It was almost three years ago that 2004 Conn Smythe-winning center Brad Richards was courted for his services, and he probably thought it would be the last time he had to go through the process.
Richards will go through it at least one more time, albeit with less fanfare, as the New York Rangers announced that they have used their final compliance to buy out on their top free-agent prize from 2011, according to a tweet from ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
The move was expected because of the potential recapture penalties that the Rangers could face, and the Blueshirts could use the nearly $7 million occupied on the cap by Richards to retain free agents.
Many fans will rejoice that Richards is gone because he made too much money, was too slow and was not the No. 1 center they thought they were getting on July 2, 2011. Similar feelings were shared when Chris Drury was also bought out, and like Richards, the move had to be made despite the intangibles brought to the table.
Although the mood is positive now among Ranger fans, Brad Richards will be missed. Fans were at their wit's end watching him on the power pl ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Tom Urtz Jr.
New York Rangers Have Big Hole to Fill After Buyout of Captain Brad Richards
June 20th, 2014 by Tom Urtz Jr. Leave a reply »
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