Brad Richards has agreed to a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The deal is expected to be at $3 million, but includes a playoff bonus which could make the deal as much as $4 million, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Richards, 35, registered 12 goals and 25 assists in 76 regular-season games in his only season with the Blackhawks last year. He also compiled 14 points (three goals and 11 assists) in the postseason, helping the Blackhawks capture their third Stanley Cup in the last six years.
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After acquiring a pair of centers in the trade that sent Brandon Saad to Columbus, it became evident that the Blackhawks would be moving in a different direction. That was confirmed Wednesday when the Blackhawks inked Artem Anisimov to a five-year contract extension, and also signed Russian forward Viktor Tikhonov to a one-year deal.
Not only could the Blackhawks not afford Richards and his $3 million contract he got from the Red Wings, but the depth they've added up the middle made it difficult to even find a roster spot for the veteran centerman.
Richards was an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year contract with the Blackhawks last summer.