NEW YORK, NY – After fielding in-person presentations and a host of conference calls Friday morning through evening, Brad Richards, this summer’s marquee free-agent, has put pen to paper with the New York Rangers on a 9-year, $60m deal. Richards’ contract is heavily front-loaded and includes significant signing bonuses in the first and second years of the deal. No official word on a potential no-move clause at this point, though the New York Post’s Larry Brooks speculated upon a NMC through the duration of the deal last night. In terms of the contract itself, it’s another that pushes the boundaries of acceptability much like Christian Ehrhoff’s in Buffalo and last season’s much talked about deal for Ilya Kovalchuk in New Jersey. The difference here is that Richards could realistically play until the age of 40, and as an Under-35 deal it allows Richards to walk away after the fifth or sixth year having received the bulk of his money. Richards spoke via teleconference last night on just why he chose to join the Rangers: “There’s lots of factors. To play on an Original Six team, I haven’t been able to do that. Stable ownership, that’s kind of bittin me a couple of times. Original Six, as a hockey player they’re special to play for. To see an owner do what it takes to do to win. To see how Torts operates. I know it works. It reminds me of what he did in Tampa [Tortorella coached Richards during Tampa Bay’s 2004 Stanley Cup win]. At the end of the day, it’s the right fit for me.” On the ice, Richards is the perfect fit and a necessary addition that the Rangers almost had to make this summer. With star players Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik both set to turn 30 during the 2011/12 season, Richards addition provides a serious shot in the arm to the Blueshirts chances of Stanley Cup contention over the next five years. Though a primarily home-grown team led by the likes of Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, the Rangers chances of hitting the elite, top-line centre jackpot from within were and are slim to none. After all, this isn’t a team that makes its crust on top-5 entry draft selections. Despite his concussion last season and the ensuing issues he had during his recovery, Richards says he feels great and is looking forward to getting started in New York: “I finished the season feeling great. I’ve been training now for six weeks. I’m way ahead of any other training schedule I’ve been on. My body felt great, my head felt great, so I got at it pretty quick.” With Richards, the Rangers not only solve the issue of finding an elite, first-line centre and powerplay pivot, but they can now allow Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov to develop at a more natural pace on the second and third lines. Richards presence on the powerplay, too, could lessen the pressure on Michael Del Zotto, assuming he finds his way back on to the roster this fall. The one thing the Rangers will be banking on is the link-up play between Richards and Gaborik, both at even strength and on the powerplay. As a left-handed centre, Richards – tied for 12th in terms of PP assists last season – is the perfect compliment for the Slovak sniper as he looks to lift himself out of the mire after a largely disappointing 2010/11 season. Glen Sather, also involved in last night’s teleconference, says that Gaborik is happy to have Richards on board: “I know Gabby was very excited that Brad’s here. (Gaborik) is the kind of player that shouldn’t have the puck an awful lot. He’s getting in and out of holes and the players should be getting him the puck at the right time. There’s a sixth sense that players have, not many players have it. Brad has the same sightlines on the ice. He knows where everybody is. I think (Richards) is just going to make him a much better player.” Initial speculation touched on the Rangers scouring the trade market for a scoring left-winger to compliment the Richards-Gaborik line, though GM Glen Sather stated in last night’s conference call that that would not be the case and that the Blueshirts would likely look within the organisation to fill that spot. Perhaps Brandon Dubinsky or Wojtek Wolski could fit the bill, assuming the latter remains on the roster through the summer. Elsewhere, the Rangers have inked former Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils forward Mike Rupp to a 3-year, $4.5m deal. Rupp provides grit, can fight and will add offensive support from the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Ruslan Fedotenko has also been re-signed after an excellent season in 2010/11. Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com
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