Jason Lewis: How Good of a Second Line Center is Mike Richards?

Cool piece JL.

Wanna blog for the Oil?

Even just part-time?

I love Mike Richards game, he's a good on ice leader, really wears his heart on his sleeve. It's too bad his production has tailed off in recent years.

If the Kings ever get sick of him they can ship him up north to Edmonton.

He's the offensive equivalent of Rob Scuderi. Not flashy, but he does a lot of the little things.

Very nice article Jason, great analysis and evidence! Fun read

Coming from the Philly perspective. Mike Richards maybe the greatest 3rd line center ever to play the game. He can kill Penalties, score PP & Shorties, is defensively sound, offensively creative and knows how to hit and make it hurt.

While I think we totally got the better end of the Carter deal (and I like Carter, but c'mon, Voracek and Coots?). I am still pissed we traded Mike Richards. I like Schenn and Simmonds but they don't have that "Clutch" scoring drive, yet. Giroux has it, Richards has it, Briere and Gagne had it. When the chips are down, you want your clutch players on the ice.

Edit:And when I say #3 Center, it isn't because I think there are 2 better centers. His versatility and talents make him the ultimate Warrior you want out against another team's best line. But make no mistake, he is so good at everything, he could easily be a teams #1.

Maybe just a shade below a good # 1.....but I don't think there are any better # 2 centers........when going beyond stats, you look at the success teams have with that player and what role that player played.....memorial cup.....Calder cup....Stanley cup finalist.....and Stanley cup champ....and all this as he is just coming into his own .....DUMB....DUMB...DUMB....this is a player that never should have been traded.....all this kid did was win.....and in sports true winners are hard to come by.

I think Richards is awesome and deserves every bit of praise he gets... even if on his arrival there was talk about a leadership coup. How is this guy off the ice, even if he is clutch man?

Ricards is a great player and is defiantly near the top for second line centers. I think part of his production is because he is focusing on a different role. Less focus on always scoring and is approaching it with a more balanced game. Especially now considering who coaches the team. I would take the guy in a heart beat.

good read, but my top 5, no particular order tho

sharks, thorton/couture

bruins, krejci/bergeron

avs, stastny/duchene

wings, datsyuk/weiss

bolts, stamkos/filppula

good read, but my top 5, no particular order tho

sharks, thorton/couture

bruins, krejci/bergeron

avs, stastny/duchene

wings, datsyuk/weiss

bolts, stamkos/filppula
- Hawkeyes

Got to your third pairing and couldn't provide an argument......but Weiss and Filppula couldn't hold Richards jock strap.....just saying....

good read, but my top 5, no particular order tho

sharks, thorton/couture

bruins, krejci/bergeron

avs, stastny/duchene

wings, datsyuk/weiss

bolts, stamkos/filppula
- Hawkeyes[/

Oh and GIROUX AND LECAVIELIER
AND
CROSBY/MALKIN
Might add to your argument .

Richards is amazing. One of my favorite players. I'd love him on any team, not that the Avs really need another center

good read, but my top 5, no particular order tho

sharks, thorton/couture

bruins, krejci/bergeron

avs, stastny/duchene

wings, datsyuk/weiss

bolts, stamkos/filppula
- Hawkeyes

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing what Weiss can do in Detroit hitting with protection so to speak. Might be one of if not the most underrated signing of this off season.

That was cool, thanks for the great blog! I'd take Richards over just about anyone, he is money in the bank and I'd take away the C from Brown and give it to Richards.

Isn't Couture the #1 now? which would make Thornton and pretty awesome #2 C.

That was cool, thanks for the great blog! I'd take Richards over just about anyone, he is money in the bank and I'd take away the C from Brown and give it to Richards.

Isn't Couture the #1 now? which would make Thornton and pretty awesome #2 C.
- JLO961

As a Pens fan I've always hated Richards....that's a pretty good indication that he's a very effective player. Love that he's gone from Philly because he definitely brings the whole package.

On a side note why is Malkin a huge "NO" in the article? An Art Ross, Hart, Conne Smyth (sp?) winner. The only reason I could see him not considered one of the best second line centers is because the Pens could be seen to have two 1st lines. Just curious.

List of Jason Lewis's favorite second line centers with cap hits and year of free agency:

Bergeron 6.5 (2022) *cap hit in 14/15 season

Couture 6.0 (2020) *cap hit in 14/15 season

Richards 5.75 (2020)

Kesler 5.0 (2017)

and the two centers he broke down the Corsi, QoC, etc in his post:

Bolland 3.375 (2014)

Ennis 2.812 (2014)


Moral of this story - you get what you pay for.

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing what Weiss can do in Detroit hitting with protection so to speak. Might be one of if not the most underrated signing of this off season.
- Jason_Lewis

agree, he should fit well there, sad to see detroit go tho, always was great to see hawks wings, also forgot about lecav/giroux, that might be the best 1-2 after crosby/malkin, but go figure, the 2 teams with best 1-2 punch, have brutal defense

Heres what to know about Mike Richards,

He is a leader on the ice with his physical play and effort
He is perfect for the 2nd line center role, but thats it. Not skilled enough to play 1st line.
He is a fanstastic penalty killer
Above average passer
Average shooter
Often doesnt come up big when needed.

Heres what to know about Mike Richards,

He is a leader on the ice with his physical play and effort
He is perfect for the 2nd line center role, but thats it. Not skilled enough to play 1st line.
He is a fanstastic penalty killer
Above average passer
Average shooter
Often doesnt come up big when needed.
- GOA88

I'd say that 77 points in 98 career post-season games is coming up pretty big when you need it.

I'd say that 77 points in 98 career post-season games is coming up pretty big when you need it.
- Jason_Lewis

Ive watched Mike Richards much more than you. He was my favorite flyer. Im not giving a biased opinion. 77 pts in 98 games is OK. Not coming up big. Briere comes up big in the playoffs. Giroux 55 pts in 50 games. Thats coming up big. In any case, I meant when the game is on the line or its a big game, like a game 7. Richards usually isnt the hero.

Ive watched Mike Richards much more than you. He was my favorite flyer. Im not giving a biased opinion. 77 pts in 98 games is OK. Not coming up big. Briere comes up big in the playoffs. Giroux 55 pts in 50 games. Thats coming up big. In any case, I meant when the game is on the line or its a big game, like a game 7. Richards usually isnt the hero.
- GOA88

I suppose that's fair. That's why I like the role he is in with LA. He's asked to contribute not expected to be THE guy.

Good grab on the Briere stats too, a lot of people don't realize how clutch he is. I remember watching him with the Sabres back in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He was so good in those playoffs.

Cool piece JL.

Wanna blog for the Oil?

Even just part-time?
- OilHorse

How could I follow in the footsteps of such a worthy blogger though? Perhaps I'll give it a whirl sometime. If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.

Pretty good. lol

Ive watched Mike Richards much more than you. He was my favorite flyer. Im not giving a biased opinion. 77 pts in 98 games is OK. Not coming up big. Briere comes up big in the playoffs. Giroux 55 pts in 50 games. Thats coming up big. In any case, I meant when the game is on the line or its a big game, like a game 7. Richards usually isnt the hero.
- GOA88

If clutch games happen in playoff games and you've quoted playoff stats, then we've all watched the same amount of Mike Richards since they're nationally televised.

As for Mikey not being clutch, the last memory of him is game 5 of the WCF this year when he scored with 9 seconds left to tie the game.