Just yesterday, I posted an article at MHHÂ lamenting the declining output in our 3rd and 4th line. At the end, I mentioned that Brad Richardson actually had a good season last year centering our fourth line and jokingly asked “What ever happened to him, anyway?”. It was funny because when Richardson was demoted on January 6th, it sure sounded like we wouldn’t be seeing him back with the Avalanche anytime soon.
Well, he’s back. There’s been room on the roster for one more player since David Jones was sent down last week. And, since Richardson is just one of 13 “natural forwards” on the team, and one of those forwards is Scott Parker, the odds seem to be pretty good that Richardson will get some playing time.
I’m as happy to see him as I am surprised. This team is struggling to put pucks in the net and doesn’t have the luxury of keeping a guy like Richardson (14 goals last year) in the AHL.
…until he is inexplicably sent down to LE again for no good reason.
Woo hoo!
To put 14 goals in perspective… Most Avs fans have fond memories of Yelle and Podein being able to chip in goals during the run to the cup in ‘01 and the book end years of 2000 and 2002. However, Yelle never scored more than 13 goals (usually less than 10) and Podein never scored more than 15, usually less. Considering the ice time and line juggling it’s a real bonus to have guys like Richardson produce as much as he did. Here’s one, Deadmarsh had 18 goals total in the 99-2000 season.
and Deader was awesome! And Red Wing killer as an Av and briefly as a King. You gotta love that.
I have me a Yelle #26 jersey that I still wear to games (and I’m not even trying to get on Straight Cash Homey.net)
All this talk of Yelle, Podein and Deadmarsh is making me weepy.
Richardson will probably be swapped for Jones or Boychuk very soon. He scored a goal last night against the Hawks.