TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Hall of Fame Inductees Dave Andreychuk and Brad Richards were getting fitted for the Jackets while reminiscing about the 2004 Stanley Cup team that started this magnificent run of being one of the top teams in the NHL.
“We’re getting the crew together and doing something together,” Richards said about Alumni weekend March 8-9. “It wasn’t just one year and now to see the franchise, organization probably top two or three places people wanna play. We were kinda part of that growth. Obviously, this group has taken it to a new level.”
Andreychuk had more than 1,300 games of NHL experience coming to the Lightning in 2001 and was a driving force providing leadership to the core of young players like Richards, Vinny Lecavlaier, and Marty St. Louis won it all in 2004.
“Coming to this community, 20 years ago, not knowing where my career was going to go, what happened in those four years was pretty special,” Andreychuk said. “To be recognized for those years it means alot.”
Richards was a clutch player winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the postseason in 2004 and scored the game winning goal in each of the Bolts four playoff series then.
“When you look back at your career, the most fun time for me, there wasn’t a lot of pressure, everything was new and we were having a lot of fun growing together,” Richards said. “Second, I didn’t have a family then, so to come back and show them that Dad doesn’t wake up and go golfing everyday and he actually did something a few years ago.”
Andreychuk and Richards got fitted for the Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame jackets with Andreychuk kidding that he thought he’s put on a few pounds since his playing days.These two will go in along with Lightning founder Phil Esposito, Lecavalier and St. Louis.
Andreychuk works in the front office for the Lightning as the VP of Corporate and Community Affairs.
“There’s a lot of firsts I’m getting with a suit on,” Andreychuk said. “We’re extremely proud of all of our sellouts. what we’ve done in community hockey. All of these things I’m part of.”
Richards and Andreychuk are looking forward to being back with their old team states and Richards jokes that the stories get longer but he can’t wait.
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