Todd Richards (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Todd M. Richards is an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Ice hockey franchise, and the former head coach of the Minnesota Wild
. He was formerly an American
professional ice hockey
defenceman
and the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
of the AHL
. His younger brother Travis Richards
was also a professional ice hockey defenceman.
in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
. He played for the University of Minnesota
for four seasons.
He began his professional career with the Sherbrooke Canadiens
during the 1989–90 AHL season
. After being traded early the next season to the Hartford Whalers
organization, he helped the Springfield Indians
win the 1991
Calder Cup
. Richards also made his NHL debut during that season, playing two games and recording four assists for the Whalers. Richards spent two more seasons with the Indians before beginning to play in the IHL, spending two seasons with the Las Vegas Thunder
, and six seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears. He ended his playing career in 2002 with the Genève-Servette HC
of the National League A in Switzerland
.
. The Admirals advanced to the playoffs each year. In 2004
, Milwaukee won the Calder Cup
, after sweeping the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
in four games.
On August 3, 2006, Richards became the fifth head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
. During his first season, he guided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 51-24-2-4 record and a second-place finish in the AHL’s
East Division. The Penguins advanced to the East Division Finals before falling to the Hershey Bears
.
Richards signed as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks
of the NHL for the 2008–09 season.
On June 16, 2009, it was announced that Richards would become the second head coach in the history of the Minnesota Wild
, and the first native of Minnesota to hold the job. After two seasons as head coach and posting a record of 77-71-16, Richards was relieved of his position on April 11, 2011. In both seasons, the Wild were in playoff contention through the winter, but both seasons also ended without playoff appearances.
On June 20, 2011, it was announced that Richards had been hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets
to serve as an assistant coach under head coach Scott Arniel
.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
NHL Ice hockey franchise, and the former head coach of the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. He was formerly an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
and the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. His younger brother Travis Richards
Travis Richards
Travis J. Richards is a former professional ice hockey defenseman. Richards graduated from Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minnesota in 1988. Richards was a member of the University of Minnesota Gophers hockey program before making his professional debut during the 1993-94 season...
was also a professional ice hockey defenceman.
Playing career
Richards was drafted by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
. He played for the University of Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
for four seasons.
He began his professional career with the Sherbrooke Canadiens
Sherbrooke Canadiens
The Sherbrooke Canadiens were a professional ice hockey team in Sherbrooke, Quebec. They played their home games at the Palais des Sports. They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1984 to 1990, and were a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens....
during the 1989–90 AHL season
1989–90 AHL season
The 1989–90 AHL season was the 54th season of the American Hockey League.Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Canadiens repeated finishing first overall in the regular season...
. After being traded early the next season to the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
organization, he helped the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
win the 1991
1990–91 AHL season
The 1990–91 AHL season was the 55th season of the American Hockey League. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
. Richards also made his NHL debut during that season, playing two games and recording four assists for the Whalers. Richards spent two more seasons with the Indians before beginning to play in the IHL, spending two seasons with the Las Vegas Thunder
Las Vegas Thunder
The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
, and six seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears. He ended his playing career in 2002 with the Genève-Servette HC
Genève-Servette HC
Genève-Servette HC, is a professional ice hockey team based in Geneva, Switzerland and compete in National League A.-History:* 1905 : Foundation of Servette FC's ice hockey section....
of the National League A in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Coaching career
After retiring from playing, Richards spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee AdmiralsMilwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
. The Admirals advanced to the playoffs each year. In 2004
2003–04 AHL season
The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....
, Milwaukee won the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
, after sweeping the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
in four games.
On August 3, 2006, Richards became the fifth head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
. During his first season, he guided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 51-24-2-4 record and a second-place finish in the AHL’s
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
East Division. The Penguins advanced to the East Division Finals before falling to the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
.
Richards signed as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL for the 2008–09 season.
On June 16, 2009, it was announced that Richards would become the second head coach in the history of the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, and the first native of Minnesota to hold the job. After two seasons as head coach and posting a record of 77-71-16, Richards was relieved of his position on April 11, 2011. In both seasons, the Wild were in playoff contention through the winter, but both seasons also ended without playoff appearances.
On June 20, 2011, it was announced that Richards had been hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
to serve as an assistant coach under head coach Scott Arniel
Scott Arniel
Scott William Arniel , is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Arniel was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as American Hockey League coach of the year in 2009, his third year as an AHL coach...
.
NHL Coaching Record
| Team | |Regular Season | MIN Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
2009-10 | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 84 | 4th in Northwest | Missed Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIN Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
2010-11 | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | 3rd in Northwest | Missed Playoffs | ||
| Total | 164 | 77 | 71 | 16 | ||||||