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Posted on Wed, Apr. 30, 2008

Rinkside Journal: Not overpaying for Richards a nice move

By Jennifer Floyd Engel

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS -- Watching Brad Richards be an absolute menace to Anaheim and now San Jose so far in these playoffs -- How else do you describe what a beast he has been? -- has underlined how much this Stars team needed another dynamic scorer.

Trading for him probably saved them from crashing and burning in very Maverick-like fashion.

And this is a perfect time for a walk down memory lane, a reminder of how close this deal was to not being consummated and what held up, and almost killed, the Richards trade: Mark Fistric.

Wait, who?

The deal was almost completed (Richards for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern) when Tampa decided to ask for the young defenseman to be tossed in as well. Stars co-GM Les Jackson told them, well, a strong version of no, which is key since Fistric has been a really good fill-in for injured Philippe Boucher. Like really good.

Did they ever think of throwing Fistric in?

"Never," Jackson said.

And what if the deal had died and no Richards?

"The deal was not going to die," Jackson said.

The non-panic was a savvy play by Jackson and fellow rookie GM Brett Hull. It is standard to try to grab another player right before a deal is done. The thought is the other team already is in love with the guy and will agree to anything to get it done. Jamie Langenbrunner, anybody? GM and GMer understood they had a pat hand. And they used it.

Of course, it helped that Richards wanted to come here and waived his no-trade clause to do so. Or he did until a disastrous March had him flirting with regret.

"It was not fun sometimes," he admitted. "But this is going to be a great spot. This is not a rental-player situation. It is a three-year decision, and I'm glad I made it."

So are the Stars. Very glad.

From 'Grapes', with love

Hockey Night In Canada is a must-watch for every die-hard hockey fan. For no reason other than to listen to legendary broadcaster Don Cherry unleash his unique POV in his, uhm, interesting ensembles.

And he laid a verbal sloppy wet kiss on Stars goalie Marty Turco on Saturday.

"This guy is the smartest goaltender," Cherry said in Coach's Corner while wearing a floral blazer that would make Craig Sager blush. "He really is a genius. I've never seen goalies [make passes like him]. It is absolutely beautiful."

He was talking about Marty's pass that started a breakout and led to Brenden Morrow's goal in Game 1. And he has been doing this all playoffs long.

And this is why Cherry is genius. He noted what has gone unnoticed by too many: that, when judging Turco, his puck play must be included. He has been the Stars' best defenseman at times, especially when Philippe Boucher and Sergei Zubov were injured. He bailed those young defensemen out by coming out of the net and playing the puck and killing the forecheck.

"I see all of his stuff, and he is genius," Turco said. "The thing about Don is he just likes hockey, and the attention he garners in Canada is quite amazing."

And if Cherry is gushing, how long until Team Canada start thinking Turks in 2010?

Full disclosure

Not too long after Game 3 ended, I got an e-mail asking which idiot chose the three stars.

I am that idiot.

I picked Sergei Zubov, then Matty Norstrom with captain Brenden Morrow No. 1. And while I realize that mini-Mo did not have a point, he was the Stars' best player. Period.

And he has been all postseason.

It seems like every goal we are in the press box asking "Did that go off of Brenden?" He is always in front of the net, always around it. But probably his biggest accomplishment is how he has pulled his teammates along with him.

"Like you said, no points tonight and yet the guy was on a mission to win another game," Turco said after Game 3. "Nobody cares more than he does."