Top contenders New York Rangers pivot on Brad Richards

The New York Rangers landed the biggest fish in free agency last summer when they reeled in the top-line centre Brad Richards with a nine-year, US$60 million (Dh220m) deal.

Richards was easily the most coveted free agent, following up a Stanley Cup championship and play-off MVP honours with Tampa Bay in 2004 with several productive post-lockout seasons with the Dallas Stars.

He is a point-a-game player, a leader by example and, by all accounts, a great guy in the dressing room. Richards, who comes from Canada's tiniest province of Prince Edward Island, might not seem like a bright lights and big city type, but beyond that, the move looked like a great fit.

But did anyone think it would work out this well this quickly?

The Rangers were a competitive team in recent years, but not a powerhouse.

They were a bubble play-off team - making it last season, falling just short in 2010 - on the strength of hard work, team defence and great goaltending from the perennial star stopper, Henrik Lundqvist.

They had one truly electrifying player in the sniper Marian Gaborik, although he dropped from 42 goals in 2009/10 to just 22 last season. Injuries, as often has been the case with Gaborik, were a major factor.

Otherwise, the Rangers were a shot-blocking, workman-like bunch who embraced their coach John Tortorella's all-for-one philosophy, but sweat and blood only gets you so far in the NHL. In the end, you need some skill to carry you over the top.

Enter Richards.

Although his offensive production is down a tick - with 31 points in 45 games - there is no denying the overall trickle-down effect.

The Rangers have some swagger. They got off to a great start and climbed to the top of the standings - not bad for a team that had to give their all just to scrape into the post-season in recent years. With Richards slotted as the No 1 centre, players such as Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan are able to fill second-line roles and avoid opponents' top defenders.

Richards, meanwhile, has gone up against the best his whole career; he is used to it, and he is good enough to contribute offensively. And while the dreamy Richards-Gaborik duo has been split up to spread around the offence, it certainly has not hurt Gaborik, who leads New York in scoring with 23 goals - already one more than last year - and 37 points.

The Rangers appear to have all the pieces for a run at a title: a truly great goaltender, a big, mobile and physical defence corps, a game-breaking goalscorer in Gaborik and plenty of secondary offensive support.

And, of course, the final piece, Richards, who does a little bit of everything and makes it a little bit easier for everybody else.

sports@thenational.ae

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Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

WITHIN%20SAND

%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The BIO

Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.

Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.

Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.

RESULTS

Tottenham 1

Jan Vertonghen 13'

Norwich 1

Josip Drmic 78'

2-3 on penalties

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)

Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai

Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

TEAMS

US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*

International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*

* denotes captain's picks

RESULT

Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')

Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)

Cherry

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo

1/5

Cricket World Cup League Two

Oman, UAE, Namibia

Al Amerat, Muscat

Results

Oman beat UAE by five wickets

UAE beat Namibia by eight runs

Fixtures

Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia

Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE

Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia

Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

SHADOWS%20AND%20LIGHT%3A%20THE%20EXTRAORDINARY%20LIFE%20OF%20JAMES%20MCBEY

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In%20the%20Land%20of%20Saints%20and%20Sinners

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERobert%20Lorenz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Liam%20Neeson%2C%20Kerry%20Condon%2C%20Jack%20Gleeson%2C%20Ciaran%20Hinds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A