Flyers Make Richards a Lifer

From TSN.ca:

Centre Mike Richards, who has emerged as one of the league's top two-way forwards this season, has agreed to terms on a contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers, sources tell TSN.

Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren and Richards' agent Pat Morris are reportedly finalizing the language of the contract, which sources suggest is a whopper in terms of length, in excess of 10 years, perhaps as many as 12.

Richards leads the Flyers in all the big offensive categories this season, and is really taking shape as a future captain. Glad to see they locked him up til he's 58.

Comments

[digi]

I heard the Flyers wanted it to be 5 years... but they saw how bad ass it was when Richards took off his helmet/visor before fights and made it 12 for 69.

Olde City, rejoice!

[Chris]

worth every penny. glad to have you in for the long haul, richie.

[Jonny Rad]

Is it me or do the Flyers do the best with paying alot for GOOD players? A tradition unbeknownst to the other 3 sports teams.

[gootman]

Great move, love Richards... hopefully Jason Smith will be around for a while too. Those are the two players on the roster that embody Flyers hockey the most. Holmgren has done a fantastic job as GM.

[Pete D]

Can someone explain to me how one franchise in a non-violent, non-contact sport is afraid to lock up a player for 5 years, while another franchise in a high-speed, concussion at any time sport is willing to sign a player for 12 YEARS?? Something isn't making sense to me here.

[Matt P]

The Flyers have never been cheap (quite the opposite), and they're usually very loyal to the players they consider "their guys." Guys like Richards. However, it could be argued that this was a good business move, since Richards was having a breakout season on the cusp of entering restricted free agency this coming off-season. He might have gotten a lot more next year, albeit for less years/security. I think it's a great move on many levels for the Flyers, and it was cool to see how badly Richards wanted to stay here. Those Old City girls must be taking good care of him.

[Kulp]

I'm not trying to hate on this move, but a lot can happen in 12 years... and not just an on-ice injury like Pete points out, but something terrible can happen just living life as well. Are the Flyers protected if something happens where Richards clearly cannot play at the level he does now? It just seems like an inappropriate length of time when contracts are guaranteed.

Guy is a great player, and I'm glad they locked him up, but something under 10 years would have been a little easier to stomach.

[Doug]

Kulp,

Most contracts now have clauses that make them void if something happens off-ice (there was a big thing about a baseball player who hurt himself in a pickup basketball game...can't remember the name though). As far as if he gets severely injured during a game or turns into Eric Lindros....well, I don't know.

[Sanganoski]

Just goes to prove that "Homer" still remembers when he donned the Orange and Black, not like Clarke. Clarke would have found every reason in the book not to sign Richards long term, but "Homer" knows that injuries and trades do happen and you have to have an endowment against both.