The Boston Bruins have pushed the New York Rangers to the brink of elimination , and John Tortorella’s team will be without one of their stars in Brad Richards in Game 4 as they look to stay alive. Richards has been scratched from the crucial game after struggling on the ice and dropping to the fourth line.
The 33-year-old signed a nine-year contract worth upwards of $60 million with the Rangers after becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2011. His first season in New York went quite well as he posted 66 points after appearing in all 82 games.
This year, in his second season with the Rangers, Richards began as a star player on the first line but he won’t be on the ice Thursday as the team looks to fend off elimination.
In the Rangers’ 10 playoff games this year, Richards has posted just one point off a goal in Game 4 against the Washington Capitals in the first round. He won’t have the chance to do it again when the Rangers face the Bruins on Thursday, as he’ll be wearing a suit and cheering on his teammates instead of joining them on the ice.
Tortorella’s decision may be the beginning of the end for Brad Richards with the Rangers, and Rick Carpiniello of the Rangers Report Blog believes a buyout is in the works after the playoffs come to an end.
“The Rangers will use their one remaining compliance buyout within the new CBA to end Richards’ relationship with the team this summer,” Carpiniello said in a blog post Thursday. “Richards, who received $12 million in 2011-12 and most of his $12 million for the lockout 2013 season, will get a $24 million going-away present this summer (spread out over twice the remaining seven years), removing his contract from the books and his salary from the decreasing salary cap.”
The Rangers haven’t addressed Richard’s overwhelming contract just yet as their focus remains on climbing back in the series.
Do you believe Brad Richards stay with the New York Rangers will end this offseason after he was scratched from Game 4 against the Bruins?
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