only meeting of these two clubs this season. Last year, the Rangers beat the Stars in the shootout 3-2. The Rangers and Stars were two completely different teams last season, which makes this years matchup that much more interesting. For one, Brad Richards returns to his former team for the first time where he played four seasons. He scored more points than games he played here, and now he looks to add to his points total with the Rangers. Brad Richards has been doing it all for the Rangers. From assists, to much needed goals, Richards has been doing some good work when he's on the ice. Having a guy like Richards around is a benefit because he is so multifaceted in his skills that he can just make players around him better by playing on their line. As corny as that may sound, he's a real lightning rod for positive energy for this team, and it's showing by this team winning games. The Rangers trounced the Panthers 6-1 two night ago, one of their best offensive performances of the season so far. In the 2nd period, the Rangers capitalized on quite a few rebounds to score four goals in one period to cap a victory off. A good performance like that is needed against a team like the Stars who has been a surprise so far this season.

What Are Brad Richards' True Intentions In His Free Agency?

So If you're a Rangers fan and have been following them closely since about last year, you've probably heard speculation about Dallas Stars center Brad Richards and his impending free-agency just two days away. Richards has already spoken out about how he does not wish to play for the Stars any longer, and is going to a new team once July 1 comes around. The only people who seem to be targeting him anymore are the Rangers, as they are the bona-fide front-runner for acquiring him. But what is Brad Richards expecting if he comes to New York?

A friend of mines father who had been paying attention to the Richards situation and has been around for the chaos that comes with the Rangers signing free-agents said that Richards isn't looking at New York because they're a rising contender for the Cup, he is looking to get paid the big bucks in the closing years of his NHL career. Initially, I thought that would be a ridiculous claim, but it got me thinking: what if that really is the reason Brad Richards wants to sign with the Rangers? It's well known around the NHL that the past Rangers free-agent signings haven't been stellar by any stretch of the imagination, as the trend goes. Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Wade Redden have all been mediocre when they came to the Rangers, yet they managed to get bigger contracts than most other players on the lineup who produce way more then they did. Does Brad Richards want to come to the Rangers only because he knows that they'll pay the big bucks like they did to Redden, Gomez, and Drury?

It's not a ridiculous concept when you really think about it. He already has a Stanley Cup, and a Conn Smythe Trophy under his belt, and he just hit 31-years-old two months ago. Perhaps Richards feels he's on the decline, and wants to make the most of his situation by milking the Rangers into a big contract for the remaining years he has in the NHL. It may not be his first thought coming into free-agency, but it's certainly in the back of his mind.

Perhaps I am wrong, though. Perhaps Richards feels as if he could be a really good asset to the Rangers team and help lead them to the promised land. Rangers fans would love to hear such a thing, but there's bound to be money on the mind when Richards put that pen to paper on July 1 and signs what could be his potential final contract in his NHL career.