Sabres Announce Jake Richard signed to an ELC

[Brawndo]

Per Sabres PR

[Brawndo]

 

[tom webster]

This is example ten thousand on how it is not easy to get a read on anything that a sports franchise is really planning. Two days ago, I asked two different people who should know, and another two people who are on some level “insiders,” and all four said he was going back to school.

[DarthEbriate]

With Rosén gone, Richard steps into the Amerks lineup as the top RW prospect. Carson Meyer (1 year remaining, not really a prospect) and Olivier Nadeau are the others with an NHL contract. He'll have plenty of opportunity for a sizable role and PP time as a rookie.

[msw2112]

Just now, DarthEbriate said:

With Rosén gone, Richard steps into the Amerks lineup as the top RW prospect. Carson Meyer (1 year remaining, not really a prospect) and Olivier Nadeau are the others with an NHL contract. He'll have plenty of opportunity for a sizable role and PP time as a rookie.

I assume that comment was meant to imply that he'll have that opportunity in Rochester.  I know very little about this player, but am interested in what those in the know have to say.  Does anyone see a realistic NHL future for Richard?  If so, is he projected to be an eventual 4th liner, middle-6, or top-6? Any insights are appreciated.

[tom webster]

6 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

I assume that comment was meant to imply that he'll have that opportunity in Rochester.  I know very little about this player, but am interested in what those in the know have to say.  Does anyone see a realistic NHL future for Richard?  If so, is he projected to be an eventual 4th liner, middle-6, or top-6? Any insights are appreciated.

Right now he projects as a longterm AHL player but he has tools that make him intriguing. He had a very good year two years ago, struggled last year.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Will he be better than Sabres legend Jaques Richard?

Edited May 28 by GASabresIUFAN

[Nacho Libre]

Jarmo getting an early start on his GM of the year campaign I like it 

[Brawndo]

Richard is very close with Amerks Defenseman Gavin McCarthy. Jake stayed with the McCarthy Family last summer and trained at the HarborCenter with him.

[Flashsabre]

He has terrific hands and a good hockey mind.

It is the feet that have to improve. If he can get faster he has a chance to be a player.

[inkman]

The pipeline does need to be restocked. Maybe they don’t have a lot of options? He doesn’t project to an NHL player but who knows I guess. 

[Eleven]

Who?

Edited May 29 by Eleven

[Nacho Libre]

I’m sure that Egg is a very nice person 

[Ctaeth]

obligatory prospect highlights post from kris baker:

 

[DarthEbriate]

His posted cap hit on the 2-year ELC is $1,013,750. With the rising cap, even the guys that once famously signed for $750k will all be $1M.

[DarthEbriate]

15 hours ago, msw2112 said:

I assume that comment was meant to imply that he'll have that opportunity in Rochester.  I know very little about this player, but am interested in what those in the know have to say.  Does anyone see a realistic NHL future for Richard?  If so, is he projected to be an eventual 4th liner, middle-6, or top-6? Any insights are appreciated.

Definitely Rochester for the foreseeable future.

He had a very solid Frozen Four. Good power play distributor. If everything goes right, he's a middle 6 in the NHL.

[JP51]

15 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Will he be better than Sabres legend Jaques Richard?

As soon as I saw the title my brain literally read it as Jaques Richard... lets hope he is closer to Maurice or Henri than Jacques... 

[French Collection]

2 minutes ago, JP51 said:

As soon as I saw the title my brain literally read it as Jaques Richard... lets hope he is closer to Maurice or Henri than Jacques... 

It is crazy that Jacques Richard went to the Nordiques after the Sabres and scored 52G and 51A for 103 pts. Home cooking?

[JP51]

17 minutes ago, French Collection said:

It is crazy that Jacques Richard went to the Nordiques after the Sabres and scored 52G and 51A for 103 pts. Home cooking?

I remember that! 

[Taro T]

27 minutes ago, French Collection said:

It is crazy that Jacques Richard went to the Nordiques after the Sabres and scored 52G and 51A for 103 pts. Home cooking?

Probably finally got off the sauce for a brief while.

[Pimlach]

I so wanted Jacques Richard to reach his potential as a Sabre but it was not to be.  Acquired for a first round pick and Larry Carriere, he was worth the gamble at the time.  

He had the 52 goal and 103 point year in Quebec, that was it.  Troubled guy. 
 

[GoPuckYourself]

Sweet can he play goalie?

[Doohickie]

On 5/28/2026 at 5:37 PM, DarthEbriate said:

With Rosén gone, Richard steps into the Amerks lineup as the top RW prospect. Carson Meyer (1 year remaining, not really a prospect) and Olivier Nadeau are the others with an NHL contract. He'll have plenty of opportunity for a sizable role and PP time as a rookie.

Does he become the Forward version of Zach Metsa?

[Doohickie]

On 5/28/2026 at 10:16 PM, Ctaeth said:

obligatory prospect highlights post from kris baker:

 

Looks like he does his best work at the goal mouth.  If he can put up with violence of the NHL crease he might have a role with the Sabres, particularly on the power play.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

Does he become the Forward version of Zach Metsa?

Metsa was an undrafted college free agent who I think was already 24 when he joined the Amerks and a captain in college and soon to be a captain in Rochester.

Richard will turn 22 for this season and was drafted with offensive upside; no size concerns. Obviously, hope for a Kotalik with more playmaking and a less heavy shot. (He doesn't have Hagel's tenacity who was the pinnacle of recent 6th round picks.)

He's a 6th round pick. Now that he's an AHLer, most likely he can be a tweener as a ceiling.