Arizona Coyotes re-sign center Brad Richardson to two-year deal
Jul 3, 2018, 12:05 PM | Updated: 12:48 pm
Arizona Coyotes center Brad Richardson (15) shields St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko from the puck in the second period during an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Arizona Coyotes have re-signed center Brad Richardson to a two-year deal, bringing back a free agent who played for the Coyotes for the past three seasons, the team announced Tuesday. The deal is worth an average annual value of $1.25 million, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Craig Morgan.
Richardson, 33, scored 3-12-15 and averaged 14:46 time on ice in 76 games played for the Coyotes last season. He became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Since the end of the regular season, the Coyotes have acquired centers Marcus Kruger and Alex Galchenyuk in trades with the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, respectively.
In addition to Kruger and Galchenyuk, Arizona also has centers Derek Stepan, Christian Dvorak, Dylan Strome and Nick Cousins on its roster.
A lot of you are wondering if a trade is coming. My understanding is the Coyotes will go to training camp with all their centers. Both GM John Chayka & coach Rick Tocchet have said they don't mind playing 2 centers on a line. Chayka's buzzword: optionality. Centers can play wing.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) July 3, 2018
The left-handed shooting Richardson enters his 14th NHL season and has spent time with the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.
Last season, Richardson frequently played on a line with Jordan Martinook — who was traded for Kruger — and Nick Cousins, who has one year left on his contract.
