Jacques Richard

[spintheblackcircle]

This guy just started adding content like this to his youtube channel. He's a little dramatic, but I really liked the ones I've seen thus far.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Actually I was just about to start a thread on why he went sideways

He was a lost boy from the word go. When we think of the 1970's, we know hockey players lived fast off the ice as well and many paid for it. This guy was one of them.

All his off ice activities are well documented and run ins with the law are all on line.

Every time we talk about one hit wonder seasons--this guy comes up.

In 80/81 he was on a line with the Statsny's and he looked like one of the greatest players in the NHL. But his personal demons kept coming back but worse.

Like many players he liked to drink but the problem was he was not a good drunk and he was not a good teammate.

He was traded to Buffalo, who had the French connection line at the time and even they got tired of his act. I believe it was Rick Martin who said he was just off in his own little world and while all of us (there were 4 other Quebec born players on the team) tried to get through to him and help him--he just wanted to do his own thing.


His is a very sad story and it was a warning sign for others. And you can not blame the NHL for his troubles--they started in JR at a very early age and is example of pit falls that many JR hockey players face at an early age

 

[The Panther]

In 1980-81, Richard was really hot the final quarter of the season. 33 points in his final 18 games. From start of February to end of season, he was 5th in scoring.