Flyers C Richards signs 12-year deal

Dec 13, 2007 - 11:37 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Mike Richards will be a Philadelphia Flyer for quite a long time.

The Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday signed the 22-year-old Richards to a 12-year contract extension, keeping the center in the City of Brotherly Love through the 2019-20 season.

"I am very happy to be a part of the organization for hopefully the rest of my career," Richards said. "It's just exciting to be a part of something that has such a great tradition and history as the Philadelphia Flyers."

Financial terms were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada reported the deal - which begins next season - is worth $69 million.

Richards, who was scheduled to be a restricted free agent after this season, has been a key player in the resurgence of the Flyers (16-10-2) this campaign, leading the team with a career-high 14 goals and 34 points.

A strong player in all three zones, Richards owns a plus-10 rating this season with four power-play goals, three shorthanded tallies and three game-winners.

"Mike has become an integral part of our core group and we are extremely happy to have him under contract long term," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "We believe that he will continue to grow as a player and as a leader."

Drafted 24th overall in 2003, Richards has 35 goals and 100 points in 166 career games. He was a member of the Philadelphia Phantoms' Calder Cup championship team in 2005 and helped the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League win the Memorial Cup in 2003.

Richards also served as captain of Team Canada's gold medal-winning club at the 2005 World Junior Championship.