5 Things to Watch For: Training Camp Edition

The Return of the Old Brad Richards?

Last season, Brad Richards showed he was a shell of his former self. Poor conditioning was credited to his lackluster season, as he was

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

tied up dealing with the new CBA deal, and decided not to play over seas in Europe or Russia to help with condition while the league was under negoiations.

You could also credit his lack luster season due to the hit he sustained from Buffalo Sabre’s forward Patrick Kaleta. Kaleta checked Richards hard from behind, and from that moment on, you could tell that that he wasn’t healthy that he was lacking that extra step in his skating, and his hockey sense was missing a step.

You can blame it on whatever you want, but we know that wasn’t Richards. While Sather and company made a big mistake and from a business standpoint, it was a terrible decision to not buy him out this offseason, not because I don’t feel Richards will have a good year, I really think he will, but from a business standpoint it was terrible, just because of the lack of cap space the team has.

If the Rangers bought out Brad Richards, they wouldn’t be having this issue with Derek Stepan.

Look for Brad to contribute 60-65 points, and returning back to his old self, in which clutch goals, and game winners will be scored when it matters the most. Also, don’t look for Richards to spend time in the press box, he’ll do anything he can to NOT go there again.

Richards will bounce back, and it will be a great redemption season for him. Proving everyone wrong, yet at the end of this season, if the Rangers don’t buy out Richards, then this salary cap crunch the Rangers are in just got a lot tighter.