Rangers continue stockpiling prospects, sign college FA Justin Richards to ELC

Updated:

While the NHL Pause continues, the New York Rangers continue to be aggressive stockpiling prospects. In our latest look at all the organization’s current minor league contracts it is clear they need to prepare for UFA players like Vinni Lettieri and Steven Fogarty moving on. Today they added free agent forward Justin Richards to an entry-level contract starting next season.

NYR Press Release

Richards, 22, skated in 34 games with the University of Minnesota Duluth this season, registering 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points, along with a plus-14 rating and 14 penalty minutes. He was selected as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s (NCHC) Best Defensive Forward in 2019-20. Richards ranked fifth among all players in the NCAA in faceoff wins this season (434), and he posted a 59.0% faceoff win percentage during the season. He was also tied for first in the NCAA in shorthanded goals in 2019-20 (three). The 5-11, 190-pounder skated in 120 career collegiate games over three seasons (2017-18 – 2019-20) with the University of Minnesota Duluth, registering 26 goals and 40 assists for 66 points, along with a plus-40 rating and 38 penalty minutes. Richards helped the University of Minnesota Duluth win the National Championship in each of his first two seasons, and he was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team in 2019.

New York Rangers
By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

Mentioned in this article:

More About: