UPDATE 2PM PST: The Dallas Morning News has confirmed the broken right wrist diagnosis and notes the Stars say Richards is gone 6-8 weeks, the remainder of the regular season, but will not need surgery. Richards and Dallas hope he returns in the playoffs...should Dallas make it in. Advice below still stands.
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Dallas Stars Center Brad Richards left last night's 3-2 Shootout win over Columbus with what the team is calling an "upper body injury" and TSN is reporting the injury is a broken wrist.
Fantasy Wise, this could not have come at a worse time. Dallas had finally rounded into shape and gotten their game together, winning 9 of their last 12 contests. Richards, across that span had tallied 4 Goals, 6 Assists, a plus 4, 5PP points and a Short Handed helper as well. Richards had actually scored 27 seconds in against Columbus, the quickest tally by a Stars player this season.
If Richards has a Broken Wrist, he's done for the regular season. If he has a severe sprain, maybe he could gut it out and play a few weeks down the road, provided can stand the pain. Either way, he won't be of much use. Get ready to drop him in standard leagues.
Replacing Richards won't be easy for Dallas or the Fantasy Hockey GMs out there. Dallas will likely turn to the line of Ott, Ribeiro, Lehtinen that Bucket of Pucks co-founder Scott Levy highlighted last week in his Streamers Report. Dallas may also end up elevating elder statesman Mike Modano above his 16 minute nightly allotment.
Other decent options on your waiver wire may include R.J. Umberger who has tallied 3 Goals (2 on the PP) and 2 Assists in the past 5 games - coincidentally, the Blue Jackets went 4-1 over the same stretch. Another possibility may be Philadelphia's Claude Giroux, who has tallied 2 Goals and 2 Assists in his past 2 games - both tilts where he lined up as the 1st line pivot while Mike Richards eases himself back into the lineup from injury. Giroux is currently listed in most leagues as a RW, but he is a natural Center who should be gaining dual eligibility soon.
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