Low-risk Richards could yield high reward for Red Wings





Deep into the NHL off-season, Helene St. James takes a look at individual Detroit Red Wings and assesses expectations for the coming season.

Today's focal point: Forward Brad Richards.

Looking at 2014-15 production: 12 goals, 25 assists, 37 points; 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points in 23 playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Looking at money: Signed for one season, with a salary cap hit of $3 million. Unrestricted free agent upon expiry.

Looking back: What a year it was for Richards. In June 2014, his contract was bought out by the New York Rangers, three years after they'd signed him for nine years and $60 million. The Blackhawks took a chance on Richards -- and, oh, how he rewarded them for their $2-million investment. His regular-season numbers didn't dazzle, but in the playoffs, Richards was among the team's top six producers. Richards ended up celebrating with the Stanley Cup, his second championship following the 2004 title with Tampa Bay. He also went to the 2014 finals with the Rangers.

• Other Wings: Helm | Green | Ericsson | Andersson | Datsyuk | DeKeyser | Franzen| Glendening | Howard | Jurco | Kindl | Kronwall | Mrazek | Miller | Nyquist | Pulkkinen | Quincey

Looking ahead: Richards is the Wings' second recent attempt at signing a second-line center, after washing their hands of Stephen Weiss following two seasons of inadequacy. Signing Richards looked all the wiser when it became apparent that Pavel Datsyuk's ankle surgery is likely to sideline him till November. Richards gives the Wings options, such as moving big Riley Sheahan to wing. And Richards is another guy who can play the point on power plays. Of Richards' 288 career NHL goals, 91 (nearly a third) have come during man advantages.

The ultimate payoff in signing Richards would be that he helps do with the Wings what he just did in Chicago. Richards is a proven playoff performer, with 104 points in 141 games. Other than a blip in 2013 (when he had one point in 10 playoff games), Richards has put up 56 points in 86 playoff games over four of the last five springs. It's a low-risk, potentially high-reward deal for the Wings. They only committed to Richards, 35, for one season, and he has missed just 20 games over the past six seasons.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.