Thank you, Brad Richards.

[RangersFan]

Thanks for killing the PP, especially in the playoffs and SCF. Thanks for the numerous turnovers and apathetic play in the defensive zone. Thanks for the lackadaisical effort along the boards and in the corners. Thanks for having a lot of fun during the lockout, drinking wine and not playing, skating, or working out. Later.

 

[OverTheCap]

Have to echo the sentiments about "bouncing back" and whatnot.

If he actually showed up to camp in shape and was prepared for the post-lockout season, he wouldn't have had to bounce back this season. And let's not forget that the 2013 season was supposed to be a bounce back season for him in the first place - his 66 points in his first season was considered a disappointment compared to what he did in his previous seasons. The bar has certainly gotten increasingly lower for him throughout his tenure.

 

[pld459666]

The worst thing for a player is to go through this. As a player and a person I feel bad. Money aside hes still a professional player and this has to suck for him.

Body can no longer do what the minds eye sees.

Sad.

 

[Pugs35]

It was 6 actually.

- Ottawa - Washington - X
- Washington - X
- Philadelphia - Pittsburgh - Montreal - X

Ah, thanks. My bad.

I think the point still stands, though.

 

[eco's bones]

The worst thing for a player is to go through this. As a player and a person I feel bad. Money aside hes still a professional player and this has to suck for him.

Body can no longer do what the minds eye sees.

Sad.

Everybody is going to lose it sooner or later. There's nothing that can be done about that. I'm 56--almost 57--I stopped skating a couple years ago after some 40 some years. My knees ache a lot. It sucks when you're no longer capable of doing these things that you loved and took for granted.

If there's anything I don't appreciate though it's half hearted effort. Last year in the playoffs I was really angry with Brad because that's what I saw. He gave better effort this year--but to me it was a season long lie that a good many of the Rangers announcers tried to push that this was some kind of successful comeback. He played well at times for the most part the decline was evident. There were also times where he bails on hits and forces plays that aren't there. That's a bad sign for a player having problems keeping up. He got a lot of money out of his time here.

I averaged $55 to 60 K a year (my wife the same). At the rate we made $ it would take each of us about 20 years to make $1 mil and we were luckier than most people that live around us. These guys make many times more than us and actually doing something they love doing. In a single year some will make more than we would in 5 or 6 lifetimes. This isn't about jealousy--this is about saying they are fortunate to be as talented to play a game--to have people know who they are--to enthusiastically follow what they do. To live a life where they have pretty much the best choices to choose from. There is no reason to pity them when the time comes for them to go on to something else.

For us as fans it shouldn't be about anything else than our team winning. This or that guy is a star--makes more $'s then let them play/produce like the best and then there are no gripes with them. 42 years as a Rangers fan--1 Stanley Cup. That's it. That's ****ing sad. Despite following my team rabidly--this might surprise some--but I don't think of myself as a masochist. I don't like losing. I've never gotten use to it. I don't give a rat's ass how many stars we have--I only want the team to win and I don't much care how.

 

[CDiablo]

Brad has been mostly useless and a liability for the past 2 seasons. Master of the blind pass to nowhere or the other team. I hope he finds success/happiness in another club.

 

[Garfinkel1]

We don't beat Philly without him on the team. Probably don't make it past Pit either. His contract was stupid which was his biggest fault.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

Brad has been mostly useless and a liability for the past 2 seasons. Master of the blind pass to nowhere or the other team. I hope he finds success/happiness in another club.

Yeah he was pretty brutal that year we went to the conference finals in 2012 after he scored that goal with 6 seconds to go. and then again brutal this year when he was the only guy who knew what offense meant the first 2 months of the season and there was those small things like ugh..goals against PHI and PIT (including the game winner in game 7) on the way to the cup finals. Yeah pretty awful!

The only knock you can make on the guy was when he was completely out of shape in 2013. Other than that people should stop using their blinded hate of his contract as an excuse to bash him.

 

[mike14]

We don't beat Philly without him on the team. Probably don't make it past Pit either. His contract was stupid which was his biggest fault.

eh, when he signed it his contract was fine. We could have shifted him for something to a team who needed the cap hit without the $$, and he would have walked away a year or two before it finished. It was the new CBA that made his contract look stupid

 

[Garfinkel1]

eh, when he signed it his contract was fine. We could have shifted him for something to a team who needed the cap hit without the $$, and he would have walked away a year or two before it finished. It was the new CBA that made his contract look stupid

Fair enough. Totally accurate statement. But again, that's a GM issue.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Brad Richards was one of my favorite non Rangers in the league ever since watching him win the Conne Smythe with Tampa. I always liked him.

Frankly, I always liked him as a Ranger. He was our best player in the 2012 ECF run and last year I was always rooting for him to get better, not crapping on him. This year he had a solid season. We made it to the ECF and SCF with him on our team, declining play or not, he came so close to achieving what he came here for.

I'll always be a fan of Brad Richards. Hope he goes out west, Chicago or Nashville hopefully, and has a great end to his career. Don't want him to putter out in irrelevancy like Gomez.

As much as people think he's done, I disagree. He's not worth an almost 7m cap hit, but if you can sign him for 4m per, and have him not be expected to be a #1, slot him on the 2nd line with strong wingers or the 3rd line to feast on easy match ups, he can be an absolute steal. I think if he goes to a team and puts himself in a good situation, he can have 4 more solid seasons.


On another note, if you asked me before we signed Richards who my top 3 favorite non Rangers were in the NHL, I would've responded with:

1. Marty St. Louis
2. Brad Richards
3. Rick Nash.

Weird I got to see all of them as Rangers on the same team.

 

[CDiablo]

Yeah he was pretty brutal that year we went to the conference finals in 2012 after he scored that goal with 6 seconds to go. and then again brutal this year when he was the only guy who knew what offense meant the first 2 months of the season and there was those small things like ugh..goals against PHI and PIT (including the game winner in game 7) on the way to the cup finals. Yeah pretty awful!

The only knock you can make on the guy was when he was completely out of shape in 2013. Other than that people should stop using their blinded hate of his contract as an excuse to bash him.

Since you didnt read my post I said he has been brutal for the past 2 years. Not the 11-2012 season. Yeah he did okay during the beginning of the season, but stunk for 75% of the games this year, a master of turnovers. I would wager to say he was more of a liability than a benefit. It has nothing to do with his contract. I just see him as head and shoulders the worst player on the main roster for 2 years now. Its like his hockey IQ turned to **** with age. Bad pass decisions, bad shot decisions, and is not anything special as a defenseman. He just deteriorated and I am not sure if it is the Rangers or him(he certainly can turn things around), but he has done more damage to the team than good in the past 2 years. Cherry pick the good flashes but you cant look past his overall game.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I love Richards and unlike some of these blind posters I appreciate him for what he's done in the playoffs.. he's the reason we made it to two ECF's and if you disagree you can take it up with my godfather

 

[NYRKING30]

Brad Richards was one of my favorite non Rangers in the league ever since watching him win the Conne Smythe with Tampa. I always liked him.

Frankly, I always liked him as a Ranger. He was our best player in the 2012 ECF run and last year I was always rooting for him to get better, not crapping on him. This year he had a solid season. We made it to the ECF and SCF with him on our team, declining play or not, he came so close to achieving what he came here for.

I'll always be a fan of Brad Richards. Hope he goes out west, Chicago or Nashville hopefully, and has a great end to his career. Don't want him to putter out in irrelevancy like Gomez.

As much as people think he's done, I disagree. He's not worth an almost 7m cap hit, but if you can sign him for 4m per, and have him not be expected to be a #1, slot him on the 2nd line with strong wingers or the 3rd line to feast on easy match ups, he can be an absolute steal. I think if he goes to a team and puts himself in a good situation, he can have 4 more solid seasons.


On another note, if you asked me before we signed Richards who my top 3 favorite non Rangers were in the NHL, I would've responded with:

1. Marty St. Louis
2. Brad Richards
3. Rick Nash.

Weird I got to see all of them as Rangers on the same team.

Too bad 2/3rds of those players suck

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Don't talk about how he was part of a team that went all the way to the ECF that just sounds daft... I mean stu Bickel was on that team... Say it like he actually had an impact and didn't just sit on the end of the bench

 

[hi]

he's the reason we made it to two ECF's

 

[mike14]

Don't talk about how he was part of a team that went all the way to the ECF that just sounds daft... I mean stu Bickel was on that team... Say it like he actually had an impact and didn't just sit on the end of the bench

You mean like scoring 15pts in 20 games and leading the team in scoring?

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

You mean like scoring 15pts in 20 games and leading the team in scoring?

Ya!'

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I'm sorry did hank have the GWG in game 7 against Pittsburgh? No? Mmk that's what I thought

 

[hi]

I'm sorry did hank have the GWG in game 7 against Pittsburgh? No? Mmk that's what I thought

Del Zotto scored the GWG in Game 7 against Washington in 2011-12 that sent us to the Eastern Conference Finals. You should edit your post to say "Richards and Del Zotto are the reason we made it to two ECF's"

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

Since you didnt read my post I said he has been brutal for the past 2 years. Not the 11-2012 season. Yeah he did okay during the beginning of the season, but stunk for 75% of the games this year, a master of turnovers. I would wager to say he was more of a liability than a benefit. It has nothing to do with his contract. I just see him as head and shoulders the worst player on the main roster for 2 years now. Its like his hockey IQ turned to **** with age. Bad pass decisions, bad shot decisions, and is not anything special as a defenseman. He just deteriorated and I am not sure if it is the Rangers or him(he certainly can turn things around), but he has done more damage to the team than good in the past 2 years. Cherry pick the good flashes but you cant look past his overall game.

I clearly brought up the 2012 year to back up my point, Thanks for the irrelevant knock though.

51 pts in 82 games. good for 3rd on the team. He stunk in 75% of the games? I don't know what games you were watching but that's clearly not "flashes". 3rd on the team in points, Good locker room guy, Anchored the PP (and was actually GOOD at it during the regular season) that had everyone else scared to death to shoot the puck. Not to mention outplayed our "superstar" Rick Nash for a good portion of the year even long after Nash's concussion scare. Includes the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.

So in short. 2 solid seasons out of 3. What a bum!

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

Del Zotto scored the GWG in Game 7 against Washington in 2011-12 that sent us to the Eastern Conference Finals. You should edit your post to say "Richards and Del Zotto are the reason we made it to two ECF's"

I think comparing Del Zotto to a guy thats 7-0 in game 7's is just a LITTTTTLE bit of a stretch...

Funny enough. Richards got the first goal of that very game.

 

[Jayan]

Thanks Brad.

Was great having you on the team.

 

[RGY]

I appreciated Brads time here. Did not meet all expectations but he got us to where we wanted to be and just couldnt seal it up.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

For the record, I don't think Sather should be faulted here at all. It was a good signing originally.

Richards was in his prime and really didn't appear to be on the decline. He came off a monster year in Dallas. Sather signed him to a solid contract with a very reasonable cap hit for what we were expecting. Richards by all accounts was a gym rat and a heady player before coming here. We saw traces of the latter but his inability to keep up shrouded his IQ.

Wade Redden was a bad contract by Sather. Brads was actually quite good.