Brad Richards: Why He's Worth Every Dollar of His Huge Deal with Rangers

On July 2nd, 2011, the New York Rangers officially invested the next nine years of their franchise in Brad Richards. This mega-deal drew a mixed reception but after 44 games, I think it is fair to say that Richards is worth every dollar of his huge deal.

I know what you're going to say and let me stop you before the thought crosses your mind. Critics and fans will point out that Richards has only 31 points to date. Critics will also point out that Richards is on pace to finish with only 57 points. Most recently, critics will finally point out that Richards is pointless in his last five games.

Is it frustrating? Yes, but is it also disappointing? To the casual and fair-weather fan it might be, but in order to fully understand what Richards has brought to this team, you need to dig deeper and look past most statistics.

Most fans were under the assumption that Richards would come in and score 30 goals and put up 70-plus points. What fans fail to realize is that this season, Richards hasn't played with players that thrive under his style of play.

Looking back at Richards' days with Tampa, he always had a skilled winger who oozed offense and creativity. Players like Cory Stillman, Martin St. Louis and Fredrik Modin complemented him very well. In Dallas, the same applied to James Neal, Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson. The key to offensive success was that everyone needed to pull their weight.

Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky may be talented hockey players but with Richards, they are bookends. You can claim that Richards should be able to make them better, but he can only do so much to help.

Both Callahan and Dubinsky play a grit-and-grind style of hockey that benefits off the dump-and-chase strategy. A player like Richards is used to having a winger find the open space so he can thread a pinpoint pass to them. He is not a player whose skill set is suited for him to grind it out in Gretzky's office.

However, despite his low offensive numbers up to this point, the acquisition of Richards has balanced out the lineup and has allowed for the creation of opportunities in which other players can thrive.

Players like Derek Stepan, Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto have benefited the most from Richards' arrival on Broadway.

While the goal is to illustrate that Richards is worth his contract, it was necessary to address the negatives first. Richards is an accountable player and will admit when he isn't on the top of his game. While he may not be firing at full capacity now, that shouldn't cloud the fact that he was a very good signing.

Entering the year, it was assumed that Richards was going to be Marian Gaborik's linemate. When things didn't work out, John Tortorella decided to pair Gaborik with Stepan. After that, the rest has been history up to this point.

The G.A.S. line of Gaborik, Artem Anisimov and Stepan helped carry the offense early on, and the Rangers gained a ton of ground in the Eastern Conference.

Stepan is on pace for career highs and Gaborik has found his game again. With the talent divided throughout the lineup, if opponents shut down one line, they won't necessarily shut down the entire team on offense.

Richards left a lot of money on the table to sign with New York. One of the big reasons he signed here was his familiarity with John Tortorella, but there were other major reasons why Richards chose the Big Apple.

One of the reasons Richards chose New York was because of young players like Stepan and Del Zotto. He wanted to have a hand in their development and wanted to teach them whatever he could. 

So far, Richards has been a mentor to both players. Richards took a keen interest in Stepan because he is a center. Through mentoring and observation, Richards has emphasized that Stepan should keep his game simple. The message has stuck with Stepan, and he had very flattering words about his mentor.

"

I would be pretty honored to be able to follow in the footsteps of a player like that. I’m just trying to learn from guys and the coaching staff and just do whatever it takes.

"

Stepan has grown tremendously this season and is on his way to becoming a great young playmaking centerman. The impact Richards has had on Stepan up to this point can not be equated or measured with cap hits or contract figures. It is an intangible that most fans seem to forget when veteran superstars are acquired.

If you were to ask fans who one of the biggest surprise performers has been this season, you would be hard-pressed to find an answer that wasn't Michael Del Zotto. Del Zotto  has really improved since being sent to the minors last season. He struggled to the point where fans were clamoring for an opportunity to trade him.

Tortorella often says that Del Zotto has gotten his "swagger" back and that is a reason he is playing better again. You can thank Brad Richards for some of the swagger recovery, as Del Zotto and Richards have become very close.

When Richards moved to New York, he moved into the same apartment complex that Del Zotto resides in. The two always eat a pregame meal together and have bonded in their free time.

Del Zotto complimented Richards by saying,

"

Ultimately, a player has to fix his own game with the coaches when things go as badly as they did last season...But Richie’s support at the rink and away from it has made a huge difference.

Last year was something I never want to experience again. It’s on me now. But with guys like Richie, it’s good to know the support is always there.

"

It is also a big plus that Del Zotto is on pace to score 40-45 points and finish the year with a plus/minus rating north of 40. Del Zotto has really grown into a solid young defenseman and it has strengthened the team overall. 

With all things considered, let's look at the true statistics that paint a picture of how much Brad Richards has affected this team.

Broadway Brad's Stats to Date:

15 G, 16 A, 31 P, 5 game-winning goals (on pace for 57 points)

Players That Have Benefited from Richards' Arrival: 

- Michael Del Zotto: 5 G, 18 A, 23 P, +22 (on pace for 40-plus points)

- Derek Stepan: 10 G, 20 A, 30 P, +17 (on pace for 57 or more points)

- Marian Gaborik: 23 G, 13 A, 36 P, 5 game-winning goals (on pace for 40-plus goals)

Looking at the above stat line and weighing the impact Richards has had, and the impact he will continue to have, it is easy to say that Richards has been a great acquisition. Would it be great if he could bring up his numbers? Yes, but all players go through slumps and it is something fans will have to learn to deal with. The Rangers invested their money in a star playmaker but got more than they paid for.

The Rangers also received a seasoned veteran and excellent teacher who brings very valuable intangibles to this team.

New York is a city that often holds its stars to extremely high and unfair standards. This was illustrated with past free-agent or blockbuster trade acquisitions made by the team over the past eight years.

These superstars are also often judged by their individual achievements and how they fare under the spotlight of New York. The simple fact is that not everyone is suited for the prime-time media circus of New York City.

However, in Richards' case, his individual statistics aren't a fair enough evaluation of his 44 games thus far. They look good on paper and are simply a numeric evaluation. Richards, to this point, has been a catalyst for change in team structure and frankly, he has been exactly what this team has needed.

As the season goes on, Richards' veteran presence will continue to prove that John Tortorella, James Dolan and Glen Sather made the right decision by investing the franchise's future in Brad Richards. If he scores 30 goals and 70 points, so what? He is a true professional and was worth every penny because of the impact he has had on the youth movement of this organization. 

Tom Urtz Jr. is an NHL Featured Columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: