Anthony Richard, 27, is a native of Trois-Rivieres, and he was recalled by the Boston Bruins from AHL Providence on Thursday. Ahead of his Bruins debut, Richard feels he’s playing the greatest hockey of his career.
Anthony Richard’s past twenty-four hours were anything but calm. After the AHL All-Star break, the 27-year-old forward practiced at noon on Thursday with the Providence Bruins, hoping to get back on track. However, after just five minutes, he received some exciting news: he was returning to the NHL.
The Boston Bruins needed another forward available because Brad Marchand was doubtful going into Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and Matt Poitras was sidelined for the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery. Before leaving for Boston, Richard needed to leave the ice, get something to eat, and take a nap, but he was too excited to sleep. Marchand ended up playing in Boston’s 4-0 victory, delaying his Bruins debut, but Richard was okay with it.
“I was a little bit [disappointed] I’m not playing, but in some part I was kind of happy I was not playing because my legs were pretty tired,” Richard said on Friday. “My legs were a little rusty in the warmup,” Richard added. “But I was definitely prepared to leave.”
In 41 games this season, the product of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, had 19 goals and 19 assists in his debut season with Providence. Richard, a Nashville fourth-round selection in 2015, has played in 15 NHL games overall. In 60 games with AHL Laval, he finished with 30 goals and 67 points. The previous season, he played 13 games with his native Montreal Canadiens, recording three goals and two assists.
It took Richard “about a month” to get used to the Bruins’ system, but in Providence, his play really took off. Prior to the call-up, he was riding a five-game point streak and had scored in 16 of the previous 20 games for a total of 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists).
Richard, who is well-known for his offensive ability, expressed his admiration for the team’s dedication to winning at all levels as well as the amount of responsibility that has been placed on him in the defensive and penalty kill departments.
Richard stated, “It’s probably the first team in the [AHL] that [plays] to win.” “In other organizations, it’s usually more about playing younger players and trying to get them to regain confidence. Their call-ups are typically younger players as well. But, in this case, it’s more about wanting to win when we’re winning here, so everyone is dedicated to playing the right way, similar to a playoff game, which is something I’ve never seen in the American Hockey League.”
Those defensive inclinations will now be required in the NHL. Richard is anticipated to play on the fourth line alongside Danton Heinen and Jesper Boqvist in the Bruins’ game against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. This season, he has played alongside Boqvist in Providence, and he thinks both players will aid in his adjustment.