Readers weigh in on Bettman, Jagr, Richards & more

	Is Brad Richards justifying his $7.8 million salary? Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Time to answer your questions concerning Brad Richards, Horton's vs. Starbucks, Matthew Barnaby, Jaromir Jagr and pointed criticism directed at Gary Bettman.

Brad Richards is a financial drag on a struggling playoff hopeful? Yes there are sale rumors and, yes, Brad's stats pale in comparison to his other high-priced teammates. However, anyone worth their salt knows that trading Brad Richards away (for less than what he's worth thanks to that mind-boggling contract) is clearly not in the best interests of the Bolts. The Lightning aren't going to be sold and once GM Jay Feaster gets Brad some scoring help on his line (possibly the return of Fredrik Modin), he'll be producing just fine. Stats aren't everything and Brad has carried this team at many points in the season, such as the shootout win in Jersey a couple weeks ago.
-- Jeff Hagman, Tampa, Fla.

I'd make a few points here. First, I agree that stats aren't everything, but the plus-minus stat of one player, when viewed against the rating for his teammates, takes into account a lot of the on-ice intangibles that goal numbers don't and is a good indicator of whether a player is carrying his weight. Given Richards' contract, the team is expecting him to carry a lot. Richards is minus-13 and his 49 points are comparably less impressive than the numbers for both Vincent Lecavalier (76 points, plus-6) and Martin St. Louis (76 points, plus-4). Trading Richards away won't make the Lightning better unless they get $7 million worth of a player or players in return. But in these days of cap restrictions, that would be a logical aim. Richards is a fine player, and no numbers can factor in the leadership qualities of a former Conn Smythe winner. But the kind of compensation the Bolts have given their top three players realistically demands superstar performances out of each. Richards has been very good at times (but not all times -- again, he's minus-13). Alas, very good doesn't justify a contract for someone who should be great. Also, the Lightning has played much better since the column appeared, but this is a team that is two seasons removed from a Stanley Cup, and a playoff spot is no guarantee.

How about a trade between my two favorite hockey teams, the Hawks and the Lightning, with the Hawks sending Adrian Aucoin and Bryan Smolinski to Tampa for Brad Richards.
-- Richard Sanders, Brandon, Fla.

You've given this some good thought. Aucoin makes $4 million in coin and Smolinski makes $1.5 million, so the Lightning would save $2.3 million on Richards' $7.8, while getting two veteran players for one. I think, however, that although you can add salaries to reach a number, it is hard to add value. Even though I told the previous reader that Tampa Bay might like to move Richards, he is probably too good a player most of the time for that particular swap. More likely, Tampa might try to go after a single elite player (a Peter Forsberg-type) who would carry a world of potential benefit if he is healthy.

As a proud Canadian, I take offense to your statement that Tim Hortons is "the Northern answer to the Starbucks in the United States." Tim Hortons was founded seven years before Starbucks and has been a national icon since the days when Starbucks was still a single store in Seattle. By the time Starbucks decided to expand beyond Seattle (1987), Tim Hortons already had 300 locations dotting the countryside from the Maritimes to Vancouver. If anything, Starbucks is the American answer to Tim Hortons (only of lesser quality and not nearly the selection of delicious donuts). Please don't insult the great Tim Horton name by suggesting that they are a Canadian knock-off of Starbucks.
-- Mike Auge, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

I acknowledge your point. Starbucks is the U.S. answer to Tim Hortons. Have you tried their chai?

Just a comment on Matthew Barnaby. Although I live in Atlanta and am a Thrashers fan, I will miss Barnaby even though he never played here. Some years ago back when he was with the Penguins, he got penalized and while he was in the penalty box, the PA announcer played Shania Twain's song, I Feel Like A Woman, and it showed Barnaby in the penalty box where he promptly mouthed along with the words of the song. It got a big laugh from the Thrashers crowd and I have to say that I always respected Barnaby for having a sense of humor and not being a dirty player. The NHL could use more guys like Matthew Barnaby.
-- Jason Shumate, Atlanta

I've never heard that particular Barnaby story, but it doesn't surprise me. There has always been a lot of "brat" in Barnaby, but there has also been a lot of boyish enthusiasm and energy to his game, which is why fans have always admired or hated him, depending on his uniform color. Very few people have a neutral take.

You wrote three pages on the NHL, and not one word on the hottest team in hockey: the Pittsburgh Penguins. Or the best player in the game, Sidney Crosby.
-- Art Massimiani, Pittsburgh

We can't feature Crosby in every article, though he gets -- and deserves -- his share of space. Some days, we touch on Crosby even when we don't write about him directly. Check back for Friday's column.