TSN is reporting that Dallas Stars forward Brad Richards had hip surgery yesterday to repair a small labrum tear, a surgery that normally requires eight weeks to repair.
This answers a number of questions from this season, namely what “nagging” injury Richards was constantly given time off for. Richards would routinely be given practices and skates off, in order to stay fresh for the games.
Richards responded as the most consistent and dangerous Stars player on the ice, threatening to break Mike Modano’s team record from points in a season. He finished with 24 goals and 67 assists, and had the most power play points in the NHL.
This could also explain why Richards was not named to Team Canada for the World Championships.