With camp opening in one month, Lightning center has no contract and sides are far apart.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published August 10, 2003
Brad Richards began on-ice workouts last week with just one thing on his mind. Well, two things, actually, but one he would rather not think about.
The possibility of a holdout.
One month before training camp is set to open Sept. 11 at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, the Lightning's star center is without a contract, and the sides are significantly apart.
"Yeah, well, sometimes that's the way it is. It's a marketplace right now," Richards said from his home on Prince Edward Island. "A lot can happen in a month, but in that time you prepare for different things. I'm not sitting here preparing for that, but in the back of my mind . . .
"I'm just training and getting ready as if everything is the same as every other year. If it's not, I'll think about it at the time."
The starting point for Richards' side is a two-year deal for about $6-million. The Lightning started at four years, $10.2-million.
"It's a large negotiation for Brad Richards and a large negotiation for Tampa," Richards' agent, Pat Morris, said. "The timing is what the team wants it to be."
Left wing Cory Stillman and defenseman Dan Boyle also are without contracts.
Stillman will be in camp. Even if negotiations fail, his contract will be determined at Wednesday's arbitration hearing in Toronto. Stillman, who last season made $2.1-million for the Blues, is expected to ask for $3.5-million. The Lightning likely will submit the $2.1-million qualifying offer used to retain Stillman's rights.
Boyle's financial parameters are unclear, though he does want a multiyear deal and said he is interested in the ruling on Friday's arbitration hearing for Rangers defenseman Tom Poti, who made $1.8-million last season.
Boyle, 27, who last season made $850,000, led Poti in most statistical categories. But Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said Poti's ruling is not applicable because Boyle did not file for arbitration.
"Had the player filed for arbitration, then it would have been instructive," Feaster said.
Still, Boyle's agent, George Bazos, said he would be "very surprised" if a contract were not signed before training camp.
That leaves Richards, 23, who would have been much happier this summer had his sole focus been better conditioning to maintain his weight and strength through a long season.
Richards had 17 goals and 57 assists last season and was third on the team with a career-high 74 points. He is coming off a three-year entry contract that paid him an annual base salary of $975,000.
"I thought it would have gotten started a little earlier than it did," Richards said of negotiations. "That's the only thing that bothered me a little bit. Hopefully, things will start going a little bit better now and start progressing."
"Our goal is to get this player signed, and that hasn't changed," Feaster said. "Our preference is to get him signed to a long-term deal. We view him as a guy who is a cornerstone player for us."
The lines are drawn this way.
The Lightning offered Richards the same number of years and money it gave Vinny Lecavalier when he came out of his entry contract. But Morris argues Lecavalier is not a valid comparison because Richards posted 198 points in his first three seasons to Lecavalier's 146. And a shorter term would leave intact Richards' arbitration rights, which kick in after five pro seasons.
The Elias Sports Bureau also determined that since the 1993-94 season, only Paul Kariya (246) and Milan Hejduk (199) had more points than Richards in their first three seasons.
"He doesn't need all the accolades or the attention. He just wants respect," Morris said of Richards. "They say they respect him tremendously. Respect is measured by what one gets paid."
Morris said Richards is well-informed about the negotiations and possible consequences.
"He's a very mature young man and understands fully where he stands historically and what he's done with the Lightning," the agent said.
Richards said he is staying focused on his workouts.
"No matter what, I'm going to be ready to play," he said. "Hopefully, it's at the right time."
