Danny Richmond

Playing career

Danny Richmond got his start in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, skating for a minor team from Illinois. Before he made it to the pros, he spent one season each in three different leagues. During the 2001-02 season, he played for the Chicago Steel in the USHL, where he was named the league's Rookie of the Year and made the first-team All-Star squad. That year, his father was the Steel's head coach. The next season, Richmond moved to college hockey with the University of Michigan in the CCHA, earning a spot on the conference's All-Rookie Team. For the 2003-04 campaign, he suited up for the London Knights of the OHL. He also represented the United States at the 2004 World Junior Championships, helping the team capture gold and picking up two assists in the championship game.

In the 2003 NHL Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes took Richmond with the 31st overall pick, the first selection of the second round. He signed a three-year contract with Carolina on September 15, 2004. His first professional season came in 2004-05 with the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters, where he notched four goals and nine assists over 63 games. The following year, he split time between Lowell and the Hurricanes, playing ten NHL games and recording one assist. He also earned a spot on the AHL's Planet USA All-Star Team. On January 20, 2006, Carolina traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for Anton Babchuk, and he was sent to the AHL's Norfolk Admirals.

On July 17, 2008, the Blackhawks traded Richmond to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tim Brent. He spent the 2008-09 season with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, playing 55 games before being dealt to the St. Louis Blues for Andy Wozniewski on March 4, 2009. Richmond re-signed with the Blues on a one-year deal on July 20, 2009. He began the 2009-10 season with the Blues' AHL team, the Peoria Rivermen, appearing in 54 games. On March 1, 2010, he was traded back to the Blackhawks along with Hannu Toivonen in exchange for Joe Fallon. On June 11, 2010, Richmond was an honorary guest at the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup parade. Later, on September 30, 2010, he received a Stanley Cup ring alongside other Blackhawks players and staff at a private ceremony.