On July 2 in Rangers history: Brad Richards hits paydirt

What happened on July 2 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 2011, the New York Rangers made Brad Richards a very rich man, giving him a nine-year contract worth $60 million.  Reuniting him with John Tortorella, his coach in Tampa, the signing gave the Rangers the best free agent available and the elite center that they coveted. The fact that Richards was 31 when he signed the deal was not an issue for Glen Sather and the “win now” Rangers.

Richards had established himself as a star in Tampa, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2004.  A Lady Byng Trophy winner that season he was never a big scorer there, topping out at 26 goals in 2004, but was valued for his leadership.

The center had  been traded from Tampa to the Dallas Stars in 2008 and he had the good timing to have his two best offensive seasons before becoming a free agent, leading the team in scoring  both years.

The Rangers beat out a number of teams for Richards’ services, including the Kings, Maple Leafs, Flyers and Flames and Glen Sather said that Richards “left money on the table” to sign with New York.

Richards ended up playing three seasons in New York and was bought out of his contract after the 2013-14 season. His play had deteriorated to the point that he was benched by Tortorella during the 2013 playoffs.    The Rangers used a compliance buyout to get out of the contract and Richards walked away with $12.6 million for not playing in New York.

Richards did have some memorable moments with the Rangers.  In 2012 he scored the tying goal with 6.6 seconds left in Game Five of their Semi-Finals series against the Capitals, a game they would win in overtime.  In the 2014 playoffs he had a revival, scoring five goals and 12 points as the Rangers got the Final against Los Angeles.

After he left the Blueshirts, he signed with Blackhawks and won his second Cup in 2015 as a bottom six center. He ended his career with the Detroit Red Wings.

Today’s birthdays

17 NHL players were born on July 2 including three former Rangers.

George McPhee was born on July 2 in Wallaceburg, Ontario.  The Rangers signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green University where he won the Hobey Baker Award.  He made his debut in the 1983 Stanley Cup Playoffs and set a record that season, along with Edmonton’s Ray Cote by being the first two players to score three playoffs goals before playing in an NHL regular season game.  The left winger played three seasons for the Rangers before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets who flipped him to the New Jersey Devils where he played two seasons.  He is much better known as a hockey executive, general manager of the  Washington Capitals and later the Vegas Golden Knights.  He did his old team a favor when he traded Jaromir Jagr to New York in 2004.

Aaron Voros was born on this date in 1981 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The center was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils who traded him to the Minnesota Wild where he made his debut.  The Rangers signed him as a free agent in 2008 and he played two seasons and 95 games in New York. A physical player, he totaled 211 minutes in penalties in 95 games. He was traded to Anaheim in 2010 for Steve Eminger.

Lorne Carr was born on this date in 1910 in Stoughton, Saskatchewan.  The right winger started his NHL career in 1933-34 with the Rangers, playing 14 scoreless games.  The Blueshirts traded him to Syracuse of the IHL who traded him to the New York Americans where he played  for seven years before ending up in Toronto where he was named a First Team All-Star twice.  In 1943-44 he scored 36 goals and 74 points in just 50 games.