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The Chicago Blackhawks filled their hole at second-line centre by securing the services of a veteran at a cut-rate price. Numbers Game looks at the Blackhawks signing Brad Richards. The Blackhawks Get: C Brad Richards. Richards, 34, has been a productive scorer throughout his career, but that productivity has waned as he approaches his mid-thirties. While he finished with a respectable 51 points in 82 games last season, that 0.62 points per game represented a career low and the second-lowest rate of his career was in 2012-2013, when he had 0.74 points per game. The downward trend is pretty clear at this point. He played 18:40 per game last season, his lowest average time on ice since his rookie season in 2000-2001. Given the massive contract that Richards had with the New York Rangers (nine years, $60-million), and the new recapture penalties that were imposed in the latest collective bargaining agreement, the Rangers had little choice but to buy out Richards, after paying him $33-million for the first three years of his deal. A long and productive career leaves Richards with few needs financially, so he went into his newfound free agency looking for a good fit and settled on joining the Blackhawks, a Stanley Cup contender who could use an upgrade at their second-line centre spot. In the past couple years, even as his point production has started to fall, Richards has had his zone starts tilted towards the offensive zone, with more than 65% of his shifts starting in the offensive zone. As a result, hes had strong possession stats, which may be enough to suggest that, even in decline, in a sheltered role, Richards would be an upgrade on Michal Handzus as Chicagos number two centre. In Chicago, there is a good opportunity for Richards to have a productive year. Any combination of the Blackhawks top scoring wingers includes Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad, so playing with two of them ought to give Richards a chance to have decent even-strength production. Whether Richards can match last seasons scoring totals, however, probably will have some dependence on power play production and, over the past couple seasons, Richards has really struggled to produce with the man advantage. Furthermore, Richards presence likely means that top Blackhawks prospect Teuvo Teravainen wont be starting the season in Chicago and that may be fine for his overall development, but if Teravainen shows that hes ready, it would be easy enough to see Richards bumped down the depth chart, as has happened from time to time with the Rangers over the past couple seasons. There is a benefit to the contract that Richards signed with Chicago -- a one-year, $2-million deal -- in that his declining production in New York was frequently contrasted with how much money the Rangers had tied up to get him. Now, Richards is a bargain signing and if he gives Chicago decent second-line production, he would bring a positive return on investment. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Air Max 90 From China . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. Air Max 90 Outlet . Consider it received. Attacking on offence early and often, the Penguins topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night as Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series. http://www.airmax90outletsale.com/ . James scored 25 points against his former team, leading the energized Heat to a 114-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Dwyane Wade added 24 points and Chris Bosh had 22 for the Heat, idle since a 90-84 loss Tuesday at Indiana. Wholesale Air Max 90 . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. Nike Air Max 90 For Sale Cheap . His actions are much louder on the Fenway Park mound. De La Rosa had another strong home start, going seven solid innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.Kent County Cricket Club will seek legal advice after the ECB chose to reinstate Hampshire in Division One of next seasons County Championship rather than promote the Canterbury-based team. On Monday, Durham were demoted from the top flight after being granted an ECB rescue package of £3.8m to help them manage debts which have risen to £7.5m.As a result of this decision, Hampshire, who finished second from bottom in the Division One table, were offered a reprieve by the ECB. Kent, who finished second in Division Two and just missed out on promotion, have stressed they will explore action against the decision made by the ECB.At the start of 2016, the ECB decided to reduce the number of teams in Division One from nine to eight, while adding one more to Division Two for next season - making the second flight a 10-team competition.Kent chairman George Kennedy told Sky Sports News HQ: The rules at the start of the season were two down and one up. With the advent of poor old Durhams suffering, the season was already finished. The two clubs who were demoted, [Nottinghamshire] and Hampshire - that should have stood.I would expect them to at least have a look at who came second in the second division. Ive heard nothing at all. They called me and said Its time we had a meeting because I said Id rather lost confidence in the ECB. Ive given various dates this week that Im available. When we get tthere, I will simply put forward the argument that we finished second and there seems to be a vacancy.ddddddddddddTo arbitrarily take one club and let them stay up without looking at the other just seems plum wrong. I think there should at least be an appeal and it should be heard by somebody other that the board of the ECB. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Durham will start next season on minus 48 points, while Chester-le-Street will have its Test status removed, although they can still host one-day and T20 internationals.Durham will also begin the NatWest T20 Blast with a four-point penalty and a two-point penalty in the Royal London One-Day Cup.Durham are the newest first-class county, having made their debut in 1992. They won the title three times in six seasons between 2008 and 2013.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Durham down after ECB sanction What now for Durham? David Lloyd Bob Willis ' ' '