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Tampa Bay Lightning hire former Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards

By Dave Stevenson

Feb 6, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards (right) and center Derek MacKenzie (24) react in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards (right) and center Derek MacKenzie (24) react in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Lightning have announced that they have hired former Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards to replace Steve Thomas on their coaching staff.

Earlier this week, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost assistant coach Steve Thomas, who decided to pursue other jobs, most likely as a head coach in the AHL or NHL. The Lightning have acted quickly to replace him on their coaching staff, hiring Todd Richards to replace him. Richards is a former head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.

This is a great opportunity for Richards to get more experience. After not finding a job as a head coach after being fired by the Blue Jackets back in October, this should help him rebuild some of his credibility.

From NHL.com:

"Richards, 49, brings more than 400 career games of NHL head coaching experience with him to Tampa Bay. He’s compiled a career record of 204-183-37 during seven seasons as a bench boss, including parts of five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and two with the Minnesota Wild. He has more wins than any coach in Columbus team history and was the franchise’s first coach to record three consecutive winning seasons."

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Richards also has international coaching experience. He should be a great addition to the Lightning’s coaching staff, even if he likely won’t be around for that long. Richards was sought after by other teams and was expected to sign with the Red Wings, but he decided to choose the Lightning instead.

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