New York Rangers: Top 5 Worst Free Agent Signings Since 2010

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Dec 15, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Brad Richards (19) fights for control of the puck with Calgary Flames defenseman Ladislav Smid (3) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Brad Richards –

Now I want to be clear and say that I enjoyed what Brad Richards did for the New York Rangers. What I didn’t like was the size of his contract. The Rangers tried to get Richards from the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline in 2011 but the asking price was too high. The Rangers decided to wait until the summer to sign their “shiny new toy”.

On July 2, 2011, Richards signed a nine-year, $58.5 million contract with the Rangers. This contract would’ve come to an end when Richards would be 40-years-old. The Rangers should’ve signed Richards to a shorter contract and maybe things wouldn’t have ended the way they did.

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Richards scored 56 goals and added 95 assists during his stint with the Rangers. He helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final in 2014 and added many memories along the journey. The former third round pick was eventually bought out of his contract the summer after that run to the Stanley Cup in 2014. This contract was a typical “Rangers contact” of old such as the Drury, Gomez and Gaborik contracts. Let’s hope the Rangers front office doesn’t make a mistake like this contract this summer.

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