This isn't exactly breaking news, but Brad Richards could be precisely the guy the Stars need to push them deep into the postseason. The Stars were in desperate need of scoring help, and Richards is one of the NHL's best playmakers when he's right. He hasn't been right for a while.
One step in getting Richards back on course is getting him out of Tampa Bay. He's become a target for fans who have grown tired of watching him underachieve the past two seasons while pocketing $7.8 million. Plus-minus isn't the best indicator of how a player is performing, but it is an indicator. And his minus-25 indicates he plays less defense than Danny Briere.
Richards' biggest problem might have been playing for John Tortorella, especially after the center became a star. Torts doesn't take to star players. He and Vinny Lecavalier have had their problems over the years. After a while, it gets suffocating.
Now, Richards can breathe again. Can he breathe life into the Stars?
--- Bucky Gleason
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