According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, soon-to-be former Canucks centre Brad Richardson is close to inking a 3-year, $2.08 M/yr deal with the Arizona Coyotes. The deal is now official.
The Canucks had hoped to get Richardson re-signed to reprise his bottom-6 C and top penalty killer role, but now they’ll have a hole to fill in the bottom of the lineup. Let’s take a look after the jump.
Brad Richardson is close to signing a three-year deal with ARI. AAV of $2.08
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2015
That Brad Richardson deal with ARI is done. Three years. #TSN
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2015
At 5-on-5, Richardson should be a replaceable piece for the Canucks going forward. His offensive play was solid for his role, but he was far from a driver of possession and permitted scoring chances at a fairly high rate relative to the rest of the Canucks roster. We’d argued in the past that Richardson brought down Zack Kassian to an extent, so he should be a piece which Vancouver can replace at 5-on-5.
It’s a bit of a different story on the penalty kill, however. Richardson has been one of the NHL’s elite forwards while a man short for a few seasons now, as he’s traditionally been excellent at suppressing shots. Richardson was also the Canucks’ best faceoff man outside of Bo Horvat, and the Canucks penalty kill, their one legitimate fastball, started falling apart around the time that Richardson suffered an ankle injury:
With Linden Vey officially listed as a right winger, Shawn Matthias likely too expensive to bring back, and a bunch of question marks after Henrik Sedin, Nick Bonino, and Bo Horvat (to be honest, Horvat himself is a bit of a question mark. Is he the player that showed well down the stretch and in the playoffs? Or will he take a year or two more to grow beyond the possession sinkhole he was for most of his rookie season?), Vancouver will undoubtedly be in the market for another centreman.
Sounds like Vey has a full time spot on the 4th.
He will have to earn it.
Special thanks to CA, I couldn’t watch TSN gushing about the Kessel trade any longer and turned here for news. What a joke.
Benning is going for one year deals.
We will have more money next year as both Hammer and Vrbata come off the books. Another year of development for some of the young guys. Maybe we will have a young stud out of next years draft and money to spend in a better UFA year.
Hears hoping for a top 5 pick in what looks like a great draft year!!
Plus watch the kids develop. No pain,no gain!!
Sad to see him go but a three year deal was too long for the Canucks with all the young guys like McCann and Cassels coming up.
Should be interesting filling this void, any chance we see a return of Mike Santorelli, or perhaps add some much needed size down the middle in the form of a top 20 PK man in the form of Daniel Winnik?
McCann, Gaunce — I liked Richie Rich, but better to use the spot to develop a youngster. Vey should be kept on the wing.
Don’t forget about Cole Cassels. I think he may have a better shot at the 4th line center role
Too bad Canucks make the draft lottery in 2016 rather than 2015
With all the trades to day, Vancouver how is at 23 players, so any additions would require demotions/trades. So for now, Linden Vey is our 4th line center, with Kenins, Dorsett, and/or Prust as his wingers.