Brad Richards has reached rock bottom - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards may have reached rock bottom.

NHL Playoff Observations -- Friday (Thursday, too)

Source: RotoSynthesis

Just a few things that caught my eye:

• Four shots, three goals ... and his second career hat playoff hat trick. The third goal was Sidney Crosby's 100th playoff point, a feat accomplished in merely 75 games. Plus he's the fifth fastest to hit that 100-point mark. Who was faster? Just Wayne Gretzky (46 games), Mario Lemieux (50), Jari Kurri (67) and Mike Bossy (74). Now that's elite company.

• Where-o-where has my Brad Richards gone? Oh, where-o-where could he be? Oh right -- behind the play, struggling to catch up. Sometimes skills trickle away; sometimes they just fall off a cliff. Sad.

NHL Playoff Observations -- Friday

Source: RotoSynthesis

Just a few things that caught my eye:

• James Reimer, two; Roberto Luongo, zero. Playoff wins, that is -- isn't that what Leafs' fans thought they'd get out of a Bobby Lou trade? Any chance they eat crow?

• Where are you, Rick Nash? Brad Richards? And how much cash is tied up in you two stiffs?

Callahan, Richards and Stepan lead Rangers - Ryan Callahan | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Ryan Callahan, Brad Richards and Derek Stepan had two-point games as the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Sunday.

Rangers reunite Gaborik, Nash, Brad Richards - Marian Gaborik | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Marian Gaborik has been reunited with Rick Nash and Brad Richards on the New York Ragners' top line.

Brad Richards (neck) to rejoin Rangers Friday - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards (neck) will return on Friday.

B. Richards dealing with neck/back problems - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards' upper body injury is related to his neck and back.

Brad Richards feels sore, not concussed - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards isn't sure when he'll be able to return from an upper body injury.

Brad Richards: Out Tuesday

Source: RotoWire.com NHL

Brad Richards: Richards (soreness) won't play Tuesday against the Flyers, Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Brad Richards won't play Tuesday vs. Flyers - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards (upper body) won't play Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Brad Richards questionable to play on Tuesday - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards (upper body) left the morning skate early and is questionable to play Tuesday night against the Flyers.

NHL hands Kaleta a five-game ban for boarding - Patrick Kaleta | BUF

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for five games for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards.

Kaleta will have disciplinary hearing Monday - Patrick Kaleta | BUF

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Patrick Kaleta will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday afternoon after he hit Brad Richards, of the New York Rangers, from behind Sunday night.

Brad Richards demoted to third line in loss - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards was demoted to the third line during Thursday night's shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Shuffle Up: The Unrankable Alex Ovechkin

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The new assignment on the Shuffle Up clipboard is the forwards, the men who drive so much of the fantasy equation. We're looking at the basic Yahoo! scoring categories here (goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, plus-minus, penalty minutes) and we're trying to project how they'll play out from this point forward. Position flexibility and scarcity also counts a small amount; in theory, it's a tie-breaker between similar commodities.

What's happened to this point is merely an audition; this list is not intended to merely stand as a list of stat leaders. In every Shuffle Up, some will find the list too reactive while others will feel it's not reactive enough. Everyone has a different perspective, and I welcome

Rangers break up top line in loss to Penguins - Rick Nash | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Coach John Tortorella broke up the Rangers' top line of Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik during Thursday's 3-0 loss.

Marian Gaborik moves up to Rangers' top line - Marian Gaborik | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Marian Gaborik practiced on the first line, with Brad Richards and Rick Nash, on Tuesday.

Brad Richards misses on-ice work Tuesday - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards didn't skate again Tuesday as he fights through a nasty case of the flu.

Brad Richards: Misses Third Straight Practice

Source: RotoWire.com NHL

Brad Richards: Richards (illness) missed his third straight practice with the flu, Newsday's Steve Zipay reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Carl Hagelin: Could Skate With Richards and Nash

Source: RotoWire.com NHL

Carl Hagelin: Hagelin appears to be in position to open the season on a line with Brad Richards and Rick Nash, the NY Post reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Shuffle Up: Evgeni Malkin rules the world

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

You're going to need plenty of offensive firepower to win your fake hockey league this year. Here's a list of 112 forwards to get you started.

Normal Shuffle Up rules apply. I reserve the right to tweak this list as the day goes along; bring your best debates to the comments. Win the discussion, win the rank. And it's all good if you have a lot of disagreement on the list - that's what makes the game so enjoyable. If everyone had the same general ranks, what fun is that?

Categories considered in this exercise: goals, assists, plus-minus, power-play points, shots on goal, penalty minutes. And implicit in any ranking is an eye towards playing time, durability, upside and downside. One additional

Brad Richards and Rangers play for charity - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Brad Richards will lead a bunch of Ranger players as well as a number of ringers against Philadelphia players in a charity game to assist those in need as a result of Hurricane Sandy Saturday night.

Rangers won't make any Game 6 guarantee - Brad Richards | NYR

Source: Rotoworld Hockey

Unlike the last Eastern Conference final Game 6 against the Devils, the Rangers won't be making any assurances of a win in this one.