Luke Richardson

Luke Richardson
Richardson at the 2013 AHL All-Star game
Born	(1969-03-26) March 26, 1969 (age 48) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton Oilers Philadelphia Flyers Columbus Blue Jackets Tampa Bay Lightning Ottawa Senators
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	7th overall, 1987 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1987–2008

Luke Glen Richardson (born March 26, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Richardson most recently served as head coach of the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Prior to his coaching career, Richardson played as a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 21 seasons.

Luke Richardson was selected seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft after two successful seasons with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Midway through his rookie NHL season, on January 6, 1988, Richardson was the victim of an infamous attack from Dino Ciccarelli of the Minnesota North Stars, who clubbed him over the head several times with his stick. Ciccarelli was later convicted of assault, serving one day in jail and paying a fine of $1000 (Canadian). However, the assault had no discernible effects on the play of Richardson. He remained a regular on the Toronto blueline until 1991 when he was involved in a blockbuster trade, moving to the Edmonton Oilers along with Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton, Peter Ing, future considerations, and cash in exchange for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and Craig Berube.

Though not a great point producer, Richardson developed a reputation as an aggressive, stay-at-home blueliner. He would be consistent in that regard during stops with the Oilers, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was with the Flyers that Richardson came the closest to a Stanley Cup appearance in 2000, when the Flyers lost 4–3 in the Eastern Conference Finals to the New Jersey Devils.