With plenty of AHL hockey already under his belt, Richard has been mentoring some of his teammates, too.
Playing a leadership role means a lot to him.
"I try to bring enthusiasm to practices. I like to smile and bring good vibes to the group. I was never very vocal, but I try to speak up between periods when things aren't going well to help turn things around. I was in the same position as our younger players back in the day, and I know it's good to get tips and advice sometimes from other people than the head coach who sees the game from the bench. It's a different approach when advice comes from a fellow player," mentioned Richard. "I'll talk to a guy like Xavier Simoneau a lot. I see myself in him when I was in my first few years as a pro. You need to play without fear of making mistakes. I like giving advice, and that's the way I've been trying to bring leadership."
Clinching a playoff berth would mean the world to Richard, who relishes lacing up his skates at Place Bell.
Playing against the Rocket in the North Semifinals last year as a member of the Syracuse Crunch gave him a taste of the unique postseason environment the building has to offer.
"The atmosphere was incredible. Being on the other side, it was very intimidating. I remember our first game here, the guys were really nervous. We had a lot of trouble containing the Rocket's energy during the first 10 minutes of the first period. It was hyped up by the crowd," recalled Richard. "The fans were really intimidating, too. That's one of the reasons I signed here, to experience that atmosphere on the good side this time around."