The New York Rangers used their final compliance buyout on center Brad Richards Friday afternoon. Richards was widely speculated to be bought out by the Rangers and will become a free agent this summer.
When asked about the decision, Richards told The New York Post, "Glen Sather, the management, and the owner, Mr. [James] Dolan, are all class acts. I want to thank them for letting me be a part of New York life and the Rangers family."
He continued, "With this decision finalized, I can now look forward to starting the next chapter of my career."
Richards won't likely be left on the market too long as a veteran forward is often what teams look for to pad their roster.
General manager Glen Sather expressed his gratitude towards the veteran, "Brad has been a very good player for us and an even better person. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors."