Sorry, Brad Richards, it wasn’t your fault. Nobody forced Glen Sather to offer you a front loaded contract that expires when you’re 40, and you didn’t write the new CBA punishing all those front loaded contracts. In a world before the new collective bargaining agreement you would have played to your hearts content in New York, finishing your career as a Ranger on your terms. But with cap recapture penalties being what they are your compliance buyout was a foregone conclusion.
This isn’t like when Ilya Bryzgalov (an underperforming player with a massive contract) was bought out. No, you were the Rangers leading scorer in the regular season, and during the months of October and November, one of the only Rangers to actually resemble a professional hockey player. Your brief three year career as a Ranger was nothing short of wild success (Eastern Final, 2nd round, Stanley Cup Final) and the mentorship you brought a young team will be your lasting legacy.
Richards became the defacto captain when Ryan Callahan left, those who say The Rangers were “bucking the trend” by showing how far a team can go without having a captain were not aware that despite not wearing the C, Richards was the heart and head of that team. Many will look to the primary reason he was brought here (quarterbacking the power-play) as a reason to count him as a failure, and while that will be a black mark on his resume, the power-play in New York has long struggled before him, and will continue to struggle without him.
Richards has always been a smart passer and a strong backchecker. A 54.1% Corsi For player in the regular season for 2013-14 shows there is still a lot left in the tank for the 34-year-old center. His Corsi For dropped to 44.7% in the playoffs, but that isn’t entirely surprising given that he’s a 34-year-old center who spent the playoffs trying to chase down guys like Claude Giroux, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and the ridiculously deep LA Kings, who had Mike Richards as a 4th line center. Teams looking to improve the depth they had exposed in this years playoffs have already started preparing their pitches to Richards.
The influence Richards brings into the room cannot be understated. Guys like Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello, and even Ryan McDonagh will all speak very highly of his teaching ability, and the passion he brings to making everyone around him better. His biggest asset by far, is that of a perfect teammate. Watch Brad Richards on different line combinations and you’ll see a man who changes his game to suit his linemates. He knows, almost instinctively, to look for Carl Hagelin flying down the wing for a stretch pass, he knows where Marty St. Louis likes to sit in that low slot area and he is ever aware of which D pair he is on the ice with. Even at 34, he still shows the young guys with his actions, not his words.
It should not have ended like this, but the new rules have forced you out of New York. Ranger faithful are proud of all the accomplishments you brought to the city (Especially for taking their minds off of the Knicks, however momentarily.) Where you end up is anyone’s guess, and there will be no shortage of offers, but there is one you should consider over most. Colorado has a brilliant young team, anchored by break out star Nathan McKinnon. I can’t think of anybody better to help guide this kid into his prime, and the success that follows is something you deserve.
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Main Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
