Los Angeles Kings’ Brad Richardson out indefinitely following emergency appendectomy –NHL Update
Los Angeles Kings lost some offensive depth as veteran center, Brad Richardson, is reported to be out indefinitely after undergoing an emergency appendectomy following a team practice session on Tuesday, April 10, 2012.
Richardson became a main player for Los Angeles during their last five games of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season as Jeff Carter went out due to a deep bone bruise in his ankle. Fortunately for the Kings, Carter is expected to be
back and playing in their opening game against Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference playoff quarterfinals.
Kings head coach, Darryl Sutter, realised that Richardson was having symptoms and made Richardson realise that he would have to undergo the procedure at some point.
"He had them the last couple of days and yesterday morning I told him to stay off the ice," Sutter said Tuesday after practice in El Segundo. "We thought it was groin-related, or stomach muscle-related. He had his ultrasound yesterday afternoon.… I know
how he feels, I had that four, five years ago when I was at the Saddledome"
If Carter was not going to be available for their playoff series against the top Western Conference seed Vancouver, than it was Richardson who was expected to be backing up the position, but now since he is back, losing Richardson for a while will not be
as tangling for the team.
Acquired from Columbus Blue Jackets during the season, Carter is now feeling at home with a playoff competing team. He was seen in practice on Tuesday as well and is slowly progressing in regards to skating at full speed along with playing the offence.
"The first couple of strides, the first couple are a little sore. But once I actually get moving, I’m all right. It should be fine. I feel like I’m getting better and I can contribute something,” Carter said.
In order to fill in the gap left by Brad Richardson, the Los Angeles Kings have called up Andrei Loktionov from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Manchester.
Richardson played in 59 games this past regular season and had eight points (5 goals, 3 assists).
Tags: