For what it’s worth, the Calgary Flames are the maid of honour in the Brad Richards(notes) sweepstakes.“Based on what I was told today, I believe the decision came down to the Calgary Flames and the New York Rangers,” Jay Feaster said Saturday evening over the din of bouncing balls and screeching sneakers. “I really do.”
After a crazy initial 36 hours of NHL free agency, Feaster watched his daughter Libby, 15, play basketball Saturday in a fleeting break from his day job.
Fittingly, the game went into overtime — much like the push for Richards to join the Flames.
Unfortunately for Feaster, the most sought-after free agent on the open market opted for the bright lights of Manhattan. In fact, the prolific sniper took less money to play on Broadway than on the Stampede grounds.
The Flames reportedly offered the former Dallas Star pivot a whopping $65 million over nine years — $5 million more than the front-loaded contract Richards ultimately signed with New York.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings also chased after the 31-year-old playmaker.
Richards won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 under Feaster and John Tortorella, who has since moved behind the bench at Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, Tortorella — with an assist to geography — won out over his old boss.
“I never really said it openly, but it was getting back East — it was important to me,” said Richards, who hails from the fishing village of Murray Harbour in P.E.I. “I grew up on the East Coast, and my family still loves to watch me play.
“It’s easier for them out here, and I’ve got a grandfather that’s 93 and still watches every game on TV. He wasn’t too happy about the West Coast games. You add up that stuff, and it’s an easier transition to get back East. The travel is better, and there’s many things.”
In the end, Feaster couldn’t compete with that. But did he try.
“Brad knows how I feel about him,” Feaster said. “Brad recognizes that if he could play on a line with Jarome Iginla(notes) and Alex Tanguay(notes) …”
Feaster’s voice trailed off.
“As Craig Conroy(notes) says, all three of those guys could score 100 points.”
Feaster went to bed Friday night thinking the Flames had a real shot. The phone rang Saturday morning with the verdict from agent Pat Morris.
“We’re all competitive people.” Feaster said. “That’s part of the business. You want to win in that situation. You want to get the player. Nobody wants to lose. Nobody wants to finish second.”
Until the draft, “salary-cap jail,” as Feaster likes to call it, prevented the club from even entering such sweepstakes. But the trades of Robyn Regehr(notes) ($4.02 million) and Ales Kotalik(notes) ($3 million) changed the landscape.
“Once we were able to create the cap space, “ Feaster said, “we were able to play in the deep end of the pool. We were in it right to the end. We got the news. We re-adjusted and moved on with what we’re trying to accomplish. From a group perspective, we got back to business.”
On Friday the Kings, Leafs, and Lightning all sent representatives to the Mississauga, Ont., office of Newport Sports to make in-person presentations to Richards. The Flames, like the Rangers, chose to pitch from afar via conference call.
The Kings pulled out all the stops with a presentation that included videotaped appeals from Wayne Gretzky and Kobe Bryant.
On his 34th birthday, Iginla called Richards on Calgary’s behalf. So did defenceman Cory Sarich(notes), who also played in Tampa.
“We were told by the agent that our presentation was top shelf,” Feaster said. “It was very well received. There’s no question that it came down to the two of us.”
In the end, the Rangers won the day, but Feaster promised the Flames will fight again.
“For the first time in I don’t know how long, we’re actually in a position where we can take advantage of opportunities,” he said. “We are not done.”
http://www.calgaryherald.com/
After a crazy initial 36 hours of NHL free agency, Feaster watched his daughter Libby, 15, play basketball Saturday in a fleeting break from his day job.
Fittingly, the game went into overtime — much like the push for Richards to join the Flames.
Unfortunately for Feaster, the most sought-after free agent on the open market opted for the bright lights of Manhattan. In fact, the prolific sniper took less money to play on Broadway than on the Stampede grounds.
The Flames reportedly offered the former Dallas Star pivot a whopping $65 million over nine years — $5 million more than the front-loaded contract Richards ultimately signed with New York.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings also chased after the 31-year-old playmaker.
Richards won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 under Feaster and John Tortorella, who has since moved behind the bench at Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, Tortorella — with an assist to geography — won out over his old boss.
“I never really said it openly, but it was getting back East — it was important to me,” said Richards, who hails from the fishing village of Murray Harbour in P.E.I. “I grew up on the East Coast, and my family still loves to watch me play.
“It’s easier for them out here, and I’ve got a grandfather that’s 93 and still watches every game on TV. He wasn’t too happy about the West Coast games. You add up that stuff, and it’s an easier transition to get back East. The travel is better, and there’s many things.”
In the end, Feaster couldn’t compete with that. But did he try.
“Brad knows how I feel about him,” Feaster said. “Brad recognizes that if he could play on a line with Jarome Iginla(notes) and Alex Tanguay(notes) …”
Feaster’s voice trailed off.
“As Craig Conroy(notes) says, all three of those guys could score 100 points.”
Feaster went to bed Friday night thinking the Flames had a real shot. The phone rang Saturday morning with the verdict from agent Pat Morris.
“We’re all competitive people.” Feaster said. “That’s part of the business. You want to win in that situation. You want to get the player. Nobody wants to lose. Nobody wants to finish second.”
Until the draft, “salary-cap jail,” as Feaster likes to call it, prevented the club from even entering such sweepstakes. But the trades of Robyn Regehr(notes) ($4.02 million) and Ales Kotalik(notes) ($3 million) changed the landscape.
“Once we were able to create the cap space, “ Feaster said, “we were able to play in the deep end of the pool. We were in it right to the end. We got the news. We re-adjusted and moved on with what we’re trying to accomplish. From a group perspective, we got back to business.”
On Friday the Kings, Leafs, and Lightning all sent representatives to the Mississauga, Ont., office of Newport Sports to make in-person presentations to Richards. The Flames, like the Rangers, chose to pitch from afar via conference call.
The Kings pulled out all the stops with a presentation that included videotaped appeals from Wayne Gretzky and Kobe Bryant.
On his 34th birthday, Iginla called Richards on Calgary’s behalf. So did defenceman Cory Sarich(notes), who also played in Tampa.
“We were told by the agent that our presentation was top shelf,” Feaster said. “It was very well received. There’s no question that it came down to the two of us.”
In the end, the Rangers won the day, but Feaster promised the Flames will fight again.
“For the first time in I don’t know how long, we’re actually in a position where we can take advantage of opportunities,” he said. “We are not done.”
http://www.calgaryherald.com/
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