Anthony Richard Bio
Anthony Richard is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born December 20, 1996, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Richard was selected 100th overall in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators and began his professional career in 2016.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Richard was born and raised in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. He developed through local minor hockey in Quebec before advancing to major junior competition, a common path for Canadian prospects aiming for the professional ranks.
Richard progressed to play major junior hockey with the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In his fourth and final junior season, while still with the Foreurs, he earned an entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on November 14, 2015, a key step from junior hockey toward a professional career.
Path to Hockey
Richard’s development followed the traditional Canadian junior-to-pro ladder. His play with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the QMJHL put him on NHL scouting lists and led to his selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators at 100th overall.
After signing his entry-level contract late in 2015, Richard transitioned to professional hockey in 2016. He spent his early pro years within the Predators organization, mainly developing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Milwaukee Admirals while remaining available for NHL recall.
Anthony Richard Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Richard turned professional in 2016 and began his pro career in the Nashville Predators organization. He played primarily with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL as he adjusted to the speed and physicality of professional hockey and worked to establish himself as a reliable forward at the next level.
During these formative seasons, Richard’s role focused on development within the Admirals’ lineup. He continued to refine his game with an emphasis on goal scoring and two-way forward play that kept him in consideration for NHL recalls.
Predators and NHL Debut (2018)
Anthony Richard earned his first NHL recall from the Milwaukee Admirals to the Nashville Predators on December 1, 2018, following an injury to a Predators forward. He made his NHL debut that day against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5–2 Predators victory and was returned to the Admirals after the game.
That NHL debut represented a milestone in Richard’s career and validated his progression through the Predators development system. He continued to play in the AHL while remaining a depth option for Nashville over the following seasons.
AHL Standout and Trade to Tampa Bay (2019–2022)
Over subsequent seasons Richard established himself as a consistent AHL performer with Milwaukee, demonstrating goal-scoring ability that kept him on the radar of NHL organizations. In the 2021–22 season he was traded by Nashville to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Jimmy Huntington on February 1, 2022, after six years in the Predators organization.
The trade marked a new chapter in Richard’s professional career and continued his role as a productive AHL forward and NHL depth option within a different organization.
Montreal Canadiens and Laval Rocket Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Richard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 13, 2022, and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He adopted jersey number 90 with the Canadiens organization after his usual number 20 was in use, a nod to Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s iconic number 9.
With Laval, Richard produced an immediate offensive impact. By mid-December he had scored a league-leading 18 goals in 27 games and had recorded 31 points, prompting the Canadiens to recall him on December 18, 2022. He made his Canadiens debut on December 19, 2022, and scored his first NHL goal on December 21, 2022, against the Colorado Avalanche on a breakaway deke.
Richard played a total of 13 games with the Canadiens that season, finishing with three goals and five points in those NHL appearances before returning to the Rocket to complete the campaign in the AHL.
Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers Era (2023–Present)
As a free agent from the Canadiens, Anthony Richard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2023. He was recalled by the Bruins from their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on February 8, 2024, and made his Bruins debut on February 10, 2024, against the Washington Capitals.
Richard left Boston at the conclusion of his contract and signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 2, 2024. He is under contract to the Flyers while playing with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL, serving as a professional depth forward within the Flyers organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Anthony Richard’s career include his selection at 100th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, his NHL debut for the Predators on December 1, 2018, and his first NHL goal for the Montreal Canadiens on December 21, 2022. His midseason form with the Laval Rocket in 2022–23, when he led the league with 18 goals in 27 games at the time of his call-up, represents a defining professional achievement.
Anthony Richard Career Wins
Rather than team wins, Anthony Richard’s career highlights span draft selection, professional contracts, AHL scoring performances and NHL appearances. He has moved through multiple NHL organizations while producing notable offensive totals at the AHL level that have led to NHL recalls and playing opportunities.
AHL Highlights
Richard’s AHL impact is a primary facet of his professional record. His scoring surge with the Laval Rocket in 2022–23—18 goals in 27 games at the time of his recall—underscored his value as a goal scorer in the AHL and helped secure NHL playing time with the Montreal Canadiens that season.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL Richard has recorded his debut with the Nashville Predators on December 1, 2018, and scored his first NHL goal on December 21, 2022, with the Montreal Canadiens. He has also appeared in NHL games with the Boston Bruins following a recall in February 2024 and joined the Philadelphia Flyers organization on a two-year deal in July 2024.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Before turning professional, Richard developed his game with the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL and earned an entry-level NHL contract in November 2015. His junior performance set the stage for his selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and his subsequent professional career beginning in 2016.
Anthony Richard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Anthony Richard was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Public records and available sources list his birthplace and Canadian nationality, but do not provide further verified details about his parents or extended family in the public domain.
Personal Life
Richard keeps his personal life private. There are no verified public records listing a spouse or children as of the latest available information.
2025 Season Performance
For the 2024–25 season, Anthony Richard is under the two-year, two-way contract he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 2, 2024, and is assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. That contract structure makes him available for NHL recall to the Flyers while he continues to play a primary role at the AHL level.
Richard’s role within the organization is that of an experienced AHL forward who has demonstrated goal-scoring capability and can be called upon as organizational depth at the NHL level. His 2024–25 season responsibilities center on contributing offensively for the Phantoms and providing a reliable option for Philadelphia when roster needs arise.