Today is the big day!!
C'mon Richards!! Sign a back-loaded contract so that you can win now and get your money later in your contact.
He says he want's to play on a winner above all.
So let's look at Eklund's "big two":
Rangers: They suck and have incompetent management. They usually sign players who are past their prime so that would also make Richards too young. They don't have the supporting cast to go around him.
Leafs: See above. No supporting cast to go around Richards.
This signing makes zero sense for both of the teams above.
The Hawks on the other hand have a battle-tested, talented, young nucleus to go with Richards. BR would be crazy not to sign with us if the $$$ is pretty comparable.