Flyers bolster depth, sign Anthony Richard to two-year deal

The Philadelphia Flyers took to free agency, signing their first player outside of the organization. They have signed Anthony Richard to a two-year, two-way deal. The deal has an AAV of 775K in the NHL. No terms have been released on his salary in the minors.

Richard, while having stints in the NHL, is most likely a move for the Phantoms more than it is for the Flyers. He has appeared in 481 games over 10 seasons in the AHL, appearing in 24 games over four years in the NHL. Richard was drafted in the fourth round by the Nashville Predators in 2015.

Richard has had stint with the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins as well.

Flyers add depth with signing of Anthony Richard

Richard spent the majority of the season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. He had another strong season, posting 25 goals and 55 points in 59 games. He was second on the baby Bruins in goals and points. Richard scored eight of his goals on the power play and tallied two shorthanded goals. So it's clear he can play in all situations on the ice.

Richard did appear in nine games for the Bruins this season. He scored one, posting three points overall. The Bruins ended up making the tough decision to send him down at the end of February before he reached the 10-game mark. If he played in another game, he would have become waiver-eligible and the Bruins could lose him for nothing if he were to be claimed. However, they ended up doing so by not offering him a new contract.

Overall in the NHL, Richard has four goals and eight points. Richard has the profile of a typical bottom-six forward. He is physical and knows when to get in on the forecheck. He also has rather decent straight-line speed and has shown his puck skills. The latter two have helped him shine at the AHL level and have given him a chance in the NHL.

As for his AHL career, Richard has 144 goals and 300 points between the Milwaukee Admirals, Chicago Wolves, Syracuse Crunch, Laval Rocket, and Providence. He should be a welcome addition to a Phantoms club that has made the playoffs in back to back seasons after a lengthy drought.

And if need be, he can step into the Flyers lineup if injuries arise.