Have Richards done anything good in these 2 games?
I believe there is some qualification as to why he hasn't done great so far needed. In the preseason he was lined up with for lack of a better term a "Babcock line". Ie big net front player, skilled player, and him as the puck possesser (spelling whatever). Where the past two reg season games he has had a shift in linemates too just him + 2 skilled guys.
Where this effects the line is that when Tats and Nyquist are together on a line you can shadow man on man coverage of Tats with a oppositions best 2 way player and then you have for the most part 2 other forwards who are perimeter players (Richards and Nyquist). There isn't a cataylist type guy on the line that creates room for both of the perimeter players to cycle with. And without a player that can win battle situations once the cycle can be stopped by pinning whoever has the puck on the wall the line stops any effectiveness.
Where he was doing great in the preseason he had Tats and Jurco as his linemates. Why this was important quality of opposition aside is that with Jurco being a net front player and puck battler it didn't crowd the perimeter and left space for Tats and Richards to play with. Right know I have the feeling that given the line composition there isn't room up in the high slot + perimeter to play with because no one is down low causing the room for the line to open up in a offensive setting. Also while Jurco hasn't been a great offensive player since his first year he is someone that defences have to respect down low so they cannot just leave him alone and focus on the other two forwards in assignments.
Also since Nyquist and Tats didn't play a ton together this year there is a chemistry issue so far as well. However this specific line I believe is a placeholder line until Dats gets back in the mix.
A forward lineup I wish to see is when dats gets back is:
Larkin-Z-Franzen
Abby-Dats-Tats
Sheahan-Richards-Pulks
Miller-Glendy-Jurco
Though that assumes that Jurco can handle some pk shifts which at present is unknown I assume. Also Jurco then can play up or down the lineup as needed given. And **** me we have to many forwards cause I just saw I left Nyquist out. I gotta think someone is getting dealt around Thanksgiving unless Kenny is just thinking someone from the top 9 is gonna be hurt all year.
I wonder if Sheahan (however it is spelled lol) is potentially trade bait or they want him as a 3rd net front option. But Sheahan and one of Pulks, Nyquist, or Tatar could potentially be nice trade bait for a defensive upgrade potentially.
