Jacques Richard

Jacques Richard
Position	Centre
Height Weight	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg)
Teams	Atlanta Flames Buffalo Sabres, Quebec Nordiques Rochester Americans (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Fredericton Express (AHL)
Nationality	Canadian
Born	October 7, 1952(1952-10-07), Quebec City, PQ, CAN
Died	October 8, 2002 (age 50), Quebec City, PQ, CAN
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1972 Atlanta Flames
Pro Career	1972 – 1983

Jacques Richard (October 7, 1952 – October 8, 2002) was a professional centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Quebec Nordiques.

Playing career

Richard was drafted 2nd overall by the Flames in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. He had a spectacular junior career with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 186 goals and 213 assists for 399 points in only 169 games. At the time he was considered by some to have equal if not more pro potential than teammate Guy Lafleur. However he was to have a mostly indifferent pro career. Alternating seasons between the NHL and the minors and traded to Buffalo and finally Quebec. Except for a single season , playing on a line with the Stastny brothers for the Quebec Nordiques, the city of his junior triumphs, in the 1980–81 season, Richard tallied 52 goals and 51 assists for 103 points, to finish 10th in league scoring. This was to be the only time he was to show this potential. He was moved off the line with the Stastny's the next season and his mediocre play returned. He retired in 1983.

Retirement and death

He was named to QMJHL all-time All-Star team by the Canadian Hockey League in 1999.

Richard died October 8, 2002 in a single-vehicle car accident one day after his 50th birthday.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Quebec Jr. Aces	QJAHL		?	23	40	63	?		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Quebec Remparts	QMJHL		52	62	64	126	170		—	—	—	—	—
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		—	—	—	—	—
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

Preceded by None

Atlanta Flames first round draft pick 1972

Succeeded by Tom Lysiak