The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced former Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild head coach Todd Richards as the team’s new assistant coach. He replaces the departing Steve Thomas on the Bolts bench.
The 49-year-old Richards has a wealth of experience coaching in the NHL and on the international stage. He’s been head coach for over 400 NHL games with a record of 204-183-37 over seven seasons, five of which he spent in Ohio.
With the Jackets, he holds the record for most wins by a coach and was the first coach to deliver the team through three straight winning seasons. But after a terrible start to the 2015-16 season, so bad that they were basically DOA, he was relieved of his duties and replaced by John Tortorella.
He also answered the call of his country, serving as Team USA’s head coach at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, where he led a very young squad to a surprising bronze medal finish. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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