Brad Richards chased the hockey dream all over North America. The pride of Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island, born May 2, 1980, Richards played with the Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL in 1996-97 and was named rookie of the year. The next season, Richards joined the QMJHL, starring with the Rimouski Oceanic for three seasons.
After his rookie campaign in 1997-98, Richards rode his 115-point season to the draft table of Tampa Bay, being claimed by the Lightning with their second Entry Draft selection. In his second season with the Oceanic, Richards collected 131 points, then exploded in 1999-00 with a league-leading totals 71 goals, 115 assists and 186 points. Richards took home numerous awards in 1999-00: QMJHL First Team All-Star, Canadian Major Junior First Team All-Star, Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year, Memorial Cup All-Star and Memorial Cup Most Valuable Player. After winning the QMJHL league championship, Richards and the Oceanic went on to capture the 2000 Memorial Cup in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Comming off a stellar junior career, Richards jumped straight to Tampa Bay in 2000-01, setting Lightning team rookie records in goals with 21, assists with 41 and points with 62. For his efforts he was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team. He went on to play for Team Canada at the 2001 World Championships, collecting 6 points in 7 games. Richards equaled his rookie point total in 2001-02 and increased them to 74 in 2002-03. In 2003-04, Richards continued his strong play at both ends of the ice, finishing the regular season with 79 points.
Richards saved the best hockey of his career for the 2004 NHL playoffs. With 26 points in 23 post-season contests, he helped lead the Lightning to a seven game series win over the Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup Final. It was the first championship in franchise history and Richards was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He capped off this career year by winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
The following summer Richards was member of Canada's 2004 World Cup winning team, recording four points in six tournament games.
Following the NHL lock out year in 2004-05, Richards produced offensively as he tallied 91 points in 2005-06. During that season, Richards was selected to compete for Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics where despite his best efforts, he would return to Tampa Bay without a medal.
After nearly matching his career-high goal total in his 2006-07 season, Richards found himself on the move at the NHL trading deadline on February 26, 2008. Roughly three hours before the deadline hit, the Lightning's career assist leader waived his no-trade clause to be sent to the Dallas Stars along with goaltender Johan Holmqvist in exchange for Mike Smith, centre Jeff Halpern and winger Jussi Jokinen.
In 2009-10, Richards matched his career best with 91 points and his 67 assists were ranked fourth among all NHL players.
In the summer of 2011, Richards was unquestionably the cream of the free agent crop. Many teams lined up to make an offer for the high-scoring centre and in the end he chose the New York Rangers, inking an enormous nine-year, $60 million contract.
After three years into his contract with the Rangers and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2013-14, Richards was bought out in order to maintain salary cap flexibility.
As a free agent in the summer of 2014, Richards signed a one year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. With the Blackhawks, he returned to the Stanley Cup Final and would defeat his former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in six games for the second Stanley Cup title of Richards' career.
With the Blackhawks unable to re-sign Richards, he left as a free agent on July 1, 2015 and signed a one year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Richards would spend just one season in Detroit before announcing his retirement on July 20, 2016.
