|
Wings' Richards to play 1,100th NHL game |
|
|
|
|
|
UPDATE: Red Wings recall defenseman Xavier Ouellet from AHL Grand Rapids.
As milestones go, it might not be first on the list, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
When Detroit Red Wings center Brad Richards plays his first shift Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena against the Boston Bruins, he will be skating in his 1,100th NHL game.
“I think 1,000 was probably more celebrated and special but it's still special every day you're in this league,” Richards said. “It's an honor and hard to believe that it’s 1,100 now.
“It just says I'm getting old. You think back, it’s a long career, 1,100 games, but it goes by so quick. I don't feel and look at myself as being old but when I look back to my first game and remember seeing guys that were my age and playing that many games, I used to think they were ancient.
“That's just the circle of the league. I was just trying to stay up and not get sent down, that was the goal early on and it just kind of progressed.”
Richards has played in the Stanley Cup final the past two springs, winning a title with the Chicago Blackhawks last spring to go with the one he earned in 2003-04 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a victory that also earned Richards the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
The passage of time is evident in the fact that Richards, Vincent Lecavalier of the Los Angeles Kings and Dan Boyle of the New York Rangers, who the Wings play on Monday afternoon, are the only remaining active NHL players from that 2003-04 Lightning Cup winner.
“That was only 12 years ago so they kick you out quick,” Richards laughed.
It might not be the milestone players most covet but that doesn’t mean Richards won’t be celebrating the achievement.
“I always do,” Richards said. “Hopefully I'll get the jersey and a couple sticks and something like that, for my son and my family. I like to keep some stuff like that around.
“My son was born a lot later in my career than some people so I’ll probably have to show him stuff more than what he's going to remember.
“I always try to grab a few things to have around for sure.”
Back at his natural position of center in recent games between Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar after spending much of the season on the wing, Richards admitted he’s been more at ease lately.
“Obviously, I'm not going to lie, I've played center most of my career so I feel a lot more comfortable there,” Richards said. “I think I'm getting more involved in the game. I felt last night, probably on a different night our line maybe chips in with two or three goals, we had that much zone time and puck pressure. That's the next step now.
“I think we've slowly started to build a little bit of chemistry. If we do things, holding onto pucks like that in the zone, I think you saw some of the chances. Eventually they'll go in.
“I feel a lot more comfortable there but at the same time, I know over 82 games a lot of things move around. Coaches are always trying to find a formula to get some consistency, but I think the way we've played right now, it's been fun.
“The lines, everybody seems to be having fun together, hopefully we can get back again tomorrow and put the puck in the net and help the team that way.”
Ericsson Questionable
Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who did not finish Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss to Colorado, didn’t practice Saturday and is a questionable starter due to a lower body injury.
“Today, we weren’t going to push it at all,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow.”
If Ericsson isn’t able to answer the bell, Blashill didn’t guarantee that he would go with Jakub Kindl, currently Detroit’s seventh defenseman.
“We’ll make that decision,” Blashill said. “I want to talk to (athletic therapist) Piet (Van Zant) and see.
“Obviously, (Kind) is the one that’s here right now.”
Since they sent forward Joakim Andersson to AHL Grand Rapids earlier in the week, the Wings had room to recall someone else and they opted to, recalling defenseman Xavier Ouellet from Grand Rapids later in the day.
Blashill indicated Petr Mrazek would get the start Sunday against the Bruins but would not commit to his starting goalie for Monday’s game at the Rangers.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»