The biggest fish in the 2011 NHL free agent market has chosen the hugest pond.

Brad Richards will be exchanging his Dallas Stars jersey for an Original Six sweater to play with the New York Rangers under his former Lightning coach, John Tortorella .  The coveted UFA signed a nine-year deal reported to be for $60 million after coming off his best goal scoring season.

Richards who has been consistent most of his career finished with 28 goals in just 72 games last season, a career high. The year prior he matched his career-best 91 point total that he originally set in the 2005-06 season in Tampa Bay.

The Murray Harbour, Canada native was originally drafted by the Lightning in the third round of the 1998 NHL Draft and since then has spent his time playing in two southern U.S. markets, Florida and Texas.

One of the reasons Richards mentioned in choosing the Big Apple was the fact they are an Original Six team. The other reasons were stable ownership (are you listening Atlanta Spirit Group) and the facts Torts is behind the bench. Tortorella coached Richards and the Lightning to a 2004 Stanley Cup championship.

So now that Rangers GM Glen Sather has won the Brad Richards sweepstakes, will the jinx of signing top UFAs that flop finally end?

Other major NHL UFA signings.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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