RICHARDS TRADE TALKS HALTED

Phildelphia, Pa (BNS) Talks between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Colorado Rockies regarding sad sack, over priced, free agent signing, Mike Richards have broken off.

"We definately mad an offer, " said Flyers GM Jazz Matthews, "but it was firmly rebuked by the Rockies." In a previous offer before Richards had played a game, the Flyers had apparently offered the world. It involved a player of choice, at least two first round picks, tc's and cash for the un proven free agent. That offer went unanswered. Matthews went out and go tthe winger he was looking for in Greg Niemsz. It may have been a great deal as Niemsz is out performing Richards in every, single stat.

"Colorado contacted us midway through the season, as Niemsz was rolling and Richards was....well....sucking. He wanted the same package but with Greg as the player," says Matthews. "The biggest poblem there, besides Mike's stats, was that what we originally offered was used to pick up Niemsz."

Matthews stated that he had indeed but feelers out to see if another deal could be worked out but that offer was rebuked by GM Livingston. When asked what the offer was, Matthews would only say he was willing to move a performing player, whose rating should rise some for the disgruntled Richards who is likely to drop some and may not have time to recover with only 30 or so ganes left in the season. The talks soured and nothing has been said since though Matthews states he is still willing to deal.

"Mike has nobaody to play with and Colorado should have thought about that before pursuing him. Look at the NHL Nordiques. Thay had an unproven Lindros, his junior stats mean nothing. and they had no one for him to play with. So, they trade him and the result was Lindros was sent to the NHL Flyers for Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, two first-round picks (one used to select Jocelyn Thibault and the other traded twice, eventually used by the Capitals to draft Nolan Baumgartner) and $15 million. So, what did the NHL Flyers get? Losers in the 1997 Stanley Cup. The Nordiues/Avalanche? Two Stanley Cups, 1996 and 2001."

When asked if he thought Richards would get moved, Matthews said probably. "Someone will take a chance and probably overpay. But Justin needs to remember that with evey passing day his stock goes down...at least until rerates, when we can see what he will be worth next season, but then it ma be too late."

Are the Flyers still looking to acquire Richards? "Sure we'll take him, but the deal has to make sense top us and obviously to Justin."