Brad Richards

Canadian ice hockey player

Bradley Glenn Richards (born May 2, 1980) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks.

Brad Richards
Richards during his time with the Blackhawks in December 2014
Born (1980-05-02) May 2, 1980 (age 43)
Murray Harbour, P.E.I, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning
Dallas Stars
New York Rangers
Chicago Blackhawks
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 64th overall, 1998
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2000–2016

Career change

Before playing in the NHL, Richards played 1 season with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and 3 seasons with the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Over his QMJHL career, Richards was able to win the Jean Béliveau Trophy for being the league leader with 186 points, the Telus Cup for being the league's best offensive player, both the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League Plus/Minus Awards, he was named as a First-Team All-Star in both the Quebec circuit, as well as the CHL and was also named the CHL Player of the Year and Leading Scorer. During the postseason, he was able to win the Guy Lafleur Trophy for being the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs and the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy for being the MVP of the 2000 Memorial Cup after the Océanic won both the QMJHL playoff title and the CHL national championship.[1][2]

Richards was drafted 64th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. During the same draft, the Lightning also decided to draft Vincent Lecavalier who is Richard's best friend since the age of 14 and was his roommate at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame and his teammate with the Rimouski Océanic.[3]

In 2004, Richards won both the Conn Smythe and Lady Byng Memorial trophies and also won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning.[4][5][6]

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Richard decided to play for Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Superleague (RSL). He also played for Team Canada during the 2006 Winter Olympics. When Canada was eliminated from the 2006 playoffs, the Lightning signed Richards to a five-year, $39 million contract.[7]

On February 26, 2008, the Lightning traded Richards and goaltender Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern, Jussi Jokinen and a 4th round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[8] During the 2008 Playoffs, he was able to tie an NHL record after he scored four points in a single period in game 2 against the San Jose Sharks.[9]

He was able to record 16 goals and 48 points in 55 games in the 2008–09 NHL season before he broke his right wrist after being checked from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voráček on February 16, 2009.[10][11] On March 21, he returned to the lineup but he broke his other hand in the third period of a loss against San Jose.[12] He did not return and the Stars missed the playoffs.[13]

On July 2, 2011, he signed a nine-year, $60 million contract with the New York Rangers after he became an unrestricted free agent.[14][15] He scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Buffalo Sabres on April 19, 2013.[16] On June 20, 2014, the Rangers bought out Richard's contract.[17]

On July 1, 2014, Richards signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.[18] He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks after they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals. They won the Stanley Cup in six games.

On July 1, 2015, Richards signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[19]

References change

  1. "Bio". Brad Richards. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. "Brad Richards - Notes". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  3. "Lecavalier, Richards are Lightning in a bottle". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. "Conn Smythe Trophy history". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  5. "Lady Byng Memorial Trophy history". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  6. "Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  7. "Lightning Re-sign Center Brad Richards". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  8. "Lightning Acquire Goaltender Mike Smith, Center Jeff Halpern, Left Wing Jussi Jokinen & 4th-Round Pick From Dallas". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  9. "Stars 5, Sharks 2". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  10. "Stars 3, Blue Jackets 2, SO". Dallas Stars. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  11. "Richards To Miss 6-8 Weeks". Dallas Stars. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  12. "Sharks 5, Stars 2". Dallas Stars. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  13. "Richards breaks left hand in return". ESPN. March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  14. "Rangers land All-Star center Richards". New York Rangers. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  15. "Rangers land veteran Brad Richards with nine-year, US$60-million". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  16. "Brad Richards records first career hat trick as NY Rangers rout Buffalo Sabres". Daily News (New York). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  17. "Rangers buy out forward Brad Richards". NHL. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  18. "Blackhawks sign Richards to one-year contract". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  19. "Wings add depth up middle with Richards". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved March 2, 2016.

Other websites change