Brad Richards might just be the biggest available name on the trade market, but he may not make a move because the Stars want to keep him. According to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times, the Stars won't trade Richards because they want to re-sign him before he reaches free agency this Summer.
Two NHL team officials said Sunday that the Stars will not trade Richards and want to re-sign the prolific forward before he reaches unrestricted free agency July 1. Richards has a no-trade clause and likes Dallas, but the Stars are for sale and there is no guarantee that a new owner will want to assume a big contract and a plump payroll. Richards has a $7.8-million salary this season and could command at least that much on the open market.
I know the LA Times might not be the best source of information for Dallas Stars related news, but the Kings are one of the teams that has been interested in Richards, so they too have been following this story very closely. There is always the chance, however, that this is just posturing on the part of the Stars, trying to drive up the price of Richards. Things can always change before the deadline in a few hours, so stay tuned.