Jackets make offer for Richards...

According to Puck-rakers the offer is:

Dan Fritsche

Age: 22

Assets - Displays plenty of two-way potential. Owns grit and determination, excellent skating ability and a wealth of versatility.
Flaws - Shoulder problems continue to dog him, and might hamper his long-term development. As an Ohio native, expectations may be unrealistic with the Jackets.
Career potential - Two-way forward.

Gilbert Brule

Age: 21

Assets - Owns excellent hands and playmaking skills. Has a nose for the net. Likes to play the body and is effective at both ends of the ice.
Flaws - Must avoid injuries in order to maximize potential, which won't be easy because of his kamikaze style and smallish stature. Is too inconsistent.
Career potential - Top six forward.

OK Tollefsen

Age: 23

Assets - Loves to lay on the body and displays a wealth of toughness and aggression along the blueline. Has the makings of a sound defensive defenseman.
Flaws - Needs to improve his all-around skills, since he's below average with the puck. Must learn when to pick his spots in the hitting department.
Career potential - Defensive defenseman.

In exchange the Lightning give up:

Brad Richards

Age: 27

Assets - Has incredible imagination with the puck and excellent playmaking ability. Likes to shoot the puck often and displays two-way savvy.
Flaws - Isn't big or physical, so he may wear down against bigger opposing centers. Will occasionally pass up a great scoring chance.
Career potential - First line center.

More importantly the Lightining would be freeing up well over 5 million in budget room.

The Jackets offer does fall in line with what Tampa wants and that's to clear roster space and pick up young affordable assets who can play now. The only thing it doesn't give them is a goalie but I'm not sure they'll be able to return that as the market stands today.

In Brule they are getting a blue chip propsect who seems to just now be finding his way through the NHL game.

In Frtische they get a 3rd line grinder who will mabye get you 10 - 15 goals a year.

Finally in Tollefsen they get a 5th/6th defensemen who is as rugged as they come.

The key though is that all of these players are cheap, have solid NHL experience and can step right into their lineup to help right away.

That's not a bad haul when you consider the key for them is getting that salary off the books. Although I am a little surprised they don't want Klesla over OKT but perhaps they like Tollefsen better b/c he brings a phsycial element to their lineup and well, he's cheaper.

Of course the Jackets don't seem to be alone in making a push for Richards. The Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks seem to the other two teams making serious bids.

The Stars have a bit of an ace in the hole are are said to be offereing goaltender Mike Smith. The problem here though is has Smith proven enough. Tampa fans seem to get a Marc Denis vibe from this guy and many think it would be a bad move.

The Canucks are said to be offereing goaltending prosepct Schneider, Bourdon (defensive prospect) and a draft pick of some sort.

Looking over Vancouver and Dallas' salary committments I'm not sure who they can slip a hefty 7.8 per mil contract into their pay structure considering both teams are up there in terms of cap hits and have some key people to resign this offseason.

One thing is for sure, we'll know one way or another how this thing ends up in less than a day and few hourse but its fun to dream of this for now:

Nash - Richards - Modin

Zherdev - Peca - XXX

Chimera - Novonty - XXX

Boll - Brassard - XXX

I think Fedorov, Manny and Vyborny are dealt by the deadline and along with Fritsche and Brule being dealt we have some open winger positions. Howson may get back one or two players to step into that role or he may look to the farm. A guy like Lindstrom would definitely fill out one and then perhaps Konopka or a guy like Pineault or Doresett get some looks.

-LTL