Brad Richards
Bradley Glenn Richards ( born May 2, 1980 in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Iceland ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League since July 2011.
- 3.1 International
Career
Richards was at position 64 in the NHL Entry Draft in 1998 together with his team-mate and childhood friend Vincent Lecavalier of a youth team, the Rimouski Océanic, brought in the National Hockey League. The draft was followed by two more years of preparation in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, before Richards in 2000 moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL.
In the 2003 /04 season, he managed together with Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Dave Andreychuk to win the Stanley Cup for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards performance was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player of the playoffs (MVP). He was in this season of the best scorer of the playoffs and succeeded to break the established in 1996 by Joe Sakic record for most game winning decisive goals. Seven of the 16 playoff victories were decided by a goal from him in 2004.
With the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Richards was awarded in 2004 for his fair play of the NHL. 2004 Brad Richards was part of the winning Canadian National Team at the World Cup of Hockey, 2006 eliminated the Canadians already in the quarter- finals of the Olympics.
The strike in the NHL 2004/ 05 bridged Richards in the Russian Hockey League with Ak Bars Kazan, but where he could play only a part of the season due to an injury. The NHL 2005/06 season he finished with 91 points scorer than his personal best season. The number 19 he wears in honor of his great idol Joe Sakic.
Shortly before the end of the NHL Trade Deadline, February 26, 2008 Richard and his team-mate Johan Holmqvist of the Tampa Bay Lightning was transferred to the Dallas Stars. In return, Jussi Jokinen Tampa Bay, Jeff Halpern, Mike Smith and a fourth round draft law of the Stars received.
On July 2, 2011 Richards signed a contract for nine years worth about 60 million U.S. dollars at the New York Rangers.
Awards and achievements
- 2000 CHL Player of the Year
- 2000 CHL Top Scorer Award
- 2000 CHL All-Star Team
- 2000 NHL Rookie of the Month October
- 2001 NHL All- Rookie Team
- 2002 NHL Young Stars Game
- 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy
- 2004 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
- 2004 Stanley Cup win with the Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2011 NHL All-Star Game
Internationally
- 2000 bronze medal at the U20 World Junior Championships
- 2004 Gold Medal at the World Cup of Hockey
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Canada at:
- U20 Junior World Championship 2000
- World Cup 2001
- World Cup of Hockey 2004
- Winter Olympics 2006
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )