Will the Rangers pursue Brad Richards?

MINNEAPOLIS -- After a Flyers trading-and-signing frenzy Thursday and the latest news about Brad Richards, things could very well remain in flux by the time the Rangers are on the clock with the 15th pick in the first round of the NHL draft Friday night.

The 2011-12 salary cap was announced Thursday -- it climbs from $59.4 million to $64.3 million -- and the sense is that more pre-draft trades are being discussed among club executives gathered here. The consensus is that after the first eight or nine picks, the next tier of players is large and similarly talented; therefore, some teams -- including the Rangers -- could trade down.

Add this to the overall situation: Dallas Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said he has been unable to persuade Richards to waive his no-trade clause, and he will hit the open market on July 1. Nieuwendyk also said he is strongly considering a move by trading the No. 14 pick, just above the Rangers.

Before Thursday's blockbusters -- with the Flyers trading captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings and 36-goal scorer Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets -- the Rangers, Kings and Maple Leafs were expected to make multiyear offers to Brad Richards, 31, a legit No. 1 center who was 28-49-77 in 72 games this past season.

But the Kings have their No. 1 center now and the Flyers could be in the hunt, although they will be close to the cap after Thursday's signing of free-agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51-million contract and would have to shed more salary. That might bode well for the Rangers if they can find common ground with Brad Richards, who won a Stanley Cup with John Tortorella in Tampa and who is seeking a lucrative deal.

So even more can change before 8:30 Friday night, when the Rangers are due to pick at No. 15. The Flyers now have the No. 8 pick from Columbus. The Rangers have no selections in the second, third, sixth or seventh rounds and might try to add one. If they stand pat, they are believed to be interested in a center or right wing, and there are numerous candidates in that range, including centers Mark Scheifele, Mark McNeill and Boone Jenner and right wings Joel Armia and Tyler Biggs.

Notes & quotes: The Rangers are hosting a 21-and-over draft party Friday night at Snap Sports Bar, on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan. Admission is free. Prospects Carl Hagelin, Dylan McIlrath and Christian Thomas are expected to attend.

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