The Nashville Predators have added an accomplished veteran to their bottom-six group, announcing that they have signed Brad Richardson. Richardson’s price tag comes in at one year and $1MM, a good value for the two-way center and locker room leader.
Richardson, 35, is entering his 16th year in the NHL, the past of which have been spent with the Arizona Coyotes. A career bottom-six forward, Richardson has still managed to be an impact player for a decade and a half. While Richardson usually maxes out around 15-20 points and managed just 11 this past season, his 27 points in 66 games in 2018-19 was one of the top scoring rates of his career. Depending on line mates and ice time in Nashville, Richardson could still be capable of a 30-point campaign.
Of course, the real value in Richardson is his defensive ability. An elite face-off man and a disruptive force in the forechecking game, Richardson is an asset as an experienced, capable two-way player. Nashville has needed a strong fourth line center for some time, a need emphasized further by the loss of solid, two-way third line center Nick Bonino. Richardson should fill that role seamlessly and should prove to be a good value at a minimal salary.
Good luck Rich. One of my favorite Coyotes!
Nashville’s penalty kill was awful last season. Richardson will help that unit