Todd Richards is back in the game.

The former head coach, who was fired early in the 2015-16 season by the Columbus Blue Jackets, has been hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant under bench boss Jon Cooper.

Former Lightning assistant Steve Thomas will not be returning to the club in 2016-17.

Richards explained why he took the Tampa job to Hockey Central at Noon. Watch:

The 49-year-old Richards was also a candidate for an assistant coaching gig with the Detroit Red Wings.

Though replaced in Columbus by John Tortorella less than a month into the 2015-16 campaign, Richards brings more than 400 games of NHL head-coaching experience with him to Tampa Bay.

The Minnesota native has compiled a career record of 204-183-37 during seven seasons as a bench boss, including parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets and two with the Minnesota Wild.

Richards left Columbus with more wins than any coach in franchise history and was the club’s first coach to record three consecutive winning seasons.

The former player also led Team USA to a bronze medal as head coach at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and served as an assistant coach for his country at the 2014 Olympic Games.