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Agreed. I'm not upset by the decision to sign him or buy him out. It had to be done unfortunately. He was part of two memorable squads. I wish him the best of luck.
He stepped it up after Cally left and was obviously liked by his team mates. I won't dwell on the lockout season, simply thank him for the good things he did in Ranger Blue. I wish him all the best with his next team, except against the Rangers
One Winged Angel
You Can't Escape
I'm mixed on this. Clearly, it's his time to go, but he was responsible for some great memories for us.
The Winter Classic, he had his playoff moments... Washington in 12, Pittsburgh this year, he assisted on Gaborik's triple OT winner against Washington, if I recall correctly as well.
He was a disappointment considering what we brought him in here to be and what he did in Dallas, but I do wonder if Torts wasn't the coach back in 12, does Richards score more points? If he develops that chemistry with Gaborik instead of playing with Callahan, does he score more points? Or if he plays with Rick Nash, does he score more points?
A lot of questions about him that will go unanswered. Great guy, good leader, but poor choice in lockout decisions. That was what really started helping the wheels come off.
Good luck to you, Richards. Can't say he was the reason why we lost to LA, but if he's able to play like the Brad Richards of yesteryear, I think we can win that series.
The Winter Classic, he had his playoff moments... Washington in 12, Pittsburgh this year, he assisted on Gaborik's triple OT winner against Washington, if I recall correctly as well.
He was a disappointment considering what we brought him in here to be and what he did in Dallas, but I do wonder if Torts wasn't the coach back in 12, does Richards score more points? If he develops that chemistry with Gaborik instead of playing with Callahan, does he score more points? Or if he plays with Rick Nash, does he score more points?
A lot of questions about him that will go unanswered. Great guy, good leader, but poor choice in lockout decisions. That was what really started helping the wheels come off.
Good luck to you, Richards. Can't say he was the reason why we lost to LA, but if he's able to play like the Brad Richards of yesteryear, I think we can win that series.
You say that as if he needs a job and therefore played hard this season out of necessity. He doesn't need a job, he still wants to be a significant contributor to a winning team. That shows good character. His body just can't perform like it did a few years ago.
Is it so terrible for fans to look at him as a person and thank him for his efforts? He was signed to a huge cap circumventing contract that the new CBA closed the loophole on. I can't blame him for not being worth a cap hit that even Sather didn't plan to take on him.
stan the caddy
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2011
- 2,360
- 281
You don't have to be 25 to backcheck and make defensive plays. That's the problem with all the leadership and character crap. He didn't put forth a lot of effort and he didn't work hard during the offseason and in no way did he ever bounce back. He's basically being given credit for doing what every single player in the league does, but less.
poeman
To Win The One Ring
- Mar 8, 2006
- 5,503
- 160
Thanks Brad...You were supposed to be our #1 center without a doubt leading us to glory...Instead you turned into a borderline 4th line center with the weakest passes on the Power Play since the Dawn of Hockey.
I bid you farewell, and I hope we find happiness with the cap relief we get from cutting you. I am sure you will land somewhere at this stage in your career as a non impact player.
Peace out brah.
I bid you farewell, and I hope we find happiness with the cap relief we get from cutting you. I am sure you will land somewhere at this stage in your career as a non impact player.
Peace out brah.
I live in Tampa and root for the Lighting when they aren't playing the Rangers. Needless to say, I wanted Richards on this team as soon as it became apparent that it was a possibility.
I called it from day 1 that he'd be here. I was right, but his tenure was a mixed bag. I still love the player, and he is the definition of clutch. Despite not living up to expectations, he scored HUGE goals for this team. I hope he finds success unless he goes to a team within the division. Then I hope he fades out quietly and retires.
I called it from day 1 that he'd be here. I was right, but his tenure was a mixed bag. I still love the player, and he is the definition of clutch. Despite not living up to expectations, he scored HUGE goals for this team. I hope he finds success unless he goes to a team within the division. Then I hope he fades out quietly and retires.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Given the amount of money we owed him for the next 6 years, it was time to part ways.
But for the 3 years we already got, wouldn't change a thing. We aren't in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals without him, simple as that.
But for the 3 years we already got, wouldn't change a thing. We aren't in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals without him, simple as that.
Most of this post sums up how I feel. While I did not have any hate for Richards at all I knew going in that the contract was always going to hang over his head like a noose from a fans Point of view.
I felt he was in decline when they signed him and was never the same after taking that concussion in Dallas.
SingnBluesOnBroadway
Retired
Good character is getting paid a lot to because you want to be a significant contributor to a winning team?
Richards ended up being a decent signing. He was a contributor, on the ice and in the locker room, on teams with some nice playoff runs and at the end of the day he walks with no cap hit and no harm to the team. He didn't block the development of players and he didn't lose the team any youth or draft picks. Cost a heck of a lot of money, but I'm caring less about Dolan's bank account these days than I am about this team's future prospects. The Rangers are lucky to be able to buy him out at a time it looks as though his skills are declining. Good sign and release. On to building this team again...
Sorry but I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say. There might be a word missing that's throwing me off. But let me sum up my thoughts as clearly as I can and let me know if you still disagree with me:
If Brad Richards put in the effort to be a high-performing, significant contributor to the Rangers, but just didn't have the ability any more to meet the expectations his contract created, I think he should be commended for his effort.
If Brad Richards didn't put in the effort to be a high-performing, significant contributor to the Rangers, then shame on him for cashing those checks and not giving what was expected of him.
I personally believe Brad did put in the effort but just didn't have it any more. If anyone is to blame, I would say it's Sather for signing him to the contract. But I can't even fully blame Sather when considering the climate in the league at the time of the signing. Cap circumvention was in style at the time and you couldn't know for certain that the new CBA would bring penalties for previously signed contracts.
eco's bones
Registered User
Richards was brought in because he was a legit No. 1 center. In his first year he played like a very good 2nd line center. In his second year he was awful at the beginning--very good down the stretch and then awful in the playoffs. In fact very awful. This past year he was somewhat better in the regular season and very good in the first two rounds of the playoffs. After that--atrocious.
IMO neither Stepan or Brassard have turned into legit 1st line centers but they're both lots better than Richards is now. There are days that Richards seemed to skate really well and then there were days and more days when he was pooped where he was skating in mud. And there were times when it seemed he needed a formal introduction to the guy he was supposed to be checking and the giveaways and giveaways on the pwp especially. All in all he wasn't worth the investment we made in him. Looking towards the future with him was looking towards ever diminishing returns. He had to go. Basically he failed expectations across the board. The Rangers have given him million$ of thank yous. I really don't think he needs any more from us.
IMO neither Stepan or Brassard have turned into legit 1st line centers but they're both lots better than Richards is now. There are days that Richards seemed to skate really well and then there were days and more days when he was pooped where he was skating in mud. And there were times when it seemed he needed a formal introduction to the guy he was supposed to be checking and the giveaways and giveaways on the pwp especially. All in all he wasn't worth the investment we made in him. Looking towards the future with him was looking towards ever diminishing returns. He had to go. Basically he failed expectations across the board. The Rangers have given him million$ of thank yous. I really don't think he needs any more from us.
he did help the team get past PITT; without that goal he doesn't get a chance to suck in the Finals.
That's the sentiment that I don't share; the belief that because players are paid a lot of money, we can and should feel free to verbally blast them.
They are big boys and they can take it, so I'm not feeling sorry for them, but it does make me wonder what those fans gets out of it. It'd be interesting to see how many of the people that talk badly about players on message boards or boo them at games also stand in line for their autographs and tell them how great they are in person.
One more thought and then I'll let it go. This reminds me of watching the NFL draft and hearing rude fans, for one reason or anther, boo the commissioner and boo talented players that are drafted in the first round. It's a shame that people can't have enough dignity to restrain themselves from booing a 21 year old who is realizing his dreams on a stage right in front of them.
fans feel it's their money being spent; well, in a way, it is, so they support their team and hope management spends the money wisely. When people do not perform to their expectations, they voice their opinions. I am not a big person on booing, but I get it. Fans want their voices to be heard. They don't like Goodell and want to see him replaced? Well, there's one of a few chances they get to be heard, in hopes that people hear that and maybe a thought goes into someone's head that can make those fans' dreams come true. People just want to be heard sometimes. Some just do it in places like here. We all are armchair quarterbacks at the end of the day.
eco's bones
Registered User
With more money comes higher expectations. High $ players need to perform at a high production rate if the team is going to have any chance to win a championship. Richards--like so many others in the past did not deliver. The Rangers invested a lot of cash into his wallet but the emotional investment of Rangers fans to Richards is not nearly as much because he didn't live up to his expectations and he didn't help bring the team a championship. 2nd place in the playoffs may be nice but it's still 2nd place. By and large in the last two series this year he was too pooped to carry his share of the load. So are we suppose to put up a statue for this guy?
FWIW I didn't boo the guy but I wasn't altogether happy with his effort in his time here.
SingnBluesOnBroadway
Retired
You wrote, "He doesn't need a job, he still wants to be a significant contributor to a winning team. That shows good character."
My response is I don't see how the bolded shows "good character."
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What I meant by that line was that I don't think he's playing for the money. His contract was going to get paid out whether he tried hard this season or he didn't try at all and was a healthy scratch. I thought he worked hard to be a contributor this season and it wasn't motivated by money. It's fair to say that is expected behavior, so maybe it doesn't show good character, but it would show a lack of character if he didn't make a strong effort.
You guys raise good points about the fans ultimately being the ones who supply the $$$ for the big contracts, so they have a right to show their displeasure. I tend to hold management responsible for players being over-paid to the point where they can't reasonably be expected to live up to their contracts, and that's what I see the Richards situation being. He was more or less set up to fail. I see it being a lot like the Drury signing really.
It also just bothers me when people are so willing to talk trash about someone that does work very hard but is struggling at the highest level of their profession.
he's playing for money. He's playing for his life. If he's not, then that does show lack of character. If he is, then he's just normal. Richards wants to make the most money possible for himself over a short period of time. That he got a payday doesn't mean he will work for $11 this season to help a team. He's 34 and doesn't want to stop playing hockey and knows in a few years the multi-million contracts come to an end and he needs to find a way to keep a steady income because come 50 years of age he doesn't want to be broke. He may take less to go to a contender, especially if that contender is only offering less and he thinks it's a good situation for him. He goes there for a year, they do well, his boat is floated higher playing with better players, and he can get a 2-3 year contract getting more. It's about winning, and winning will bring in mo' money; the two often go hand-in-hand.
To another point - management is responsible, but booing a player is just about making that player feel bad, it's about letting management know their thoughts on the acquisition of that player. Again, not advocating booing; it's just not me, but it is a way for an opinion to be voiced, and such opinion is expressed to many parties.
