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So far, so good for Tampa Bay GM Jay Feaster and pending owner Oren Koules: Salary dumped, depth built and perhaps a goaltender found. The Bolts found a taker for Brad Richards and his contact in Dallas, as the trade reported this morning by Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports has come to pass and was expanded: Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern and Mike Smith from Dallas for Richards and goalie Johan Holmqvist. Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail provides perspective:

Richards ended up with the Dallas Stars, after the Columbus Blue Jackets wouldn't put goaltender Pascal LeClaire in the deal, a tipping point for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who needed a goalie going back and not a prospect a la Steve Mason or Cory Schneider, both of whom have a big upside but aren't ready to make a difference at the NHL level just yet.

Tampa Bay is doing exactly what it needs to do at this deadline. Smith could be the solution between the pipes, Jussi Jokinen is the kind of depth player this team needs to go beyond one good line every season, and the salary it cleared will allow the new ownership -- should it choose to spend the money -- to find a cheaper alternative at center than Richards. As for Dallas, it's like I said on Deadspin this morning: If the Stars have unable to pair Modano with a winger to get him going, how on Earth do they expect Richards to light it up? He's not a self-starter.
Three Milburys. I don't like Richards on the Stars. It's an odd fit. But I think the Bolts have made a smart, economically sound move here for some depth and the kind of goalie they'd be in the market for this off-season anyway. Mike Smith on TSN: "It's mixed feelings ... in the long run, it's going to be best for me and my future in the NHL."