Brad Richards Part II

[NYRCSKA*]

Is that at MSG or ACC? I know what Canadians can drink.....if you guys drink as much...no deal.

MSG.. why the hell would the Rangers ask for the Leafs to give their own fans free beer? Give us the free beer.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

id love if tomorrow's headline is Oscar Lindberg makes his debut and Richards get scratched... but with this coaching staff they think he can still be a top 6 forward i guess they are blind

 

[NYRCSKA*]

Has he been getting booed when he's touched the puck yet? If I was at the game I'd be booing the hell out of Beaver every time he touched a puck.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Has he been getting booed when he's touched the puck yet? If I was at the game I'd be booing the hell out of Beaver every time he touched a puck.

You'd boo a player who's play has declined? Really? Leave that **** to Montreal fans.

Honestly, our fan base is better than that garbage. Booing your own players is a joke and a disgrace.

I'm all for buying him out ASAP. But booing him?

 

[Kershaw]

I remember when Gaborik was the reason for Richards decline.

 

[Fataldogg]

This is what I posted in the Brad Richards turning into a Gomez/Redden thread, and it's how I strongly feel regarding Richards and his current situation.

His first season he had 66 points and lead the Rangers in scoring in the post season, and outside of Lundqvist, was the biggest reason the Rangers made it to the Conference Finals.

This year, he had a slow start, but still finished at a 60 point pace for the regular season.

Tortorella gave him two or three games to prove something, he didn't produce, and was relegated to the forth line. Ironically, Nash has contributed just as poorly but still comes in at 20 minutes a game.

Richards played his best hockey of the season down the stretch. Richards finished the month of April at 14GP 6G 10A 16PTS +9. His best hockey of the season (of which he was a significant factor of the Rangers going 10-3-1 to clinch a playoff spot). After that, Tortorella gave him two or three games, and he was sent to the forth line with Asham (who admittedly did solid for the Rangers) getting 10 minutes a game.

If fans or the coaching staff expected more than what Richards has done, being placed on the forth line, averaging 10 minutes a game (most of which comes on a PP unit that is completely broken) I'd say your expectations are out of line.

If Richards was on the 1st or 2nd line getting 20 minutes a night and only had 1 goal, I'd be concerned. Given the circumstances and how poorly his situation was handled, it was about what I expected. As a coach, knowing he played his best hockey down the stretch, and knowing how important him getting going is for the team, I'd have given him more time (especially since Callahan, Nash and Stepan have done so little with their top-6 minutes).

He has 100 points in 128 regular season games with the Rangers and had one real solid playoff run with the team. He isn't close to what Gomez/Redden turned out to be for the Rangers.

Again, this is a situation where I felt the coach handled it poorly, and it lead to results I expected.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

This is what I posted in the Brad Richards turning into a Gomez/Redden thread, and it's how I strongly feel regarding Richards and his current situation.

His first season he had 66 points and lead the Rangers in scoring in the post season, and outside of Lundqvist, was the biggest reason the Rangers made it to the Conference Finals.

This year, he had a slow start, but still finished at a 60 point pace for the regular season.

Tortorella gave him two or three games to prove something, he didn't produce, and was relegated to the forth line. Ironically, Nash has contributed just as poorly but still comes in at 20 minutes a game.

Richards played his best hockey of the season down the stretch. Richards finished the month of April at 14GP 6G 10A 16PTS +9. His best hockey of the season (of which he was a significant factor of the Rangers going 10-3-1 to clinch a playoff spot). After that, Tortorella gave him two or three games, and he was sent to the forth line with Asham (who admittedly did solid for the Rangers) getting 10 minutes a game.

If fans or the coaching staff expected more than what Richards has done, being placed on the forth line, averaging 10 minutes a game (most of which comes on a PP unit that is completely broken) I'd say your expectations are out of line.

If Richards was on the 1st or 2nd line getting 20 minutes a night and only had 1 goal, I'd be concerned. Given the circumstances and how poorly his situation was handled, it was about what I expected. As a coach, knowing he played his best hockey down the stretch, and knowing how important him getting going is for the team, I'd have given him more time (especially since Callahan, Nash and Stepan have done so little with their top-6 minutes).

He has 100 points in 128 regular season games with the Rangers and had one real solid playoff run with the team. He isn't close to what Gomez/Redden turned out to be for the Rangers.

Again, this is a situation where I felt the coach handled it poorly, and it lead to results I expected.

He's had all season to prove himself. I blame the coaching staff for a lot of things but this is all on Brad. He's a part of the problem. He's gotta go.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I remember when Gaborik was the reason for Richards decline.

I thought he was. Richards got quite a bit better for a little while after the trade. Then fell back to earth.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I thought he was. Richards got quite a bit better for a little while after the trade. Then fell back to earth.

More like fell through a sinkhole.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

You'd boo a player who's play has declined? Really? Leave that **** to Montreal fans.

Honestly, our fan base is better than that garbage. Booing your own players is a joke and a disgrace.

I'm all for buying him out ASAP. But booing him?

Fans pay good money, they have every right to boo. More so, they have a right to boo when one of the highest paid players in the NHL is relegated to the fourth line.

Say what you want about declining play, Richards did not work in the off-season. He wasn't prepared this year. If he had prepared, I would have a little remorse for him, however, because he didn't, I don't.

Also, this is completely your opinion. Just because you think it's ****, doesn't make it that.

I've always been of the belief that fans are actually more so the true Rangers. Players play all over, make money here and often leave, very few remain "true" rangers (Graves, Gilbert, etc are examples of those who have). Most fans have followed the team for much of their lives. Players come and go, the fans don't. We are the ones who pay parts of their salaries.

Richards didn't work hard this off-season and has had a god-awful season. He's been relegated, deservedly, to the fourth line. But at that contract, he has no excuse to not have worked as hard as anyone in the league.

I await the day he is gone.

 

[Grifter3511]

You'd boo a player who's play has declined? Really? Leave that **** to Montreal fans.

Honestly, our fan base is better than that garbage. Booing your own players is a joke and a disgrace.

I'm all for buying him out ASAP. But booing him?

Obviously you weren't around during the Marek Malik days.

 

[Baby Punisher]

After tonight's game--and the complete inability of Richards to do anything positive on the power play--I wouldn't be against scratching Richards for the rest of the season. It's painful to watch him out there.

It would never happen....but I would really like that to be the case.

 

[Baby Punisher]

You'd boo a player who's play has declined? Really? Leave that **** to Montreal fans.

Honestly, our fan base is better than that garbage. Booing your own players is a joke and a disgrace.

I'm all for buying him out ASAP. But booing him?

I agree we should all give him a standing O tomorrow night & pat him on the back & tell him it's going to be all right while stroking his head.

I don't reward people for failure.

Richards should be booed until he cries. He deserves it.

 

[Baby Punisher]

This is what I posted in the Brad Richards turning into a Gomez/Redden thread, and it's how I strongly feel regarding Richards and his current situation.

His first season he had 66 points and lead the Rangers in scoring in the post season, and outside of Lundqvist, was the biggest reason the Rangers made it to the Conference Finals.

This year, he had a slow start, but still finished at a 60 point pace for the regular season.

Tortorella gave him two or three games to prove something, he didn't produce, and was relegated to the forth line. Ironically, Nash has contributed just as poorly but still comes in at 20 minutes a game.

Richards played his best hockey of the season down the stretch. Richards finished the month of April at 14GP 6G 10A 16PTS +9. His best hockey of the season (of which he was a significant factor of the Rangers going 10-3-1 to clinch a playoff spot). After that, Tortorella gave him two or three games, and he was sent to the forth line with Asham (who admittedly did solid for the Rangers) getting 10 minutes a game.

If fans or the coaching staff expected more than what Richards has done, being placed on the forth line, averaging 10 minutes a game (most of which comes on a PP unit that is completely broken) I'd say your expectations are out of line.

If Richards was on the 1st or 2nd line getting 20 minutes a night and only had 1 goal, I'd be concerned. Given the circumstances and how poorly his situation was handled, it was about what I expected. As a coach, knowing he played his best hockey down the stretch, and knowing how important him getting going is for the team, I'd have given him more time (especially since Callahan, Nash and Stepan have done so little with their top-6 minutes).

He has 100 points in 128 regular season games with the Rangers and had one real solid playoff run with the team. He isn't close to what Gomez/Redden turned out to be for the Rangers.

Again, this is a situation where I felt the coach handled it poorly, and it lead to results I expected.

Richards has squandered all of his oppurtunities he was given wether it be first line or 4th line. If he is only playing 10 minutes a night & 6 of those minutes are on the powerplay there should be some results. There haven't been any. Richards is old, slow, he shows no intensity & his hockey IQ went from top 5 player in the game to borderline Pejorative Slured. He has got to go.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I agree we should all give him a standing O tomorrow night & pat him on the back & tell him it's going to be all right while stroking his head.

I don't reward people for failure.

Richards should be booed until he cries. He deserves it.

Ridiculous. I'm sorry, but you don't boo your own players. Period. There may be a few rare exceptions to the rule, but Richards does not fall into any of them. The dude has just lost his legs. Is that his fault? Did he force Sather to sign him to a big contract? Has he complained about a reduced role? Perhaps if you can answer yes to any of those than you may have a case. You can't and therefor do not have a case.

 

[Kershaw]

This is what I posted in the Brad Richards turning into a Gomez/Redden thread, and it's how I strongly feel regarding Richards and his current situation.

His first season he had 66 points and lead the Rangers in scoring in the post season, and outside of Lundqvist, was the biggest reason the Rangers made it to the Conference Finals.

This year, he had a slow start, but still finished at a 60 point pace for the regular season.

Tortorella gave him two or three games to prove something, he didn't produce, and was relegated to the forth line. Ironically, Nash has contributed just as poorly but still comes in at 20 minutes a game.

Richards played his best hockey of the season down the stretch. Richards finished the month of April at 14GP 6G 10A 16PTS +9. His best hockey of the season (of which he was a significant factor of the Rangers going 10-3-1 to clinch a playoff spot). After that, Tortorella gave him two or three games, and he was sent to the forth line with Asham (who admittedly did solid for the Rangers) getting 10 minutes a game.

If fans or the coaching staff expected more than what Richards has done, being placed on the forth line, averaging 10 minutes a game (most of which comes on a PP unit that is completely broken) I'd say your expectations are out of line.

If Richards was on the 1st or 2nd line getting 20 minutes a night and only had 1 goal, I'd be concerned. Given the circumstances and how poorly his situation was handled, it was about what I expected. As a coach, knowing he played his best hockey down the stretch, and knowing how important him getting going is for the team, I'd have given him more time (especially since Callahan, Nash and Stepan have done so little with their top-6 minutes).

He has 100 points in 128 regular season games with the Rangers and had one real solid playoff run with the team. He isn't close to what Gomez/Redden turned out to be for the Rangers.

Again, this is a situation where I felt the coach handled it poorly, and it lead to results I expected.

Hockey is not all about point totals. He's been brutal even during this month of April and was carried by superior linemates and fluky bounces. Even when he put up the 3g game, his overall work showed very little improvement.

 

[nevesis]

Ridiculous. I'm sorry, but you don't boo your own players. Period. There may be a few rare exceptions to the rule, but Richards does not fall into any of them. The dude has just lost his legs. Is that his fault? Did he force Sather to sign him to a big contract? Has he complained about a reduced role? Perhaps if you can answer yes to any of those than you may have a case. You can't and therefor do not have a case.

You absolutely DO boo your own players, WHEN they deserve it. Players like Richards who signed as a merc to win the largest contract he could get and then doesn't live up to the amount of money he is making, deserve to be booed.

He deserves to be booed when he failed to do everything he could to be in top shape when the season was going to inevitably begin. He chose not too. He won already in 2004, this is his retirement stop.

This is a tough town, its New York, its expected. If you grew up around this area in New York sports you know that booing is a part of the game, in every sport here. If you don't perform, you get booed.

We as fans PAY their salary to entertain us, and when we aren't entertained or we feel an athlete isn't trying his hardest, or making mistake after mistake. We will boo. Especially in this day in age when professional athletes are paid more per game than most people make in an entire year, no one is going to hold back their displeasure with watching an athlete THEY are paying to watch, dog it night after night.

They fortunately get to go to sleep at night knowing they will never have to worry about that mortgage payment, or how they will get the failing transmission on their car paid for. They can handle booing, if thats really the worst treatment they receive while at their job, then I don't ever feel bad for them. Not now, and not ever.

 

[nevesis]

The dude has just lost his legs. Is that his fault? .

Cmon man. You act like the dude is 45 years old. He just turned 33! I am 32, and keeping in shape, skating a few times a week, I could skate circles around him.

That's a poor excuse for a guy who would rather discuss the fruity overtones of a ****ing pinot noir opposed to busting his ass with a personal trainer on a leg press.

 

[Riverdale]

If I was paid Richards money you guys could all boo me. Heck I'd even let you pelt me with rocks if that made you feel better.

 

[frozenrubber]

Cmon man. You act like the dude is 45 years old. He just turned 33! I am 32, and keeping in shape, skating a few times a week, I could skate circles around him.

That's a poor excuse for a guy who would rather discuss the fruity overtones of a ****ing pinot noir opposed to busting his ass with a personal trainer on a leg press.

These type of "arguments" is where the Richards critique needs to stop. Unless you are sharing this mythical bottle of Pinot Noir w/ Richards and can prove it, it's all BS hearsay that fans project on players that are playing poorly.

Brad Richards has played incredibly poorly this post-season, but the notion that a fan can skate circles around him is BS. Players in the NHL are, but fans cannot. Am I splitting hairs, no, because this has absolutely snowballed into ridiculousness.

But I'll put my money where my mouth is. I'll pull some tape from Richards this season. I'll find a clip or two of him skating full out (albeit will need quite a bit of tape for that) and I'll time his full speed from red line to red line. I'll be happy to meet you at a NYC rink and time you. Beat it, lunch and pinot are on me.

Let's keep the hyperbole to a minimum. There is plenty to criticize of Brad Richards, but let's not make stuff up.

 

[NYRCSKA*]

Ridiculous. I'm sorry, but you don't boo your own players. Period. There may be a few rare exceptions to the rule, but Richards does not fall into any of them. The dude has just lost his legs. Is that his fault? Did he force Sather to sign him to a big contract? Has he complained about a reduced role? Perhaps if you can answer yes to any of those than you may have a case. You can't and therefor do not have a case.

You boo a player that doesn't try. Richards isn't even trying. He doesn't deserve to be wearing an NHL uniform, let alone the "A" based on the effort he's been displaying. You boo that guy.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

These type of "arguments" is where the Richards critique needs to stop. Unless you are sharing this mythical bottle of Pinot Noir w/ Richards and can prove it, it's all BS hearsay that fans project on players that are playing poorly.

Brad Richards has played incredibly poorly this post-season, but the notion that a fan can skate circles around him is BS. Players in the NHL are, but fans cannot. Am I splitting hairs, no, because this has absolutely snowballed into ridiculousness.

But I'll put my money where my mouth is. I'll pull some tape from Richards this season. I'll find a clip or two of him skating full out (albeit will need quite a bit of tape for that) and I'll time his full speed from red line to red line. I'll be happy to meet you at a NYC rink and time you. Beat it, lunch and pinot are on me.

Let's keep the hyperbole to a minimum. There is plenty to criticize of Brad Richards, but let's not make stuff up.

Well said. Thank you.

 

[nevesis]

Let's keep the hyperbole to a minimum. There is plenty to criticize of Brad Richards, but let's not make stuff up.

Make stuff up?

Forbes: So what have you been doing to stay busy?

Richards: I’ve had a lot of free time, but it’s been tough just to take off and do things because it seems like every two-to-three weeks, you get your hopes up and you start training and skating. Knowing what I do now, it would have been smart to take October off and re-energize. But we’ve been kind of in-between all the time. I’ve stayed in New York for the most part. We’ve had between 8 and 12 guys here most of the time. The captains run practice to try to stay in shape and stay sharp. There has been some boredom, but I went home to Canada for the holidays, so that was good. January will be really tough if we don’t get going.

Richards: I like wearing the stuff. Chris [Riccobono, the founder of Untuckit] is an athlete. He played tennis in college. We share a love of wine.

Forbes: Any good wines you’ve found lately?

Richards: I love everything from the Bordeaux region. Others? Let me see. [Pauses] You put me on the spot. You can tell I drink a lot of wine since I can’t even narrow it down. You know, Chris is really into Italian wines, so we’ve been trying out Brunellos and learning about that region.

Ever check out his instagram during the lock out? Maybe you should...

For the full article, you can read it here.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/montebu...his-frustration-with-the-ongoing-nhl-lockout/

In the meantime, ill continue making stuff up.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Make stuff up?

Forbes: So what have you been doing to stay busy?

Richards: I’ve had a lot of free time, but it’s been tough just to take off and do things because it seems like every two-to-three weeks, you get your hopes up and you start training and skating. Knowing what I do now, it would have been smart to take October off and re-energize. But we’ve been kind of in-between all the time. I’ve stayed in New York for the most part. We’ve had between 8 and 12 guys here most of the time. The captains run practice to try to stay in shape and stay sharp. There has been some boredom, but I went home to Canada for the holidays, so that was good. January will be really tough if we don’t get going.

Richards: I like wearing the stuff. Chris [Riccobono, the founder of Untuckit] is an athlete. He played tennis in college. We share a love of wine.

Forbes: Any good wines you’ve found lately?

Richards: I love everything from the Bordeaux region. Others? Let me see. [Pauses] You put me on the spot. You can tell I drink a lot of wine since I can’t even narrow it down. You know, Chris is really into Italian wines, so we’ve been trying out Brunellos and learning about that region.

Ever check out his instagram during the lock out? Maybe you should...

For the full article, you can read it here.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/montebu...his-frustration-with-the-ongoing-nhl-lockout/

In the meantime, ill continue making stuff up.

He was probably referring to your musing that you could skate circles around an NHL player, which is beyond making stuff up.

 

[nevesis]

He was probably referring to your musing that you could skate circles around an NHL player, which is beyond making stuff up.

I guess because John Scott 'is an NHL player' I wouldn't be able to skate circles around him either.

Brad Richards is NOT a great skater. Plenty of hockey players know this.

Carl Hagelin on the other hand, IS a great skater.

You don't have to play in the NHL to be an elite skater by any means. Ever been to any competitive high school/D1, D2 college/travel team games?

Plenty of talent everywhere out there, and in recreational competitive leagues who travel around as well. I see it on a weekly basis.