| | TAMPA, Fla. -- Stephane Richer's days in Tampa Bay
may be numbered.
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| Richer |
The veteran right wing was assigned to the Detroit Vipers of the
International Hockey League on Thursday, two days after he was placed
on waivers.
Richer reportedly requested a trade after he was benched for
most of Monday night's 6-1 home loss to Florida. Instead, he
was placed on waivers, but passed through with his $2.068
million salary.
A two-time 50-goal scorer and Stanley Cup winner, Richer has
been criticized for being a bad influence on a young team that
includes the likes of teenage center Vincent Lecavalier.
One goal short of 500 but in the twilight of his career, the
33-year-old Richer has seven goals, five assists and a plus-4
rating in 25 games for one of the worst teams in hockey. He
missed several games with an abdominal injury.
At 10-20-5 with three overtime losses, the Lightning are fourth
in the five-team Southeast Division, five points ahead of the
expansion Atlanta Thrashers.
Richer has 399 goals and 367 assists in 950 NHL games. He
started his career with Montreal, scoring 50 goals in 1987-88
and 1989-90, won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1989 and
again with the New Jersey Devils in 1995.
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