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Brad Richards heads to Stanley Cup Final in right fit with Hawks

Josh Cooper

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Brad Richards never looked at himself at being down on his own luck last offseason.

After being bought out by the New York Rangers and hitting unrestricted free agency, he knew he’d get calls for his services. He was still a 20-goal scorer in the NHL and notched 51 points a year ago with New York.

But he didn't want to go to a place that would simply pay him the most. He wanted a place where he could succeed. So he chose Chicago for one year at $2 million. Let’s just say … he chose wisely.

“After losing (In the Stanley Cup Final to LA) and getting bought out, it’s kind of a tough feeling,” he said. “You perk up pretty quick when the Chicago Blackhawks call and it got me excited again and thinking of possibilities.”

Richards will return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in his career and play Tampa Bay where he was drafted in 1998 and won a Conn Smythe Trophy on that group’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2004.

“There’s going to be a lot of different feelings. It will be a special … I grew up as a player and as an adult human being there,” Richards said. “A lot of great friends still, and the organization … very happy it’s back on track and doing what they’re doing down there. It’s going to be special, but I want to win one. We’ll worry about friendships later.”

Richards hasn’t needed to be ‘the’ guy for Chicago this season. He just had a role as a second-line center. He filled it. He was productive, and he wasn’t a distraction, like in years past where his mega-contract and lack of usage with the Rangers in the playoffs was always a question.

“(He) had some different linemates along the way,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “But I think his scoring, his patience level, got a little quicker as the season progressed, a little more jump in his stride. Noticeable as we got further in the playoffs, as well.”

It didn’t matter if Richards had Patrick Kane as the scoring winger on his line, or Marian Hossa. He produced. His last two games with, with Hossa on his wing, Richards notched three points to push Chicago into the Cup Final.

Against the Ducks, Richards had one goal and six assists in seven games. He has 11 points in 17 games this playoff. Hey, remember that time when John Tortorella made Richards a healthy scratch in the 2013 postseason? Ha!

With the Blackhawks, he can just blend, and that’s what made him so effective this series. No pressure, no problem.

And of course, he added a good chunk of depth on the second line, which is important for a team in the mega-strong Western Conference.

Who will he go against when the Blackhawks play Tampa? Is the ultra-quick Lightning a good match up for Richards?

Maybe not if he was Chicago’s first line center. On the second line? He’s sitting pretty.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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