Jacques Richard

Jacques Richard
File:Jacques Richard 1977.jpg Richard in 1977
Born	(1952-10-07)October 7, 1952 Quebec City, QC, CAN
Died	Quebec City, QC, CAN
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Atlanta Flames Buffalo Sabres Quebec Nordiques Rochester Americans (AHL) Hershey Bears (AHL) Fredericton Express (AHL)
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1972 Atlanta Flames
Playing career	1972–1983

Joseph Alfred Gilles Jacques Richard (October 7, 1952 – October 8, 2002) was a professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Quebec Nordiques. After an impressive junior career, Richard was considered a potential NHL superstar, but, except for a single season late in his career, he failed to live up to the promise. He led a troubled life both in hockey and after. Six years after retiring, in 1989, he was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine and then in 2002, Richard died in a car accident driving back from a party celebrating his 50th birthday.

Career

Richard was drafted 2nd overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. Richard was slated to be the marqee player by the expansion Atlanta Flames. However, he was to have a mostly indifferent pro career. Troubled at times by serious injuries, facial fractures in 1974-75 and a knee injury 1979-80, he also indulged in alcohol, gambling and eventually cocaine.

Junior

Richard had a spectacular junior career with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 186 goals and 213 assists for 399 points in only 169 games. Playing with Guy Chouinard and Andre Savard he was a significant component of a devastating trio. At the time Richard was considered by some hockey experts to have equal, if not more, pro potential than teammate Guy Lafleur. At one time, Rampart management was negotiating to trade Richard to the Rosemont Nationals, a team in the same Quebec Junior A league for 3 players and $6,000 in return. However, the deal became public and the reaction by fans, for whom Richard had become an idol, was so violent that the deal was annulled. Indicative of the level of success Richard had achieved in junior hockey, in 1999, he was named to All-time QMJHL All-Star team by the Canadian Hockey League.

Pro

For the 1972–73 season the NHL added two teams, the Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders, with a coin toss in June 1972 deciding which team would get the first choice in the draft. Concerned that the new WHA might sign the two top prospects, Billy Harris and Jacques Richard, the two expansion teams held their own "clandestine" coin toss in advance. New York won that toss and chose Harris. This allowed the teams to begin immediate negotiations with the players.

His rookie year in Atlanta was a disappointment. Richard rarely spoke to anyone that first year, perhaps a clue to problems adapting to the NHL. In February, after a game in Toronto which the coach had sat him out, Richard left the team to return to his home in Quebec City. He missed a couple practices apparently without the permission of the coach. Richard's uncle and agent said Richard "just reacted like a mixed-up kid. He got a little mad in Toronto, a little upset. Now he's realized he was wrong. He has decided he wants to play hockey again." Richard returned but finished the season scoring only 13 goals.

Teamed in his second season with Tom Lysiak his prospects seems brighter as he scored 27 goals. Next season, in October 1974, Richard suffered facial fractures, fracture of the right orbital bone and nose, in a game against Detroit. As his career in Atlanta progressed, his play would eventually prove inadequate and he would begin to find himself shuffled between the NHL and the minors. After three years with Atlanta, he was traded to Buffalo.

At the time, some hockey people thought the presence of several fellow French Canadian players on the Buffalo team might help Richard. However, in his first season with Buffalo, Richard scored only 12 goals. Early in his second season, a team-mate accused Richard of not giving a good effort during practices. In November, Richard was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Although Sabre management said the two were not connected, Richard was then sent to minors in Hershey. Buffalo Sabre General Manager Punch Imlach in his book Heaven and Hell in the NHL recalled his travails dealing with Richard's drinking. On one occasion, Richard was forced to miss a game due to a sprained wrist which had been hurt in a bar fight. On another, he barely missed being shot in a Quebec bar. The bullet went through his pant leg. Imlach describes Richard as "a nice kid, good hockey player" but he was "wasting his talent". Richard spent the next five seasons alternating between the NHL and playing full seasons in the minors. In February 1980, Buffalo terminated Richard's contract, which left him free to sign with any team.

Immediately after being released by Buffalo, Richard signed with the Quebec Nordiques. Then in his eighth year as a pro and back in the city of his junior triumphs, the promise shown as a junior appeared to finally be realized. In the 1980–81 season playing on a line with the Stastny brothers, Richard tallied 52 goals and 51 assists for 103 points, to finish 10th in the league in points and 7th in goals. However, this was to be the only time he was to show this potential. The next season he was moved off the line with the Stastnys and his mediocre play returned.

Jacques Richard retired in 1983. He would be remembered in hockey's history as a superb junior player who ultimately finished as one of the NHL's "One-Season-Wonders."

Retirement and death

Richard's misfortunes seemed to follow him into retirement. In 1989 he was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine, with an estimated street value of $1.5 million, into Canada. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. Then, on October 8, 2002, driving home from his 50th birthday party, Richard was killed in a single-vehicle accident when he drove his car into a culvert.

Awards and honours

QMJHL All-Star First Team: 1970-71, 1971-72
QMJHL Beliveau Trophy: 1971-72 (points leader)
Named to QMJHL all-time All-Star team by the Canadian Hockey League in 1999.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1967–68	Quebec Jr. Aces	QJAHL		50	18	18	36	?		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Quebec Jr. Aces	QJAHL		50	23	40	63	78		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Quebec Remparts	QMJHL		52	62	64	126	170		15	11	14	25	30
1970–71	Quebec Remparts	QMJHL		55	53	60	113	125		14	18	17	35	42
1971–72	Quebec Remparts	QMJHL		61	71	89	160	100		15	11	26	37	23
1972–73	Atlanta Flames	NHL		74	13	18	31	32		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Atlanta Flames	NHL		78	27	16	43	45		4	0	0	0	2
1974–75	Atlanta Flames	NHL		63	17	12	29	31		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	12	23	35	31		9	1	1	2	7
1976–77	Hershey Bears	AHL		44	20	25	45	42		6	3	0	3	2
1976–77	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		21	2	0	2	16		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Hershey Bears	AHL		54	25	23	48	29		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		61	10	15	25	26		3	1	0	1	0
1979–80	Rochester Americans	AHL		37	13	23	36	37		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		14	3	12	15	4		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		78	52	51	103	39		5	2	4	6	14
1981–82	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		59	15	26	41	77		10	1	0	1	9
1982–83	Fredericton Express	AHL		19	16	15	31	16		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		35	9	14	23	6		4	0	0	0	2
NHL totals				556	160	187	347	307		35	5	5	10	34

External links

• Jacques Richard's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by None

Atlanta Flames first round draft pick 1972

Succeeded by Tom Lysiak