Anthony Richard
Anthony Richard is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. He was selected in the fourth round, 100th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 NHL entry draft. Richard has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins
Playing career
Richard played major junior hockey with the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was drafted in 2015 by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League in the fourth round.In his fourth and final season with the Foreurs in 2015–16, Richard was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on November 14, 2015.
In the 2018–19 season, Richard was recalled from American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, to the Predators on December 1, 2018, due to an injury to forward Filip Forsberg and made his NHL debut the same day against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5–2 victory. He was returned to the Admirals following the game.
During the season, having contributed with 7 goals and 12 points through 31 regular season games with the Milwaukee while in the midst of his sixth year within the Predators organization, Richard was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Jimmy Huntington on February 1, 2022.
On July 13, 2022, Richard signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens for the season. With his customary jersey number 20 already in use by Juraj Slafkovský, Richard instead adopted number 90, in reference to iconic Canadiens player Maurice "Rocket" Richard's number 9. He was assigned to play with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate Laval Rocket, and made an immediate impact even as the team struggled. His performance with the team was sufficiently strong to begin debate as to whether or when he might be called up to play in the NHL. On December 18, the Canadiens announced that he had been called up from the Rocket. At the time of the call, Richard had scored a league-leading 18 goals in 27 games, and with 31 points was third in the points standings. He made his debut for the Canadiens in a December 19 game against the Arizona Coyotes. On December 21, 2022, he scored his first NHL goal against the Colorado Avalanche, on a breakaway deke against goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. Richard played seven games with the Canadiens before returning to the Rocket. He completed the season having tallied 3 goals and 5 points in just 13 games with the Canadiens.
As a free agent from the Canadiens, Richard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2023. He was recalled by Boston from the Providence Bruins on February 8, 2024. He made his Bruins debut on February 10 against the Washington Capitals in a 0–3 loss.
Leaving the Bruins at the conclusion of his contract, Richard was signed as a free agent a two-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 2, 2024.