Instead, he signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 1982 and was promptly dispatched to the minors with the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL. After one full year of seasoning, Richmond embarked on a pattern of splitting his seasons between the minors and the majors.

His first NHL gig came with the Rangers where he played 30 games as a defensive-minded defender after a stint in Tulsa. He then split his next season between the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL and the Rangers.

In 1985-86, the splits were even more extensive as he spent a portion of his season in New York and New Haven before being traded to Detroit where he shared the remainder of the campaign between the Wings and the Adirondack Red Wings. While in the minors, Richardson helped lead Adirondack to a Calder Cup victory as the champs of the AHL.

The following season, the New Jersey Devils brought him on board to infuse their sagging blueline with some muscle and enthusiasm. The deal only lasted 44 games, however, before he made his familiar return to the minors, this time with the Utica Devils of the AHL.

In 1988, Richmond signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings where he played his final nine NHL games before heading to the minors for good to round out his career with stops in New Haven, Flint, and San Diego where he retired in 1991.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame