And now Richards will make his regular-season debut for the Rangers on Friday as the club takes on the Los Angeles Kings in an NHL betting matchup at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

New York made it to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference last year, but their postseason journey didn't last long as they were bounced in five games by the Washington Capitals.

Whether or not Richards can improve the team's fortunes in this year's postseason remains to be seen, but for Friday at least the crowd will be less interested in him and more keen on seeing the team's goaltender, native son Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist had another strong season for the Rangers last year, putting up 36 wins and posting a goals-against average of 2.28 and a save percentage of .920. However, his Kings counterpart on this trip was stellar in 2010-11 as well, with Jonathan Quick winning 35 games while putting up a GAA of 2.24 and a save percentage of .920.

Quick's netminding led the Kings to the seventh seed in the West last season, although they also bowed out in the first round of the playoffs (to the San Jose Sharks). Los Angeles blueliner Drew Doughty will be on the ice on Friday after holding out for much of training camp in a contract dispute – the team caved, and he's back on the roster.

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