Being a fellow Islander I probably follow his carreer more than most. But I was just wondering what people's thoughts were on him. Overrated , best player in the league, good guy, tough as nails, I think I could take him etc..

I feel he doesn't get the fair shake he should as he spends every year playing with no names on the 2nd line while St Louis and Lecavelier dominate on the 1st line. I would be surprised if anyone could name his 2 linemates this year.

I watched the last 5 minutes against the Canadians the other night and when TB went short handed with 2:00 on the clock in overtime Richie played the whole PK. And it wasn't like the Lightning were hemmed in and he never got a chance to change. They were a few whistles and Torterelli never even thought about changing him.

He makes huge $$ to score goals and isn't producing like he should but the only time he plays with any talents is when he is on the point on the power play.

Thought?

End of rant.

One of the most under-rated players in the NHL

Excellent playmaker and very good defensively.

I have a good friend on the Lightning..... he plays with all three on occasion, and says that Richards is right there with Vinny...

Have to agree but Vinny has some tools that Richie just can't get. Size, strength, very tough.
I would never say Richie was better than Lecavelier but I would definitely rather him on my team over a St Louis.
That is probably why you hear the rumors for St Louis to Dallas for Turco.

Both have NTC's.

Vinny thinks Brad doesn't know how to play the game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZUTiEdhL30


Richards is just a sick player. The three of them should be part of Team Canada in the olympics and thats is saying alot. His contract is a little excessive but it's not his fault he got overpaid.

I think Richards will have to get traded before he'll be able to show just how good he really is.

You can't make a HOF career out of setting up Jan Hlavac and Jason Ward, and there's no way Vinny-Marty-Vinny is getting split up anytime soon.

Brad Richards is this era's Doug Gilmour, IMO.

I see him play a lot here in Atlanta, and I've always been impressed.

I think he's just a bit of a Yashin/McCabe-esque victim of his salary. One small step below that elite tier, but paid as an elite tier player, so people feel he's not performing as he should. I think he's playing to his skill level, which is all you can ask of him.

I think he is an incredible two way player. Get him on a team where he can have better than no-name linemates and better than garbage in net and he will turn into a star.

Just thought I would bump after the big game last night.
Have to plug my fellow Prince Edward Islanders.

PEI rules. <3

Dallas got really scary. They own the Ducks already this season. Scary.

I dont get to see him play a lot, but how come he was -25 in +/- before he got trade.

Prolly cause half his points were on the PP I suppose. Not sure. Watching him he always passed the eyeball test a good defensive center IMO.

Ali G: R.E.S.T.E.C.P! Do ya even know wha it spellz?
Cabinet M.P.: Restecp?
Ali G: Yes, Restecp. 'Owz anyone out there meant to restecp each otha? If you lot in 'ere, don't even start restecpa-ing one another.

Quality of linemates, quality of opposition?

QFT Tampa had him playing against other teams' top lines with 2 scrubs at his wings, a porous defense and garbage in net. Most guys would have been -50. Richards is one of the best defensive Centers in the league.

Richards puts up decent numbers yearly. He's an average of 70 points per season and is still has a few years left. His 5 assists is really making Dallas look really strong for this season and for the upcoming season. I still think Anaheim will be the team to beat. It's gonna be scary when Boucher and Zubov come back from injury though.

A few theories, from a guy who has owned in a fantasy pool where his plus minus has killed me, and forced me to figure out why a good Def C like him is -25.

- plays with terrible linemates.
Usually his linemates are the type that have offensive talent but play no defense (Oullett/Hlavac), but they also don't produce offense like they should either. So his even strength time is wasted, and like 7s7c said, almost half his pts are on PP. If you check the stats, youd see his % of PP points is way higher than most forwards.

- as a good all around C, they line him up against some of the better C in the league, so now even more pressure on his line to defend. Which they can't. Trying getting Hlavac to play tough defence against a Tkachuk or Eric Cole.

- Tampa gives up a fair amount of empty net goals (losing, pull the goalie) and this only compounds it, as it is another minus.

oops, yeah, didnt see this post!

pretty much.

exactly right.