The Arizona Coyotes have lost yet another key part of their roster, with forward Brad Richardson being placed on injured reserve.
Richardson joins a growing list of key players that the Arizona Coyotes are currently without, with a total cap value of $14,551,667 – not including the dead contracts of Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa.
As well as the team’s noted difficulties with injury, the Coyotes also lose the current leading goalscorer on the team – with Richardson currently sitting at 11 goals in 40 regular season appearances this season.
INJURY UPDATE: #Coyotes center Brad Richardson will be placed on the injured-reserve list because of an upper-body injury and is out week-to-week.
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) January 11, 2019
The 33-year-old veteran forward was having one of his stronger seasons since arriving in the desert, already surpassing last season’s points total of 15 – earning a further five assists to his 11 goals to date.
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Typically finding himself starting in the defensive zone, something he does 67.9% of the time, Richardson has found a way to produce offensively despite being placed in a less-than-ideal situation.
He is regularly used on the penalty kill and already has three short-handed goals this season, has almost an even Corsi rating (49.4%) and has been the team’s best player in the face-off circle – where he has won 54.7% of the time he has lined up against opponents.
Richardson has also continued to be stellar defensively, blocking a shot per game this season while also having 14 takeaway and 31 hits – something that very few players on the team do as well as the Belleville, Ontario native.
Losing Richardson is a huge blow for the Coyotes, who have been struggling through an up-and-down season to date and have very little depth at centre with Christian Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz both out for the remainder of the season.
With Richardson being listed week-to-week, it is likely that he is not seen on the ice again until the very final few games of the season – leaving the team with plenty of questions regarding their line-up moving forward.
What do you think of the latest injury news, Coyotes fans? Are you disappointed with how unlucky the team has been in this regard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!