University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Spotlight: Todd Richards
12/16/2020 3:37:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The last time the Gopher men's hockey program started a season with eight-straight wins, Todd Richards was a junior on the Minnesota blue line – already an elite defenseman for the Maroon & Gold in 1987-88 who was looking to close out the second half of his college career before moving on pro hockey.
He did just that, playing a total of 13 professional seasons – including two campaigns in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers – before starting a coaching career that is at 18 seasons and counting.
Last year was undoubtedly one of Richards' best campaigns as the Crystal, Minn., native helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup win as an assistant coach – becoming the 11th Pride on Ice product to help his team to an NHL playoff championship.
But new challenges are a way of life for Richards, who started his coaching career with Nashville's AHL team in Milwaukee in 2002. He's added 400 games of NHL head coaching experience since then in seven seasons between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.
Meanwhile on the international stage, Richards served as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team and guided the team to a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic after serving as an assistant coach for the team in 2010 and 2016. Richards was also an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's Olympic Team for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
As a member of the Maroon & Gold, Richards served as team captain as a senior and was a Second Team All-American during the 1988-89 season. His 158 career points and 128 career assists still rank first among Gopher Hockey all-time defensemen (he is tied for fifth among all alums in assists). In his four-years with the Gophers, the team made four-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearances while picking up regular-season conference titles in 1988 and 1989.
Richards was drafted 33rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in 1990 and skated in eight regular-season NHL games with four assists along with three assists in 11 Stanley Cup playoff games – all with the Whalers.
He did just that, playing a total of 13 professional seasons – including two campaigns in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers – before starting a coaching career that is at 18 seasons and counting.
Last year was undoubtedly one of Richards' best campaigns as the Crystal, Minn., native helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup win as an assistant coach – becoming the 11th Pride on Ice product to help his team to an NHL playoff championship.
This year will be a new challenge with a new team for Richards, who was named an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators in late October – just under a month after winning the Stanley Cup in his fourth season with Tampa Bay.One of the best to ever skate on the #Gophers blue line is now a #StanleyCup champion!
— Minnesota Men's Hockey (@GopherHockey) September 29, 2020
Congrats to 'U' All-American alum Todd Richards and the @TBLightning on winning the 2020 Stanley Cup! #PrideOnIce x #UMNProud pic.twitter.com/2LP1NLrpSf
But new challenges are a way of life for Richards, who started his coaching career with Nashville's AHL team in Milwaukee in 2002. He's added 400 games of NHL head coaching experience since then in seven seasons between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.
Meanwhile on the international stage, Richards served as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team and guided the team to a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic after serving as an assistant coach for the team in 2010 and 2016. Richards was also an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's Olympic Team for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
As a member of the Maroon & Gold, Richards served as team captain as a senior and was a Second Team All-American during the 1988-89 season. His 158 career points and 128 career assists still rank first among Gopher Hockey all-time defensemen (he is tied for fifth among all alums in assists). In his four-years with the Gophers, the team made four-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearances while picking up regular-season conference titles in 1988 and 1989.
Richards was drafted 33rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in 1990 and skated in eight regular-season NHL games with four assists along with three assists in 11 Stanley Cup playoff games – all with the Whalers.
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