A-ROD TREATMENT: Highly paid superstar Brad Richards’ demotion to a bit player on the Rangers’ fourth line in the playoffs is reminiscent of Alex Rodriguez’s benching in last year’s Yankees postseason. (Paul J. Bereswill; Bill Kostroun (A-Rod))
BOSTON — It isn’t Alex Rodriguez batting eighth in the order in the 2006 playoffs, because seriously, what else could be? Other than, that is, Rodriguez being pinch-hit for and then benched entirely in the playoffs six years later.
But it is Brad Richards being benched and demoted to the fourth line, not once, not twice, but game after game after game in the playoffs, and that is a pretty darn big deal, even as it has somehow become business as usual for the Rangers.
I mean, it’s Brad Richards.
Joe Torre obviously didn’t miss a beat in embarrassing A-Rod after three bad games in ’06. Joe Girardi went about his work in a cool, bloodless manner in managing around an enfeebled Rodriguez last October.
This, though, with Richards; this has to be tearing up John Tortorella’s insides even as he presents a detached and cool exterior when questioned about the situation.
Make no mistake: Richards is one of Tortorella’s favorite players ever. Freddie Shero had it right in Philadelphia in 1974: You win the Stanley Cup together and you walk together forever. Richards and Tortorella have been walking together since 2004, when the Lightning won the Cup and the center won the Conn Smythe Trophy in his fourth season playing for the coach.
So when Tortorella begins an answer to a question about Richards’ status as the club’s fourth-line center with the words, “Sometimes it’s not about Brad,” as he did yesterday on the first of two days between Game 1 of the conference semis and Game 2 against the Bruins here tomorrow, it’s kind of a whoa moment.
As much of a whoa moment as the whole of the 3-2 overtime series-opening defeat in which Richards got the least amount of even-strength ice time of any Ranger (9:59), including 26 seconds in the second period when he sat on the bench for a stretch of eight minutes.
Richards, who turned 33 a couple of weeks ago, isn’t some bit guy. He was supposed to be the missing link when he signed that nine-year, $60 million contract over the summer of 2011 under which he has already been paid $24 million — and would be owed another $24 million if the Rangers use their final amnesty buyout on him this summer.
Last season was decent and included some high points both in the regular season and playoffs. But this season has been a nightmare from the delayed start.
Everyone thinks the lockout, through which Richards remained at home and engaged in the negotiations, is at the root of his problems. It remains to be seen whether the buyout decision is deferred until after the 2013-14 season that will begin with a training camp, but no one can say Tortorella didn’t see something like this coming.
“I worry about our older guys like Richie and [since-departed Mike Rupp] who aren’t playing [in Europe],” Tortorella told The Post on Oct. 23, nearly three months before the season would start. “It’s tough and they need to stay on top of it.”
That’s in the past and the buyout decision is in the future. The present is the critical issue, however, and Richards is on the fourth line with Chris Kreider and Arron Asham because that’s the alignment under which the coach can roll his other nine forwards with some confidence.
Tortorella said, “Yes,” the Rangers need more out of Richards and, “Yes,” Richards can provide that even in his unprecedented role as a fourth-line center making cameo appearances.
But probably not. Probably the only way for Richards to contribute is to be given a bigger role, but the cold, hard truth is he has done nothing to earn it this year. Tortorella gives credit where credit is due, but you can’t win games flashing credit cards.
So here we are, with Richards on the bench, his limited assignment by now almost an afterthought.
Brad Richards.
Think about that.