Todd Richards believes Brandon Saad will bring 'winning attitude, confidence' in Columbus
That 22-year-old winger the Columbus Blue Jackets added this offseason? Yeah, Todd Richards is pretty excited about him.
“I just want him to come in here and be Brandon Saad, first and foremost,” Richards said to Rob Mixer of BlueJackets.com. “There are things he can add to this team on the ice in game situations and practice, but there’s also a lot he can bring to our room. A winning attitude, confidence, knowing that you’ve won and know what it takes. There will be some leadership there."
Despite playing just three full seasons in his young NHL career, Saad has his name on the Stanley Cup twice, playing a key part in each of the Chicago Blackhawks championship runs.
Saad finished his last season with a career high in goals and assists, with 23 and 29, respectively.
"We know what type of player he is," Richards said. "He’s an honest, hard-working player with a lot of speed and he can finish plays. He was on a great team and he’s going to come in here and make this team better, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
The Blue Jackets don't have to return to Columbus until early September, but that doesn't mean Richards isn't itching to get this season underway. But he's going to make sure those preseason pressures don't get to he and his team.
“When you get down here to the arena, you see the players around here, and then read the stuff in the news and the media coverage, it gets you excited,” Richards said. “When there’s activity around the rink, noise coming from the locker room, all those things…it gets your juices going and there’s real anticipation for the season to get started.
“It doesn’t change our expectations internally. What we want to accomplish hasn’t changed and it’s the same goal every year – we want to compete for the Stanley Cup. When you feel you’re a better team, then the expectations and external pressures come into play. For everyone in here, new faces and returning players, the expectation is to win, plain and simple.”
(h/t BlueJackets.com)
