"When it comes to his impending free agency, Brad Richards said he wants to be flexible.

That is why he will not waive his no-trade clause with the Stars — "The more I think about it, the more I want to see all my opportunities," he said — and why, when it comes to a potential return to the Lightning, he did not shoot down a suggestion he might be willing to take less salary than he could get elsewhere.

To be fair, Richards framed his reasoning in a broader context, saying every team's financial situation is different.

Still, that Richards, the MVP of Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup run, left that door open a crack is sure to stoke the imaginations of Lightning fans when free agency opens Friday.

"If you say only one thing, you're not going to give yourself any options," Richards told the St. Petersburg Times by phone from his Prince Edward Island home. "There's different ways to do things. … That's why it's important to have an open mind. I want to see that if a team is looking at me, I can make the right call."

The Richards drama is just part of what will be a busy week for Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman and what could be a defining one as well.

Center Steven Stamkos has said he is "close" to a new contract. And Yzerman on Sunday, after the draft at the Xcel Energy Center, reiterated he is "optimistic" something will get done.

But if Stamkos, who has a league-best 96 goals the past two seasons, is not signed by Friday, he becomes a restricted free agent open to offers from other teams. Yzerman has indicated he will match them, but that undoubtedly would jack up Stamkos' salary further than the $7 million a season most expect.

Yzerman also is negotiating with goalies Dwayne Roloson and Mike Smith, both of whom can be unrestricted free agents. Qualifying offers go out today to maintain negotiating rights with restricted free agents, of which Teddy Purcell is one. It already seems Sean Bergenheim is headed for the open market."