Justin Richards (ice hockey)

Justin Todd Richards[1] (born March 17, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Justin Richards
Richards with the Cleveland Monsters in 2023
Born (1998-03-17) March 17, 1998
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
Rochester Americans (AHL)
New York Rangers
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Playing career

Richards played college ice hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.[2] On April 2, 2020, Richards signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).[3] He spent the majority of the 2020–21 season with Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Rangers' AHL affiliate.[2][4] Richards made his NHL debut for the Rangers on May 8, 2021, against the Boston Bruins.[5][4] Richards recorded his first NHL point in that game assisting on a goal by K'Andre Miller.[5]

As a free agent from the Rangers following the 2021–22 season, Richards continued his professional career in the AHL, signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Monsters, the primary affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, on 29 August 2022.[6] In the 2022–23 season, Richards emerged as an offensive leader with the Monsters, collecting 17 points through his first 23 games. He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 19, 2022.[7] Richards made his Blue Jackets debut on April 1, 2023 against the Florida Panthers.

At the conclusion of his contract with the Blue Jackets, Richards was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2023.[8]

Personal life

Richards is the son of former ice hockey player, Todd Richards, and is the nephew of Travis Richards.[9]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 Ohio Blue Jackets T1EHL 32 11 28 39 18 4 4 6 10 2
2016–17 Lincoln Stars USHL 59 10 20 30 63 — — — — —
2017–18 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 44 0 9 9 6 — — — — —
2018–19 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 42 12 20 32 18 — — — — —
2019–20 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 34 14 11 25 14 — — — — —
2020–21 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 20 4 7 11 10 — — — — —
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 67 6 8 14 23 — — — — —
2022–23 Cleveland Monsters AHL 61 10 29 39 54 — — — — —
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 3 0 2 2 0 — — — — —

References
  1. "Justin Richards - Men's Hockey".
  2. "Justin Richards". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. "Rangers Agree to Terms with Free Agent Forward Justin Richards". NHL.com. April 2, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  4. "Rangers' Justin Richards: Making NHL debut". CBS Sports. May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. "NY Rangers v. Boston Bruins". Yahoo!. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  6. "Monsters sign forward Justin Richards". Cleveland Monsters. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. "CBJ sign C Justin Richards to one-year, two-way contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. "Sabres sign Richards, Cooley to 1-year deals". Buffalo Sabres. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. "Richards, son of former NHL coach, agrees to contract with Rangers". NHL.com. April 2, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
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