Riley Nash turns Pro with the Carolina Hurricanes, LA Kings re-sign Brad Richardson
Riley Nash signs 3 year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes
Riley Nash is finally ready to enter the world of Professional Ice Hockey. The young, 21-year-old, centre has signed a 3 year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday bringing to a close all speculation about his college education.
Nash would not be attending the final year of college at Cornell. Playing for Cornell, Nash earned 102 points off exactly 102 games.
Speaking of the task that lay ahead of him at the Hurricane’s training camp, Nash hoped that there would be others vying for his spot on the team. While admitting that it will not come easily, he said that he relished the challenge of earning a spot in “the most prestigious league in the world.”
Nash felt that he had physically matured over the last two years after the 6’1 centre entered camp having gained 20 lbs of weight. “I don’t get bounced around as easily by bigger guys as I used to,” he said speaking confidently of his ability to hold his own in the National Hockey League.
He said that the decision to join the league was in part due to improvements over the past two years in his physical form and the fact that he could, conceivably, make the team by the start of the season.
Nash said that the choice between a college degree, which he would have earned in another year, and an NHL career was a difficult one. “I’ve been dreaming of the NHL my whole life,” he said, adding that to get one he had to sacrifice the other. Nash, some would say unwisely, sacrificed his education. He did however note that, if possible, he would again pursue his education.
Nash will be among a group of rookies fighting it out for the spots left open on the Hurricane’s roster after veterans like Ray Whitney, Mat Cullen and Scott Walker left the team.
Assistant General Manager of the Carolina Hurricane, Jason Karmanos, praised Nash’s play making abilities adding that there were spots on the team that Nash could earn in training camp.
Nash would earn $550,000 in the first, $600,000 in the second and $700,000 in the third year under the terms of his deal with the Hurricanes. In the American Hockey League (AHL) his pay would be $65,000 a season for all three seasons.
Brad Richardson re-signs
Brad Richardson was among the 31 players who filed for salary arbitration before the 5th of July deadline this year. As expected though, it would not come to that since the Los Angeles Kings offered the restricted free agent a one year contract for $900,000. The veteran forward made $600,000 last season with the Kings.
Brad improved his performance dramatically since 2008-2009, giving him the confidence to opt for salary arbitration and forcing the Kings to concede. Last season saw his career best number of assists, points and games played.
He scored 11 goals and 27 points in that season, playing 80 games. Brad featured prominently among the Kings penalty killers.
Brad was nominated for the Bill Masterson Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport conceding the trophy to Washington Capital’s Jose Theodore.
Brad played each of the King’s postseason game last season. Brad’s importance to the Kings could not be underestimated considering the Kings did not lose any of the 11 games in which Brad scored.
The Ontario Native was 163rd overall pick for the Colorado Avalanche’s in the 2003 draft and was traded with the Kings in 2008. In 248 NHL games over 5 seasons, he scored 30 goals and 72 points. He also registered 96 penalty minutes.
As of yet, the Kings have not had any success in the unrestricted free agent market in over two weeks.
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