Home HockeyBuzz Register Login
"All Geeked-Up for the Deadline..."
Newtown Square, PA • United States • 45 Years Old • Male
"Always do everything you ask of those you command."
-George S. Patton, Jr.

As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of General George S. Patton, Jr. He was a true leader in every sense of the word. He was a fearless warrior, a surprisingly thoughtful philosopher, a tortured historian with many former lives, a sometimes unstable egomaniac and an incredibly brilliant military leader. He refused to lead the U.S. Third Army in WWII anywhere but from the front and his men would have followed him to the ends of the earth. Indeed in 1944-45, they engaged more enemy, took more prisoners and covered more ground in less time than any army in history. Many of the principles Patton put to practice are now bing used in business classes and in actual businesses. I could make the argument that the very same principles could apply to organized sports, as well.

Enough of the history lesson. As you see above, the quotation states, "always do everything you ask of those you command." Seems to make sense. Nothing earth shattering there. Then, take look around at your life...is your boss willing to do everything he asks of you? Are your political leaders willing to do everything they ask of you? Are you willing to do everything you ask of others? If you can say yes, then you know a leader.

Name any leader you can think of. No matter whom you chose: be it General George S. Patton, Jr or Martin Luther King, Jr - all leaders share the same characteristic in that they lead by example.

What does any of this have to do with Mike Richards or Flyers hockey, at all?

Glad you asked...

Mike Richards is a leader. He has never led troops into battle or struggled against human rights abuses, but he is a leader nonetheless.

He was born February 11, 1985 and has packed a lot of hockey into his 22 years. He played 4 seasons for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL and was a huge part of the 2003 team that won the Memorial Cup and made the Memorial Cup Tournament All-Star Team. During his OHL career he scored 85 points or more two of his four years. He was drafted #24 by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round in 2003. Mike Richards joined the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms in 2004 for their Calder Cup playoff run and turned in a torrid performance with 15 points in 14 games (8g 7a). Richards was chosen to Captain the World Canadian Junior team in 2005 and helped it win a gold medal for the first time six years. Sounds like a leader.

During his rookie year in 2005, he made a successful transition to the pro game and scored 34 points in 79 games for the Flyers (11g 23a). Richards led by example from the moment he stepped onto the ice. This solid work ethic and strong two-way game continued into his Sophomore year, 2006-07 season, as he scored 32 points (10g 22a). Unfortunately, the team had to deal with many and varied injuries forcing many of the AHL Phantoms crossing the parking lot to dress as Flyers. During that exasperating time he continued to play hard, did what was asked of him and led by example.

Throughout his career he has been known as a natural leader. Not one who jaws in your face in the room, though that is sometimes what a leader must do, but by on-ice hard work and doing what he would ask anyone else to do. He has the ability, and most importantly the willingness, to play all aspects of the game, whether killing penalties, setting up the powerplay or anchoring the 3rd line and facing the opponent's top scorers.

Mike Richards is a future Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. Perhaps sooner than later. He may never win the "Rocket" Richard Trophy, but he just might be the most important of the Flyers' young guns.
Filed Under:   Flyers   NHL   Mike Richards   SYF  
August 27, 2007 7:42 PM ET | Delete
Great Blog SYF. Richards reminds me of Rod Brind'amour. If he stays healthy and continues to work the way he has, he is a shoe in for the "C" within 3 years.
August 28, 2007 1:07 AM ET | Delete
great blog syf Richards is a good oneFlamestr
August 28, 2007 1:30 AM ET | Delete
Good Call on Richards...Future man on the Flyers...Great Blog...
August 28, 2007 2:13 AM ET | Delete
I agree fully syf! :)
August 28, 2007 6:29 AM ET | Delete
just in case you didnt hear forsberg met with flyers management monday and they are talkin to forsberg about trying to work out a contract which would keep them under the cap
August 28, 2007 7:59 AM ET | Delete
Scoop- thanks for the push in that direction. ;)SYF
August 28, 2007 8:15 AM ET | Delete
i heard NOTHING on this Forsberg thing. I'd LOVE it!
August 28, 2007 11:40 AM ET | Delete
Good blog SYF. Richards is indeed a future captain type of guy.
August 28, 2007 5:10 PM ET | Delete
Great Blog SYF. Mike Richards is the complete player and could teach others in the league a thing or two. He was great as a junior and he will the man with your beloved Flyers. Thanx
August 28, 2007 5:25 PM ET | Delete
Not to take anything away from the other bloggers on SYF but you and Jsaq are two of the bests. Keep up the good work!
August 28, 2007 6:27 PM ET | Delete
Richards is certainly going to be an integral part to the team in the future. The big questions for me are: 1. Can he be the shutdown center this year that the flyers are asking him to be and, 2. Will putting him in this role stunt his ability to become a 2nd line center (which I believe he has the potential for 3 years down the road)? No question about his heart but what about his role? Good blog SYF
August 28, 2007 8:50 PM ET | Delete
Excellent blog, SYF. Kramer sure tanked as a comic, especially in the racially sensitive dept, but who knew about his leadership qualities on the ice. And, I bet he's a hoot every time he enters the rink in that silly wacky zany way. Ok ok...so you mean the hockey player. ;)
August 28, 2007 10:49 PM ET | Delete
Thanks B.D. - you are one truly twisted individual. Don't go changing...;)SYF
August 29, 2007 12:05 PM ET | Delete
Nice blog, to me, Richards doesn't have the combo of shot and speed to be a 2nd line center on a top team. He needs to concentrate on getting stronger and working on his faceoffs to develop into the shut-down 3rd line center the Flyers need him to be. IMO he will do this and may very well be the Flyers captain of the future
August 29, 2007 1:30 PM ET | Delete
Mike Richards(Kenora,Ont.)...one of the warriors from Northwestern Ontario.He is from the ranks of Chris Pronger(Dryden,Ont.) and the new NHL family the Staal brothers,Eric,Jordan and Mark..and a younger brother coming up in the future.(Thunder Bay)..Mike Richards is going to be a hockey great and the Flyers are lucky to have him...amen.
August 29, 2007 2:34 PM ET | Delete
Great blog but Eisenhower insisted that Patton not lead from the front while in Sicily because he, Eisenhower, could not afford to lose Patton in the push to Messina. As for Richards, I agree with you...the guy is a natural born leader with the true instincts of a warrior.
August 29, 2007 10:26 PM ET | Delete
And Patton still went ashore at the invasion of Sicily and took command on the beach, found a bunch of Rangers and pushed ahead with the 7th Army, broke the beachhead and captured Palermo ahead of schedule. He then took the 7th and drove ahead to capture Messina ahead of his arch-rival Montgomery.Thanks for reading Dselby. I like Richards too. He is a warrior.SYF
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Blog Archive