NEW YORK (Reuters) - Center Brad Richards, the biggest prize in this year's National Hockey League free agent sweepstakes, signed with the New York Rangers, NHL.com reported on Saturday.
Richards, a proven and reliable scorer backed up with a championship pedigree, had been hotly pursued by several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames but in the end decided on the Rangers and a nine-year deal worth a reported $58.5 million, according to media reports.
The 31-year-old unrestricted free agent led the Dallas Stars in scoring last season with 28 goals and 77 points and has twice scored more than 90 points in a single campaign.
Richards helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win a Stanley Cup in 2004 claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs most valuable player.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
