MONTREAL | “I think it should happen, whether in two days, three weeks or three months. Once I wear the Canadiens jersey I will organize myself to stay there. »
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Around noon on Friday, Anthony Richard finds himself in a hotel in Cleveland. He comes out of practice with the Laval Rocket on the eve of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets varsity team, the Monsters.
Richard had the right feeling. But he didn’t have to wait another three weeks or three months. The Rocket’s number 91 made the correct prediction when he received a call from Kent Hughes and the Canadian exactly two days after his phone interview with the Journal.
The day after their third consecutive loss, a 5-1 loss to the Lightning, CH looked for reinforcements in attack by recalling the American League’s top scorer. To make room for him, Hughes fired the missile at Rem Pitlick.
sharpen
If hockey had a meritocracy system, Richard’s recall would be a perfect model.
On December 18, the 25-year-old center was the American League’s top scorer with 18 goals. He also led the league scoring with three shorthanded goals. With 31 points, the Rockets’ number 91 finished third in the standings.
Sean Monahan’s injury leaves a hole in the middle position. Richard knew he was knocking on the big club’s door.
“The way I play, it’s impossible to believe that I can’t make an impact with the Canadiens,” he said. I’m at the peak of my career. I play with confidence and find the game slowing down in my head. I can predict games. These are things that are rare in a career. If I can play well in the NHL, it’s now. I wouldn’t be intimidated by a recall. »
“I know the hockey business. I know, how it works. I won’t worry about that. I keep playing From my experience, I know that if my luck doesn’t come from Montreal, it can come from another NHL team. There are teams who want to give me a chance. I play my best and force the hand of the CH leaders. My only goal is to play so well that they call me back. »
Richard had a very clear speech 48 hours before his recall. He knew he had put himself in a position of strength with inspired play.
A dream
Fourth-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2015, the Trifluvien have a small two-game experience in the NHL. He had donned the Predators uniform for one game in 2018–19 and another game the following season.
After a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization last year where he played with the Syracuse Crunch, Richard signed a two-part contract with the CH on July 13.
When he wrote his name under this document, he had his childhood team in mind more than the Rocket.
“I signed this contract with the Canadiens precisely for this callback opportunity. I was close in Tampa. I knew Laval was going to be a great experience, but I always think of playing for the Canadiens. I introduce myself in the Swiss uniform. I scored in front of my family members in a white vs red game at the Bell Center at camp. That’s what I found special. »
“I want to play a game at the Bell Centre, I want to play a game with the Canadiens. It would be a dream. I want to start with the song Fix You by Coldplay. I’ve heard it since I was young. When I was a kid, I used to watch games at the Bell Center with my dad, and I would get chills when the players jumped on the ice. »
Before hitting the ice at the Bell Center, Richard will make his debut outside of Montreal. The CH will play their next seven games away from home, with a first stop in Tempe, Arizona on Monday.