In Appreciation To Luke

At the end of the 1998-1999 season, one of the most valuable Flyers was considered a fifth wheel on the team. Then coach Roger Nielsen saw fit to bench this team-first player in favor of a rookie. He missed the entire playoffs (another heartbreaking loss to Toronto) and was considered a goner. Fortunately, via tragedy and his own perseverance, he reclaimed his spot on the roster and was named most improved by his teammates for the 1999-2000 season. That player is Luke Richardson.

A stay-at-home defenseman, Richardson is also the most likely to drop the mitts for Flyers. Anyone who watched the Flyers last year will have to agree that he was the complete package, reducing mistakes and perceived shortcomings, by his heads up and rough play.

This year, Richardson will probably be called on for a bit more glove-dropping. After discarding Sandy McCarthy and later, Craig Berube, the Flyers will have to rely on Luke to stick up for some of his less-combative teammates (wouldn’t it be great to see big John LeClair toss ’em just once? For all that moolah he just received in his arbitration hearing, it would be nice for Big John to return some of the innumerable whackings he receives in front of the opposing net! He certainly doesn’t lack size and strength). Yeah, I know they’ve got Gino Odjick. That doesn’t mean they’re going use him though. He suffered the same fate as Richardson, this past playoff run.

You have to admire Richardson for tolerating the way the Flyers put him on hold after 98-99. He sold his house and was ready to roll elsewhere, until the death of Dmitri Tertyshny in pre-season 99-00. Then with pride swallowed, he proceeded to have a stellar season. It is particularly pleasing that Luke will be a Flyer again this season. His style, long a hallmark of Flyer personnel, is what is needed in today’s game.