Lightning's Richards doesn't lack ambition

After intense summer training, the 22-year-old intends to improve overall production.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 18, 2002

BRANDON -- Body and mind finally seem to have found common ground with Brad Richards.

The Lightning center always has understood the commitment and work ethic with which NHL success is built. Now, at 22 and in the best shape of his career, he has the strength to put his thoughts into action.

"I just want to improve," Richards said Tuesday at the Ice Sports Forum. "I won't be happy with the same type of season as last year."

Understand that most players would give their eyeteeth, if they still have them, for a sophomore season like Richards'. He had his second 20-goal season and heard general manager Jay Feaster compare him to Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman in terms of potential for production and leadership.

Richards embraced the compliment, but said the season was a disappointment. Tampa Bay missed the playoffs and Richards' 62 points equalled his rookie total. The 20 goals were one fewer.

He also was minus-18, tied for second-worst on the team, and had an anemic 41.2 percent winning percentage on faceoffs.

Improvements will be more easily attained with a physique carved from intense summer workouts with former Canadian Olympic bobsledder Dave MacEachern. Workouts were about 21/2 hours, six days a week and concentrated on the core muscles from the chest to the thighs.

Richards worked with weights the first 90 minutes. He ran sprints and longer distances and did pliometrics for the final hour.

Richards said he has 6.2 percent body fat on his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. He weighed about the same during last season's camp when his body fat was 8.3.

"My lower body is so much stronger," Richards said. "You can hit harder and shoot harder and skate faster. I don't think I'm where I want to be, but I'm way ahead of where I was two years ago coming into the league."

Richards also is thinking faster.

He passed when he should have shot during Tuesday's scrimmage. As coach John Tortorella approached to emphasize the point, the coach said Richards beat him to it, acknowledging his mistake and promising to take 300 shots this season. He took 251 last season.

"I look at Brad and what I see is that he wants to do nothing but be better as a player and improve as a player to see the team succeed," Tortorella said. "I think he wants more. He wants the challenge and the demands."

Tortorella said Richards will get those challenges as he takes a greater leadership role and is put into more crucial game situations.

"I think he's going to be a great player," Tortorella said.

Said left wing Fredrik Modin: "I have nothing but positive things to say about the kid. He's played two years, and he's not slacking off. He works hard and understands nothing comes for free."

It is a lesson Richards' parents instilled early.

His father, Glen, coached him in Murray Harbor on Prince Edward Island from the time he played squirts at age 3 until he was 14. As Richards' mother, Delite, said, "He was never favored on the bench, that's for sure."

"It's just the way I was brought up," Richards said. "If I knew my parents were disappointed, or if I wasn't trying hard, I always felt awful. If I went through the motions or was lackadaisical, my dad hated that and he let me know it.

"I just don't want to hurt people by not putting my heart into it."

Glen still calls when his son is off his game.

"If he sees I'm not working hard or playing hard, he lets me know," Richards said. "I hope he's still telling me when I'm 38."

So his mind can keep up with his body.