Tampa Bay Lightning: A Look Back At Brad Richards
As former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brad Richards announces his retirement from the NHL, we take a look back at his 15 season career.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have had so many great players over the years. Maybe one of the most significant is Brad Richards. Brad Richards and former Lightning teammate Vincent Lecavalier have both announced their retirement this year.
Brad Richards is six-foot and 199 pounds. He is a left-handed center, a good skater, and a natural scorer. He is a tough player that will always make a difference on a team. Growing up in Tampa the names Brad Richards and Tampa Bay Lightning were synonyms. He brought a lot of heart to the team.
Richards was drafted 64 fourth overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1998. In his first year with the Lightning, at age 20, Richards scored 62 points in 82 games. In the 2002-2003 season, Richards picked up the pace scoring 74 points in 80 games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The next year was quite special for Brad Richards. In the 2003-2004 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup. Richards scored 26 points in 23 games in his Stanley Cup run. Richards also won the Lady Bing Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Richards is a great hockey player and went on to win another Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014-2015 season. Richards is more than a good hockey player; he is a leader. Although young, Richards was a leader in the Lightning’s Cup winning season, he was a leader in the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup season in 2015, and a leader in the community.
Brad Richards has played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Detroit Red Wings. According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Richards said his first Stanley Cup run with the Tampa Bay Lightning was “The most fun I’ve ever had in hockey.”
Richards is a huge part of the Lightning organization and a huge part of the NHL, scoring 932 in 1126 games. While Richards may not skate on NHL Ice again, hopefully, he will be back to Tampa and help develop the next generation of Lightning players.
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Brad Richards is a great hockey player, a two-time Stanley Cup winner. He is one of the greatest hockey players to put on a Lightning sweater. He is a leader in hockey and the community. Let’s all wish Brad Richards a farewell and a happy retirement.