"Brian Burke has scoffed at the notion that teams needing help should go on a spending spree when the NHL free-agent marketplace opens for business July 1,

But the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager will still try hard to pick off centre Brad Richards, the No. 1 prize up for grabs starting Friday.

In a very shallow free-agent crop, Richards is by far the best player available — even if the sticker price goes through the roof.

First-line centres who have a Stanley Cup ring — Ricards earned one with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 — and average a point-a-game are in rare supply in the NHL these days.

Richards, 31, who played for the Dallas Stars the last four seasons, may get $60 million US over eight years. He's good, no question, but he wasn't good enough to make Canada's Olympic team in 2010, which should give some buyers pause.

But will it?

"Free agency really is fool's gold ... you overpay and we all give too much term," former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean told the Oilers Lunch program on Team 1260 Radio on Wednesday from his summer place in Prince Edward Island.

As Matthew Barnaby tweeted about the New York Rangers, "July 1 is a dangerous day for bad teams. I'm going to give you one team and a few names: Redden, Holik, Gomez, Drury, Kasparatiis."

Richards refused to waive his no-trade clause, which meant the Stars have missed the boat twice. They considered moving him at the trade deadline last February, but opted to keep him in a bid to make the playoffs. However, they missed out earning a spot on the last day of the regular season."