This whole Lightning town regrets the loss of Brad Richards, the great star and team player.

The move reminds of the decision of the Buccaneers several years ago to give up safety John Lynch.

Money was the culprit, or, money was the benefactor. Richards gets no pay cut, for three more years Dallas will pay him the amount Tampa Bay said it had hoped to pay.

The circumstances, the money, the quality of Richards and Lynch are so similar. And Lynch didn’t want to leave either. Went to Denver. Has done well, as his companion freed-up player that year, Warren Sapp. \

Bet here is Richards will do well at Dallas, will surely help with that team’s playoff drive and get the lift about him that has been slowed a bit these two last Tampa seasons. Some say it was the absence of playing friend Fredrik Modin.

Whatever, we expect Richards will continue his winning ways at Dallas and take the Stars to remarkably high places. Get this, Brad was second to Vinny Lecavalier in games played at Tampa Bay, second to Vinny in total points, third in goals to Vinny and Martin St. Louis, third to the same two in power-play goals, but, first overall in assists.

Know this, he was a quiet man, a good man who remembers his friends. I got to know him early, because of his great play, his team play and because he quickly moved to our area, Davis Islands, as had Lecavalier, with St. Louis nearby. It had been the same with Lynch. Like Lynch, ate at the Island spots, and he walked the Islands, as had Lynch and his willowy tennis champion wife, stopping with his kids to watch a small fry baseball game. The Islands do that to you.

And, well, here’s how Richards is. When the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, quick presentations of the title trophy and MVP cup were made in Toronto the next night, but, I got a call from team president Ron Campbell, who said, “You could not be here for the banquet, but we are sending the trophy to you by courier tomorrow. Stay home. Get people there to see it, about 11 am .’’

I did. Called the paper, television, my staff, and then that morning asked anyone in sight to come over — building people, mowing teams, anyone. I had not heard back from the Lightning. I was out front. A not new pickup truck pulled in the driveway.

It was the MVP of the just-won Stanley Cup. He was not overdressed. He jumped, got the Cup from the other side and pumped it up and down three or four times. I thanked him. We went to the back of my house, on McKay Bay, let everybody touch a jewel of sports, then got a table and put the Cup on it in the bright midday sun. For an hour and a half, this good man, Brad Richards, posed and fussed about with all who wanted to have photos taken of him and the and the wonderful Stanley Cup, reflecting in the Tampa sunshine. The truth is, it was all about as unlikely as the success we have had with the Lightning and all the franchise has meant to this place since Phil Esposito got us off our duffs and into the hockey world.

And there is an additional side of the graceful and courteous Brad Richards, taking with him the memories of this place. Right now he is only going for the season and going where they will pay him what he signed for. Good deal. Good for him. We’ve been through this before, and will again, I guess.

Always the money. That which can be sought and paid to whom, for what, for those who can pay it and cause it to be paid.

“I’m lucky,’’ Brad said. “I’m not selling. I’m coming back.

“This is it. My home.’’

Oh, the trade. The Lightning did fine, they said, in the move that cost Brad Richards.

Tampa got a goalie. And I can spell it without checking it.

It’s Smith.