Red Wings sign Brad Richards on first day of free agency

By @MichaelCaples –

The Red Wings added one of the top free agents in Mike Green during the first afternoon of the free agency period.

Apparently, they aren’t stopping with Green.

Detroit has also added to their group of forwards, bringing in former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards, according to both Ken Campbell of The Hockey News and Aaron Ward of TSN.

UPDATE (5:27 p.m.): The Red Wings have confirmed the signing of Richards.

BREAKING: The #RedWings signed free agent forward Brad Richards to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/IH8swUSr6z

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 1, 2015

According to Ward, it’s a one-year deal at $3 million. Per the TSN free agent watch show, the deal could go up to $4 million with playoff bonuses included.

Richards, fresh off a Stanley Cup championship with the Chicago Blackhawks, has 904 points in 1,058 career NHL games.

He helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship in 2004 – he was tabbed playoff MVP for his efforts.

After seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Richards spent four seasons with the Dallas Stars, three with the New York Rangers and then last season with the Blackhawks.