Brad Richards is a Canadian hockey player who has achieved a lot as an athlete. During his career, he had to change clubs. However, in each of them he showed decent hockey.
The beginning of a professional career
Brad Richards joined the Tampa Bay Lightning club in 1998. Under number 64, he was drafted by this club. Already in his debut year, this striker showed great hockey. At the end of the year, he joined the rookie team. As part of the Tampa team, Brad Richards spent 7 seasons. Without a doubt, the best of them was the 2003-2004 season. In it, “Tampa” for the first time won the most prestigious club trophy on the planet. This striker, thanks to his game, received several individual trophies.
Lockout and further career
After the lockout began in the NHL, and many of the hockey players left to play in Europe. Brad Richards has signed a contract with Kazan Ak Bars. In this club, he spent only 7 games. At the end of the lockout, he returned to Tampa. In the 2006-2007 season, this hockey player became the highest paid NHL player. Despite the outstanding game, Brad was included in exchange with the Dallas Stars team. This news was unexpected for fans of the Tampa club. Nevertheless, the exchange was perfect, and this hockey player had to re-prove that he is one of the best players in the league. In 2008, a team from Dallas reached the finals of the conference. Such a high result was achieved largely thanks to the efforts of Brad. But there they were defeated by HC Detroit Red Wings. More this team could not get so far. In terms of statistics, the best season for this striker was the 2009-2010 season. While playing in it, Brad Richards scored 91 points in 80 matches.
Going to the New York Rangers Club
After completing the 2010-2011 season, Brad Richards (a hockey player who was still demonstrating an excellent game) moved as a free agent to the New York Rangers club. The contract was signed for 9 years. According to the agreement, this club was supposed to pay the player $ 60 million. In the first season, this hockey player received 12 million. This made Brad one of the most expensive players in the league. In 2014, the leadership of the club from New York decided to redeem the contract of this striker. Brad became a free agent. Many clubs wanted to see this player in their composition. In the summer of that year, information appeared that Brad signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks Club . This player’s salary was $ 2 million. In the new club, Brad was waiting for success. He won the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career . In the playoffs, Brad played all the matches and scored 14 points.
Moving to Detroit
After the championship, Chicago went broke, and Brad had to look for a club again. This time he decided to go to the Detroit Red Wings. A one-year contract worth $ 3 million was also signed. This season, Brad's game has declined. In terms of statistics, the season spent at the Detroit club was the worst of his career. He scored just 28 points. The following year, Brad Richards announced the completion of his successful career.
Richards played many seasons in the NHL. His career, of course, was a success. After all, he twice won the Stanley Cup and was called to matches of all stars. Fans loved him and were very upset after he ended his career.