Rangers land Brad Richards

After a long day of fielding offers and speaking with several NHL clubs, including watching several presentations, former Dallas Stars centerman Brad Richards has chosen to sign with the New York Rangers, a 9 year, 56.8 million dollar contract.

Richards, 31 was by far the most coveted free agent and by many accounts fits everything the Rangers needed. A top line center to create plays and help improve the Rangers anemic power play.

In his 10 year NHL career Richards has notched 220 goals, 496 assists for 716 points. He is extremely adept on the power play notching 230 power play assists.

Richards is a former Lady Bing, Conn Smythe winner and won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and was the driving force throughout that playoff year.

The Rangers have a solid core of youth around Richards including defensemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal and young forwards Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky. It's impressive how Rangers boss Glen Sather with coaxing from coach John Tortorella have stayed the course with their own prospects and built a very strong young group of players. Richards can now step in on the first line and give the Rangers are legitimate shot at the playoffs, every season.