Mighty Mike’s Blog

First look at the new captain in action

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:22:38 -0400

Get used to this sight for the next twelve years, folks.

Mike Richards tallied a goal in the Flyers' 4-1 win over the rival New Jersey Devils in their first exhibition game of the preseason.

More photos available @ Yahoo

Well, he's ready!

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:20:35 -0400

Saturday was day 1 of training camp, and the media was anxious to see the new captain in action...speaking with the media, that is.

Excerpts from Rob Parent's article in The Delco Times:

For the short time he's been in Philadelphia, Richards has been hearing speculators wondering when rather than if he'd be named as a captain here. With aging, slowing defenseman Jason Smith respectfully allowed to sign on elsewhere (in Ottawa), a captaincy opening came up ... and the speculation started in the Flyers' upper offices.

"They asked me if I was ready," said Richards, referring to coach John Stevens and G.M. Paul Holmgren. "I thought I was. They thought the same thing."

--

So he was named captain Monday, and now he's doing what he might not have thought he'd do best - acting the part of team media liaison.

Uh, sorry. Comes with the job.

"I've dealt with the media before, obviously moreso now," Richards said. "But it's not something I worry about. I learned a lot from Jason. And it's a situation where there are a lot of leaders in our dressing room and I have a lot of great people around me that I can draw from.

Video of Richards speaking with the media after day 1 of training camp:

Why Richards shouldn't be Captain (right now)???

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:19:29 -0400

Majority of Flyers fans and hockey analysts are in agreement with the Flyers' decision to name Mike Richards their new captain. However, Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News thinks the decision was made in haste. Donnellon states that while Richards can clearly be "the guy," he shouldn't have to be relied upon to fill that role due to his young age. Donnellon's choice for the captaincy would have been veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who assumed that role while he played for the Nashville Predators.

An excerpt from the article:

Make no mistake: Richards is that guy. He just doesn't need to be that guy yet, not with all the experience that surrounds him on this team. Let him play that complete game of his, be part of the leadership group, get a sense of how it's done the way Derek Jeter learned from Tino Martinez years ago. Jeter was a monotone mummy those first few years of his career. It's amazing to see the finished product now.

I respectfully disagree with Donnellon here. Yes, I would have preferred Timonen get the 'C' if Richards didn't feel he was ready to assume the role. However, that is not the case. Richards is confident in his abilities to become the captain right now, and so is the organization, coaching staff, and fellow teammates. Richards is respected by his fellow Flyers, including guys like Timonen and Briere who have been captains in the past, and they trust in him to lead the team.

Had Timonen been named captain, chances are it would have been up to five years until Richards preceeded him. What, would Kimmo have worn the 'C'' for a few years before having it taken from him in favor of Richards? If Timonen was named captain, he most likely would have held that position until he left the Flyers.

This marks the first year of the Mike Richards era, an era that is expected to last for the next twelve years. Richards is the future, and for the Flyers, the future is now.

The team is in capable hands. Richards says he is ready. He's shown that he's ready. The organization made the right choice.

Jules and Philly18 are ready for the season to start...

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:36:25 -0400

Two of the most creative Flyers fans we know are already in Flyers Mode.

Jules's latest Mash-up features Mike as a familiar delinquent superhero who rocked the box office this summer:

Philly18 has a new wallpaper celebrating the 17th captain of the Philadelphia Flyers:

Great job, ladies!

For more Mash-ups, click here

For more wallpapers, click here

Did LeBrun call it?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:35:09 -0400

On September 16, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com posted an entry in his blog about how the Flyers Organization was stalling on naming Mike Richards their next captain. He wrote: Sidney Crosby got the "C" in Pittsburgh and Jonathan Toews in Chicago. They're both younger than the 23-year-old Richards. Get it over with!

The following day, the Flyers got it over with. Did they listen to Pierre over there?

In an entry posted today, LeBrun jokingly said that his previous post urged the Flyers to make the decision, then modestly admitted that it was "pure coincidence."

Richards and Clarke...again

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:34:07 -0400

Gary Lawless of The Winnipeg Sun has written a spectacular article on Richards, which includes Mike's thoughts on the upcoming season (There's more out there for us and we can't fall into the trap of thinking it will be easy. We'd like to make another step forward.), the 2010 Winter Olympics (I try not to think too much about the Olympics and it's still two years away, but this summer, watching athletes have medals put around their necks, it gave me chills.), his captaincy (It's obviously a privilege to be part of such a traditional organization, and be captain of it.), and the ever-growing rivalry against Whats-his-face and the Pittsburgh Penguins (I think it's the start of a great rivalry.).

With Richards being named the 17th captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, that age-old comparison surfaces once again between Mike and arguably the greatest Flyer to ever lace up skates, two-time captain Bobby Clarke. Lawless composed this handy comparison chart. The similarities are a bit striking...

Small-town roots -- Clarke hails from Flin Flon while Richards was born in Kenora.

Looks -- Richards doesn't have the same gap-toothed grin Clarke was famous for but Richards' wavy mop is reminiscent of Clarke's curly salad during his early Philly days.

Famous slash -- Richards introduced himself to U.S. television viewers last spring when he went after Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the faceoff circle and took a number of whacks at the prince of Pittsburgh. Clarke slashed just about anyone he ever played against but his most well-known work came in the 1972 Summit Series when he gave Valeri Kharlamov a two-hander that broke the Russian's ankle.

Philadelphia freedom -- Clarke played his entire career in Philadelphia after being selected 17th overall in the 1969 draft. Richards was drafted 24th overall by the Flyers in the 2003 draft and has been signed to a 12-year, $69-million contract.
I'd say the hair comparison is a bit of a stretch (Clarkie's hair was wild back in the day!). But the parallels between the two are clearly there. And the Clarke/Richards comparison will continue to live on!

We're all abuzz...

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:33:05 -0400

Plenty of coverage regarding Richards's ordination as the next captain of the Philadelphia Flyers!

Take your pick:

Delco Times: Flyers turn to Richards to run the room:

[Richards] has long exhibited the kind of gritty on-ice attributes - the whole sacrificing the body, team player type of thing - that the Flyers seek from their top prospects. Richards seems to fit the bill so well, the Flyers gave him their strongest contractual commitment in club history last season, signing him to a 12-year, $69 million deal.

Delco Times: Flyers name Richards as new team captain:

He was once known as "Captain Canada." Now, he's simply "Captain Flyer."

Courier Post: Flyers name Richards captain:

Less than four months ago, Mike Richards told a group of reporters he was not ready to be the Flyers' next captain. A little cajoling from general manager Paul Holmgren, coach John Stevens and a slew of teammates convinced him otherwise.

TSN.ca: Flyers tab Richards as team captain:

"Mike carries a lot of the attributes that we believe a Philadelphia Flyer is all about," said general manager Paul Holmgren. "He is a hard-nosed kid and he has the skill and drive that it takes to excel in the National Hockey League. At this time, we just think that he is the right guy to lead us on the path we want to take."

Vancouver Sun: Richards will wear the 'C' in Philadelphia:

The announcement wasn't much of a surprise as Richards has long been tabbed a future leader. When former captain Jason Smith left as a free agent over the summer, Richards was the leading candidate to replace him.

Kenora Miner and Daily News: Richards to captain Flyers:

The 'A' on Mike Richards Flyers jersey will be replaced with a 'C' this season.

PhillyBurbs.com: Richards named team captain:

"I thought about it over the summer," said Richards, 23. "I had some conversations with [coach] John [Stevens] and [GM] Paul [Holmgren], and I kind of thought about it sitting on my boat. I learned a lot from Gator (Jason Smith) last year. He is a great leader and probably one of the best that I have been around.

The Bulletin (Philadelphia): Richards named Flyers' 17th captain:

From the day he was drafted, the writing was on the wall. Mike Richards just seemed like a captain. He carries himself with a quiet confidence and his work ethic is contagious. He has always had the makeup of a leader. Now, he has the "C" to prove it.

Philadelphia Daily News: Richards steps up as Flyers new captain:

So Richards, 23, a center entering his fourth season with the club, said he wasn't ready, didn't want the job, was still learning how to be a leader at this level. Given some time to think things over while fishing this summer, Richards, the team's MVP last season, decided to accept the challenge if the chance came again.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Mike Richards named Flyers' 17th captain:
It's official: Center Mike Richards is the face of the Flyers.
("Captain Flyer." You know...I kind of like that!)

It's Official: Meet your new Captain, Flyers Fans

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:01:50 -0400

On the seventeenth day of September, it was announced that the seventeenth captain in Flyers' history would be the one who wears the number eighteen.

OK, enough waxing prophetic. Everyone, Mike Richards is CAPTAIN OF THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS!

And Richards accepts the honor, with great humility:

It's obviously a privilege to be part of such a traditional organization, and be captain of it. I am going to do my best to do it. We have a lot of great team leaders right now on our team, and you don't have to change anything. I think everybody really helps out around the dressing room. There are so many leaders, you just kind of have to do your own thing and more worry about yourself and help out where things are needed.

Richards, of course, had some help in preparing for this role:

I learned a lot from (Jason Smith) last year. He is a great leader, and probably one of the best that I have had. Being around last year with Kimmo (Timonen) and Danny (Briere), it makes it easy when you have so many great leaders and great players around you that you don't have to do too much.

Paul Holmgren says he and Coach John Stevens have talked about the decision to make Richards captain over the summer, and both gentlemen spent time with Richards to make sure this is a responsibility he is ready to withold:

"It is something John and I had talked about over the course of the summer time. John has spent a great deal of time with Mike just to make sure that he is ready for this. I spent some time with Mike since he has been back in town, and we are positive it's the right time to do this with Mike. We look forward to him being the leader of the Flyers for many years to come."

Assistant captains for the upcoming season will be defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Simon Gagne.

Flyers Captain Mike Richards. Saying it is no longer in speculation, but fact.

The future, Flyers fans, is here. Welcome to a new era of leadership.

Source: Philadelphia Flyers

BREAKING NEWS: RICHARDS TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN!

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:58:19 -0400

According the Philadelphia Daily News Mike Richards will be named Captain tomorrow. Details to follow!

Special Delivery

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:56:41 -0400

Mike Richards and teammate Scott Hartnell surprised long-time season ticket holders Darryl and Norah Beckman by personally delivering the Beckmans' season tickets to their home!

Per On the Fly:

Richards and Hartnell personally delievered season tickets to 12-year season ticket holders Darryl and Norah Beckman. Darryl and Norah have a longstanding history with the team and have attended Flyers games since 1968.

The couple was notified that their tickets would be delivered, but were surprised to say the least when Richards and Hartnell showed up on their front door steps with gifts and tickets.

Talk about a special delivery! (Though Hartnell, what is up--that jersey you are wearing is retro!)

Photos courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Richards and the Captaincy: "Right now is not the time to be thinking about it"

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:54:22 -0400

Training camp is only days away, and the new Flyers' captain is...unknown. According to Coach John Stevens, the next captain of the Orange and Black will not be named before the season begins.

The three candidates for the captaincy are Mike Richards, Kimmo Timonen, and Simon Gagne. Richards, per usual, is downplaying his nomination:

"I'm not too sure what they're thinking. I'm trying to prepare for a season right now and right now is not the time to be thinking about it.
"I'm focusing on getting in good physical shape and preparing to compete and I'm not worried about things you can't control or are not as important.
"There are a ton of guys in this locker room who can lead this team. [Smith] was the captain last year and did a great job of it, but it was a total team thing with the guys that we have and the trust we have for each other. We don't always look for one guy, we look as a group."

...spoken like a true leader.

Source: Philadelphia Daily News (9/16/08)

Richards = Skill + Grit

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:20:40 -0400

Philly fans know Mike Richards is equal parts skill and grit (and let us not forget his tremendous heart). Jay Feaster, former general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning (namely the squad that won the Cup in 2004) agrees that Richards is one of the Eastern Conference's most talented tough guys:

Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers -- There wasn't a team statistic in which Richards wasn't near the top for the Flyers last season. He scored a team-high 75 points, was fifth with 28 goals, fourth with 76 penalty minutes, tied for the second with 110 hits and second with 21:30 of ice time per game.

"I think that he's a big reason for the resurgence there," Feaster said of the Flyers' one-season rise from worst in the League to the Eastern Conference Finals. "The kind of season they had (in 2007-08) was because of him. He's a hard-nosed player, going to compete every shift. He's a guy that is willing to hit, take a hit to make a play, and he's not going to back down."

Source: NHL.com

Number One Center

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:19:33 -0400

Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne are slated to play on the first line, as many have expected. But Briere won't be the centerpiece--that role will belong to Mike Richards.

Training camp opens on September 20, and it seems Coach John Stevens will be conducting some experiments with line chemistry. Briere and Richards played together last season on the Flyers' lethal first power play unit (Briere played center; Richards defense), and also played on a line against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the Eastern Conference Finals.

A line of Gagne-Richards-Briere could be dynamite. Briere and Richards can certainly play well together, and Gagne and Briere had that spark early last season before Gagne suffered his concussions. Richards and Gagne are also great two-way players, which may help bolster Briere's two way game, or at least keep his +/- above sea level. Briere is more effective at wing than he is at center, and Richards is certainly capable of being a sturdy number one center.

With training camp a week away, changes are already starting to take place. Now, as for that captaincy...stay tuned.

Source: PhillyBurbs (9/13/08)

Making a "C"hoice

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:34:48 -0400

The new captain of the Flyers has been named...by hockey journalist James Mirtle.

Philadelphia is one of eight teams in the NHL that has yet to appoint an official leader. But Mirtle suggests the Flyers choose Richards, based on his twelve year contract, breakout season in 2007-2008, and his ability to take charge and effectively lead his team.

According to the fan poll regarding this subject, 59 percent of voters agree Richards should succeeed Jason Smith as the Flyers' next captain. (The next highest vote getter was Danny Briere, at 15 percent.)

Read the full story-and vote for your choice-here: Picking a Captain - James Mirtle

It's almost time...!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:33:22 -0400

Philadelphia Flyers training camp is less than a month away (yes!).

This offseason was rather uneventful in terms of blockbuster free agent signings. But that's okay, according to Mike Richards. To him, maintaining a steady group of core players is integral to team success:

We made strides by signing different players to long-term deals. We just signed (Joffrey) Lupul, (Jeff) Carter's here for a couple of years and the players we have, everyone gets along so the (dressing) room's doing well. I think we're just going to evolve as a team as we get older.

Mike's thoughts on being one of several young stars in The Long Term Deal Club:

I kind of went for [the twelve year deal] because I like Philadelphia. I love the city and love playing in front of the fans. When a player goes into one of these things, you have to be sure of what you're getting yourself into and obviously like the city and like where you're playing. It could be good for the players and could be bad. I think ownership is in the same position.

We see plenty of good coming from Mike for the next twelve years in the City of Brotherly Love.

Read the full story here: Flyers ready to take next step: Richards - Thunder Bay Source (Thanks to LadyNEAT for finding this story!)

Summertime (in Kenora) and the livin's easy

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:31:53 -0400

Coach Richards with one of his students (Photo: Ron Thomson for the Kenora Daily Miner and News)

Mike Richards has spent the summer in his hometown of Kenora,Ontario, and as the young star told the Kenora Daily Miner and News, "I can't imagine spending summer anywhere else."

So what has Mike done on his summer vacation? Fishing on the lake is a given! Mike participated in the 2008 Kenora Bass International; he and his fishing partner Trevor Socholatuk finished 131st out of 165 teams.

Golfing and squash has also occupied Mike's time. And of course, he's been spending time with family and friends. Plus, as we mentioned in our last blog, Mike put on the coach's cap and led a week-long hockey camp for Kenora's young NHL hopefuls.

Summer is winding down, and Flyers training camp is fast approaching. Mike, enjoy your Summer in Kenora as much as you can now!

Coach Richards Gives Back

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:26:44 -0400

Mike Richards recalls the numerous summer camps he attended as an aspiring young hockey player in his hometown of Kenora, Ontario. Such camps allowed Richards to develop the essential on-and-off ice fundementals that have made him successful on many levels. Now as one of the NHL's rising young stars, Richards is doing his part to instill within Kenora's next generation of aspiring young hockey players those same fundamentals.

This past week, over 100 future NHL'ers ages 5 to 12 took part in the 2008 Mike Richards Hockey Camp. During the week-long program, which is now in its third year, students honed their skills and developed their hockey sense with on-ice training while learning invaluable lessons in sportsmanship and health through off-ice classroom sessions.

Richards volunteers his time to the youth of Kenora, and donates the proceeds from the camp to a community endowment fund. For Richards, the greatest reward is giving back to a community that has given so much to him:

Growing up in Kenora, it's such a small town, there were always people helping out, whether it's volunteer coaches, people running outdoor rinks, so it's always nice to give back to people that helped you out.
Their kids are going through my camp right now so I'm seeing a lot of my old coaches and it feels good to help them out like they helped me out.
Throughout the next few years, keep an eye out for the Kenora Wave that will hit the NHL, a core group of players with the perfect blend of skill, grit, and leadership; they will be alumni of the Mike Richards Hockey Camp!
Read the full story here: Hockey Camp Richards' Joy (Winnipeg Sun)

http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/08/15/6456896-sun.html

Thanks to LadyNEAT for sharing this story with us!

A part of perfection...

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 21:34:13 -0400

What makes the Perfect Hockey Player? The right blend of skills, strength, knowledge, and leadership. Nelson Santos of The Bleacher Report gives his recipe for creating the Perfect Hockey Player. One of the main ingredients for this ideal athlete is Mike Richards's heart:
"Heart"/Leadership
Finally, the truly intangible attribute of "heart"/leadership. Players like Mark Messier and Stevie Yzerman will forever be among the hockey gods not for their point totals but because of their legacies as true leaders. Sidney Crosby looks to possess this trait, but alas we cannot duplicate. So the player that would provide "Mr. Perfect" with the heart/leadership attribute would be Mike Richards.
Like Yzerman and Messier, Richards' point totals are seldom the first thing hockey experts mention. His desire to win every face-off, every puck battle, make game changing plays or be the best player on the ice without being the most skilled is why Mike Richards will be a star in the NHL.
A captain in the waiting for the Flyers, Richards leads by example. He fights, he hits, scores and he blocks shots. He's assigned to the opposition's best players on a nightly basis and still led the Flyers in scoring. Anyone that watches Richards play can't help but love his workman-like approach to every shift.
I question the author's initial choice to list Crosby as the "heart" component. Sid is lightyears away from being the leader Richards is, despite the C already being sewn on his Penguin sweater.

Surprise!

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 18:06:09 -0400

The Bleacher Report released its list of Top Ten Surprise Players of the 2007-2008 NHL Season. And here is number one:

1) Mike Richards
When the Philadelphia Flyers signed Daniel Briere to a long-term contract, it was clear they expected him to be their leader on the ice. However, it was Mike Richards who came into the scene and showed his abilities to be the future captain of this team.
Whether it was a power play, penalty kill or shootout, Richards was used in all key situations, and had a career year with 73 points (28 G, 47 A)—which includes five shorthanded goals. The Flyers showed their confidence in Richards by signing him to a 12-year contract extension on December 13.
Prize free agent Danny Briere was thought to be the Face of the Franchise for the next eight years. But after this season, the face has now changed, and it's a face that will be counted upon to lead the team to glory for the next twelve seasons.
Mike Richards: If you didn't know him then, you sure as hell will get to know him now!