Philadelphia Flyers Mike Richards

richards flyers october 2010.

richards made nhl debut flyers following season, 2005–06, , scored goal in first game on october 5, 2005, against new york rangers. later in season, scored first career nhl hat-trick, included 2 short-handed goals, against new york islanders on february 8, 2006. hat-trick first flyer rookie since mikael renberg on february 15, 1994. richards finished nhl rookie season 34 points in 79 games, third among flyers rookies, behind jeff carter (drafted same year richards, 11th overall) , r. j. umberger, respectively.

following injury-shortened sophomore season – richards kept 32 points in 59 games due stomach surgery – richards emerged star flyers in 2007–08 , topped team in scoring 75 points. recognizing ascent leader on team, richards named 1 of flyers alternate captains @ outset of season , signed lengthy 12-year contract extension worth $69 million on december 13, 2007. shortly after signing deal, richards selected represent eastern conference @ 2008 nhl all-star game in atlanta. in first nhl all-star game of career, richards registered assist.

as flyers entered 2008 stanley cup playoffs against third-seeded washington capitals, richards scored first playoff goal on penalty shot against washington goaltender cristobal huet in game 3. in doing so, became second player in nhl history score first playoff goal on penalty shot (the first wayne connolly did minnesota north stars in 1968). flyers defeated capitals in 7 games , upset montreal canadiens before falling pittsburgh penguins in eastern conference finals. richards finished 2008 playoff run 14 points in 17 games.

richards captained flyers 3 seasons.

before start of 2008–09 season, on september 17, 2008, richards named 17th captain in flyers history, succeeding previous captain jason smith, had signed ottawa senators in off-season. on february 15, 2009, richards became first player in nhl history score 3 career three-on-five short-handed goals when beat new york rangers goaltender henrik lundqvist in 5–2 win. 6 days later, on february 21, richards became first flyer in team history score short-handed goal in 3 consecutive games , first nhl player since joe sakic in 1998. finished season second in team scoring jeff carter 80 points go league-leading 7 shorthanded goals.

facing pittsburgh penguins second consecutive year in 2009 playoffs, richards added 5 points in 6 games, not flyers being eliminated. after richards season ended, announced finalist frank j. selke trophy, awarded nhl s top defensive forward, along pavel datsyuk of detroit red wings , ryan kesler of vancouver canucks. next day, on april 29, 2009, revealed richards required surgery on both shoulders. had reportedly felt discomfort since training camp , on anti-inflammatory medication throughout season. richards narrowly missed out on selke, have been philadelphia s first individual player trophy since eric lindros won hart memorial trophy in 1995. datsyuk won vote 945 942 in closest selke trophy race since inception.

richards (left) , jeff carter prior flyers game during 2008–09 season.

the 2009–10 season started richards, scored 5 goals in first 3 games, including second career hat-trick in second period of flyers home opener against washington capitals on october 6, 2009. against florida panthers on october 24, richards delivered shoulder hit david booth s head. knocked unconscious, booth fell awkwardly on head , neck , had carried of ice on stretcher. richards given game misconduct, not suspended nhl.

from outset of season, richards involved in ongoing feud philadelphia media. issued verbal boycott against media in october 2009 after asked if trade of forward joffrey lupul anaheim ducks result of partying lifestyle many players on team accused of sharing. accusations of team players drinking , partying excessively continued throughout season, richards , jeff carter. team began lose, richards criticized local media in interview hockey news throwing team under bus. told philadelphia daily news drinking accusations fabricated. following loss washington capitals on january 17, 2010, richards reportedly engaged in verbal exchange reporters outside flyers locker room, telling them unhappy how team being covered in media. on february 1, 2010, richards scored 100th career nhl goal. flyers barely scraped playoffs, winning in shootout in last game of season secure place. however, embarked on remarkable run 2010 stanley cup finals, run in richards cemented captaincy , scored important goals leading renewed comparisons bobby clarke, ended in stanley cup finals when flyers lost 4–3 in overtime of game 6 chicago blackhawks.

richards scored 23 goals go along 43 assists during 2010–11 season flyers earned second seed in eastern conference, , played buffalo sabres in first round of 2011 playoffs. after eliminating sabres in 7 games, richards , flyers eliminated boston bruins in four-game sweep. richards recorded 1 goal , 6 assists during playoffs.