Two years ago, the guy was on the top of the world, in terms of hockey players in Philadelphia. He played with the passion and ferocity that was disarming to the blue-collar city.

I don't know what happened. Was it the David Booth hit that changed him? Did the early successes mask his deficiencies as captain? Were there personal issues that distracted him?

Whatever it was, it just wasn't working here anymore. I miss the 2007-09 version of Mike Richards.
- bradleyc4

other things can change a person

Best post in a long time. I honest to god thought that Mike Richards pre-Booth hit, was the guy who was gonna lead us to the Cup, and would retire the best Flyer ever. After that hit, he was a totally different player. Not sure one has an effect on the other, or it is just a coincidence, but I have also said before, he was never the same.
- jak521

Mike Richards is barring serious injury, is going to hopefully have a long career. And in my opinion, were going to find out that not much has changed with Mike Richards.

Mike Richards is barring serious injury, is going to hopefully have a long career. And in my opinion, were going to find out that not much has changed with Mike Richards.
- MJL

it's quite simple...if you're not with us, you're against us...

i hope he chokes in LA.

it's quite simple...if you're not with us, you're against us...

i hope he chokes in LA.
- sarmen25

Maybe it's quite simple for you. When the Flyers play them, I root for the Flyers. But there is no reason why you can't root for a player on another team to succeed. He played his heart out for this team, and I wish him no ill will.

Maybe it's quite simple for you. When the Flyers play them, I root for the Flyers. But there is no reason why you can't root for a player on another team to succeed. He played his heart out for this team, and I wish him no ill will.
- MJL

Agreed.

Mike Richards is barring serious injury, is going to hopefully have a long career. And in my opinion, were going to find out that not much has changed with Mike Richards.
- MJL

So he is gonna continue to be one of the last guys to show up for camp, he is gonna continue to give less effort than he did in his first 3-4 years? Is that what you mean?

I think he will have a long career as well. He isnt a scrub. He is a hell of a player. The problem is, the club signed Mike Richards to a long term contract, gave him the "C" and thought they had the player the franchise always hoped for.... and then got the ghost of that man.

I dont know if the Booth hit really changed him or not, but its pretty hard to argue that he was the same player before and after.....

Mike Richards is barring serious injury, is going to hopefully have a long career. And in my opinion, were going to find out that not much has changed with Mike Richards.
- MJL

I hope so, definitely rooting for him.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where did Richards rank among Flyers' captains?
- bmeltzer

Nice blog Bill, I don't think this was an easy ranking to do beyond the first 3 obvious choices, as team rankings, direction, & expectations made this difficult to configure.

Maybe it's quite simple for you. When the Flyers play them, I root for the Flyers. But there is no reason why you can't root for a player on another team to succeed. He played his heart out for this team, and I wish him no ill will.
- MJL

i'll root for players like gagne, powe, but not like a player like Richards...we traded him because the lack of his play...he didn't play up to his potential...simple as that.

same with Lindros...I hoped (and was glad) he choked in NY, Toronto, Dallas.

So he is gonna continue to be one of the last guys to show up for camp, he is gonna continue to give less effort than he did in his first 3-4 years? Is that what you mean?

I think he will have a long career as well. He isnt a scrub. He is a hell of a player. The problem is, the club signed Mike Richards to a long term contract, gave him the "C" and thought they had the player the franchise always hoped for.... and then got the ghost of that man.

I dont know if the Booth hit really changed him or not, but its pretty hard to argue that he was the same player before and after.....
- jak521

And for those reasons he's going to flourish in LA

And for those reasons he's going to flourish in LA
- puckhead17

I never said he wouldnt... I just think that it was time to move on. They got a whale of a return... so it was best for both parties. Im just saying its a damn shame, because of what could have been.

I will be (hopefully) going to the game on Oct. 15 (or whatever) when the Flyers play the Kings. I will wear my #18 proudly. He was a hell of a player for the Flyers. Times change, people change, but ultimately, I will always be a Flyers fans first. If the org, felt the need to move 2 cornerstones, i must believe it was because they felt that they couldnt win with them...

i'll root for players like gagne, powe, but not like a player like Richards...we traded him because the lack of his play...he didn't play up to his potential...simple as that.

same with Lindros...I hoped (and was glad) he choked in NY, Toronto, Dallas.
- sarmen25

I rooted for Big E when he left here.

Edit: As for Richards, it's hard to root against the guy too. One shift in the Montreal series during the Cup run kind of cements the player he is.

So he is gonna continue to be one of the last guys to show up for camp, he is gonna continue to give less effort than he did in his first 3-4 years? Is that what you mean?

I think he will have a long career as well. He isnt a scrub. He is a hell of a player. The problem is, the club signed Mike Richards to a long term contract, gave him the "C" and thought they had the player the franchise always hoped for.... and then got the ghost of that man.

I dont know if the Booth hit really changed him or not, but its pretty hard to argue that he was the same player before and after.....
- jak521

I don't know that he was one of the last guys to show up for camp, nor do I care, as long as he was on time. Saying that he gave less effort than he did in his first 3-4 years is horsepoop. And I don't share that opinion.

It's a shame that a player can have some ups and downs in his career, which most players go through, and then be lableled as giving less effort. Simply because he had some issues with decision making and pressing due to obvious frustration. Coupled with a wrist injury, that in hindsight he probably should have gotten taken care of with surgery, rather than try to play through. Which obviously took away from his physical play. Combined with a lot of Hockey played including a long playoff run and the Olympics. He still scored in the 60 point range and was a solid 2 way player. Last Season certainly wasn't his best year, but it had nothing to do with effort or commitment in my opinion. And it's a disgrace that he has been drug through the mud in this town. An absolute disgrace.

i'll root for players like gagne, powe, but not like a player like Richards...we traded him because the lack of his play...he didn't play up to his potential...simple as that.

same with Lindros...I hoped (and was glad) he choked in NY, Toronto, Dallas.
- sarmen25

Sure he played up to his potential. He was exactly what he was supposed to be. Maybe the expectations that he was going to be the next Bobby Clarke was the issue.

Forsberg was named captain at the worst possible time, both for the team and for himself. He had just gone through reconstructive foot surgery and decided not to have the same surgery on his other foot --- that's why he was in the lineup on opening night when he was originally supposed to be out until Christmas. Then the team as a whole bombed as he really struggled physically.
- bmeltzer

Think these circumstances will be a reason to not give Pronger the C?

Sure he played up to his potential. He was exactly what he was supposed to be. Maybe the expectations that he was going to be the next Bobby Clarke was the issue.
- MJL

excuse me? did you not watch any of the games in the second half of the season or in the playoffs this past year?

dude looked SO uninspired.

and don' give me that, 'the whole team sucked' excuse...he's the one who should've played 'inspired' hockey...

kinda like JVR did...

excuse me? did you not watch any of the games in the second half of the season or in the playoffs this past year?

dude looked SO uninspired.

and don' give me that, 'the whole team sucked' excuse...he's the one who should've played 'inspired' hockey...

kinda like JVR did...
- sarmen25

captain van riemsdyk?

captain van riemsdyk?
- OrangeBlack27

i'm not saying JVR should or will be a captain...i'm just saying how his play (even though the rest of the team pretty much sucked) was friggin amazing.

I never said he wouldnt... I just think that it was time to move on. They got a whale of a return... so it was best for both parties. Im just saying its a damn shame, because of what could have been.

I will be (hopefully) going to the game on Oct. 15 (or whatever) when the Flyers play the Kings. I will wear my #18 proudly. He was a hell of a player for the Flyers. Times change, people change, but ultimately, I will always be a Flyers fans first. If the org, felt the need to move 2 cornerstones, i must believe it was because they felt that they couldnt win with them...
- jak521

No I'm agreeing that he will flourish in LA, as he wont have to worry about wearing the "C" anymore.
Not putting him down as he was my favorite player, (3 jerseys), just, yes, a damn shame that they maybe tried to make him something he wasn't

i'm not saying JVR should or will be a captain...i'm just saying how his play (even though the rest of the team pretty much sucked) was friggin amazing.
- sarmen25

yeah i was just messin, bruh. mostly agree, though. don't know what it was, but richards just didn't look like the same player over the last little while. ditto for his attitude/demeanor.

I don't know that he was one of the last guys to show up for camp, nor do I care, as long as he was on time. Saying that he gave less effort than he did in his first 3-4 years is horsepoop. And I don't share that opinion.

It's a shame that a player can have some ups and downs in his career, which most players go through, and then be lableled as giving less effort. Simply because he had some issues with decision making and pressing due to obvious frustration. Coupled with a wrist injury, that in hindsight he probably should have gotten taken care of with surgery, rather than try to play through. Which obviously took away from his physical play. Combined with a lot of Hockey played including a long playoff run and the Olympics. He still scored in the 60 point range and was a solid 2 way player. Last Season certainly wasn't his best year, but it had nothing to do with effort or commitment in my opinion. And it's a disgrace that he has been drug through the mud in this town. An absolute disgrace.
- MJL

The problem is that to the outsiders eye (well atleast most of them) he changed as a player. We were told since the day he was drafted we were getting the best leader, the future Clarke. He comes in and is instantly a crowd favorite. Fights, hits, scores, plays his ass off, never takes a shift off, etc. 07-08 blows up, becomes the guy everyone hoped he would become. Averages over a ppg that season, while still being the hardest worker on the team. Follows that up with an even better season. Is a true leader. Shows his tenacity and passion literally every shift. Finishes with 80 points.

Since then he has finished 62 and 66 points. He seems to be a different player on the ice. He seems to lack that fire that possessed him through the first 4 seasons.. I dont know if he lost that some of that desire or not, but that surely what it looked like.

Ill tell you right now... If Richards had continued to play the way he used to, he would still be on the team.

Why is everyone only talking about Pronger being the captain? He is a great leader and if he were 100% healthy I could see it as a slam dunk.

Am i the only one who thinks that they are going to go a different route?

I am thinking Briere as the C, with Pronger and Giroux as the As.

Briere is the good cop with Pronger being the sarcastic cop.

little off topic...but anyone know where i can buy cheap hockey jerseys? don't care if it's "made in china" either...

excuse me? did you not watch any of the games in the second half of the season or in the playoffs this past year?

dude looked SO uninspired.

and don' give me that, 'the whole team sucked' excuse...he's the one who should've played 'inspired' hockey...

kinda like JVR did...
- sarmen25

JVR played well in the playoffs. Mike Richards as Captain and one of the team's top players, certainly deserves a large chunk of the pie of criticism for what happened last year. But there are other top players and leaders on the team that also were a part of that. It's why they call it a team. Mike Richards has played inspired Hockey in the past. One subpar Season where a lot of issues contributed to his Season and the team's Season, and many of the fanbase are ready with the knife to the back. It's disgusting.

JVR played well in the playoffs. Mike Richards as Captain and one of the team's top players, certainly deserves a large chunk of the pie of criticism for what happened last year. But there are other top players and leaders on the team that also were a part of that. It's why they call it a team. Mike Richards has played inspired Hockey in the past. One subpar Season where a lot of issues contributed to his Season and the team's Season, and many of the fanbase are ready with the knife to the back. It's disgusting.
- MJL

but do you really believe they traded him because of "one subpar season"?