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Should Brad Richards be a healthy scratch?

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I don't see how it's even a question that he's bought out. No legs, no brains, no defense, liability on the PP. He was a good soldier his 1st season even though he still wasn't what he was in Dallas, so I'll be grateful for that, but he's gotta go.
 
I actually thought Richards had a solid season but he's played over 100 games this year. He just doesn't have the legs to compete for that long anymore.

I like you, Richie. You were a good guy and a good teammate but its time to go. He wasn't bad in his tenure with this team but he certainly wasn't what we expected of him.
 
He had a good start to the year, fell off late, and has been dreadful this round. It's not even entirely the legs it's the constant mishandling of the puck and blind passes through the middle. He came to us as a guy who as a playmaker 50-60 assists and he really hasn't shown much of that at all. Zucc's playmaking this year has been worlds ahead of where Richards ever was. He's transformed into a shooter - and he does have a pretty good point shot and is willing to use it - but that's really all he does. He's become like an Alex Kotalik.
 
DanielBrassard said:
I don't see how it's even a question that he's bought out. No legs, no brains, no defense, liability on the PP. He was a good soldier his 1st season even though he still wasn't what he was in Dallas, so I'll be grateful for that, but he's gotta go.
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I just think he is so physically out of the competition.
Richards always had brains. He has always been hugely good at passing.
Sometimes, I think people over-simplify the situation.

He is tired. He does not have stamina. Too many games for him.
And yes, buy him out. I said that long ago, and it has nothing to do with his performance.

Edit: He did not lose his brains.
 
SA16 said:
He had a good start to the year, fell off late, and has been dreadful this round. It's not even entirely the legs it's the constant mishandling of the puck and blind passes through the middle. He came to us as a guy who as a playmaker 50-60 assists and he really hasn't shown much of that at all. Zucc's playmaking this year has been worlds ahead of where Richards ever was. He's transformed into a shooter - and he does have a pretty good point shot and is willing to use it - but that's really all he does. He's become like an Alex Kotalik.
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This.

Yes he can't keep up with his poor skating but he also can't handle the puck anymore. Constantly fumbling the puck and is simply putrid in the corners if he feels any sort of pressure. This is one reason why he's awful at even strength because his line can't keep possession with all of the turnovers he creates.
 
stan the caddy said:
Richards pisses me off as much as anyone but they don't have any other exciting options to play the point.
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Agreed, no one can handle the point on the PP. It was painful to watch Richards on the pp, but I'm not sure who else you can put out there when the 2nd line point guys are John Moore and Dan Girardi.
 
SA16 said:
He had a good start to the year, fell off late, and has been dreadful this round. It's not even entirely the legs it's the constant mishandling of the puck and blind passes through the middle. He came to us as a guy who as a playmaker 50-60 assists and he really hasn't shown much of that at all. Zucc's playmaking this year has been worlds ahead of where Richards ever was. He's transformed into a shooter - and he does have a pretty good point shot and is willing to use it - but that's really all he does. He's become like an Alex Kotalik.
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C'mon, as a Flames fan kind of intruding here, Richards hasn't been Kotalik bad.
 
MonahanForCalder said:
C'mon, as a Flames fan kind of intruding here, Richards hasn't been Kotalik bad.
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Hey, nobody is Kotalik bad. That's a special kind of bad reserved for players like...Kotalik.

Monahan won't win Calder, but that guy is good. Good luck to him and your Flames, who I like too....after the Rangers of course.
 
Like it or not, this team hitched it's wagon to Richards when they all but anointed him captain. He's going to continue to QB the PP, and he's going to continue to get big minutes and favorable zone starts. AV can't very well scratch the team's de facto captain. Richards is a fixture until this series is over, and that's on the team, not AV.
 
'We have to play the next game, it's on the schedule."

Are you kidding me, Brad????

The difference is, NOBODY on the Kings wilted like that after they were down 0-3 against San Jose.

That's why we aren't winning the cup. The Kings are a tougher team, both physically and mentally.
 
A former three zone offensive threat passing machine who no longer has the legs.

I hope he finds a role on a another team after his buyout because his time as an effective New York Ranger is over.

Note: As in anything, there are always many variables involved, but Richards never came near to the hype we had for him when he was a Ranger. I also don't think he was worthwhile for even realistic expectations. He's just another mercenary for the Rangers high-turnover first line.
 
105 games for him this year. He's out of gas. Shame too, because his heart is still there.
 
Crease said:
105 games for him this year. He's out of gas. Shame too, because his heart is still there.
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THis is true. His IQ hasn't deteriorated either... he KNOWS what he has to do, but his body is just no longer capable of doing it...

He's still a solid 3rd line center, 2nd line capable if the depth was needed, but $7M + a nasty recapture penalty makes for a bad player overall, and I think his time is up.
 
Yeah I dont see his IQ anywhere either. Too many blind passes and awful breakouts and backhand pass attempts... ugh... just forget him already, man.

As far as PP QB's? Why not groom McD? Something's gotta be better than Richards. Hell, MY skates still fit, Ill give it a shot... ugh.
 
That first goal the Kings scored in game 1 was such a weak effort on his part. I don't know if he was bailing out because he thought he was going to get hit or what but this is not what you want to see from a veteran leader of the team.

Rangers do not have a 1st line center. Richards maybe in his first year could have qualified for that. It's not just getting points--it's having clutch moments without ****ing up very much. These last two years the Rangers have pretty got by without a real 1st line guy and have managed fairly well considering.

I can't see going 6 more years down the road with Richards. He's being paid way too much and the cap recapture thing is just too ****ed up to ignore. Can't buy him out after this summer and we can't bury him in the minors to avoid his cap hit. He's got to go.

But....what I think and what most other HF Rangers posters think is one thing. What GM Glen thinks and does or doesn't do counts for more than all of our opinions combined. This isn't a done deal until it's done and until Richards is bought out he is a Ranger.
 
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