NEW YORK -- The Rangers bought out the contract of veteran forward Brad Richards on Friday, creating much-needed salary-cap space and parting ways with New Yorks de facto captain one week after the club was eliminated from the Stanley Cup finals. Toni Kroos Jersey . Both the Rangers and Richards agent, Pat Morris, confirmed the move. "Tough last few days," Richards said in a statement released by the team. "I loved being a Ranger and living in New York and playing at MSG in front of great fans. Ive met many new friends, excellent teammates and staff, and I have memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. "(General manager) Glen Sather, the management and owner, Mr. Dolan, are all class acts. I want to thank them for letting me be a part of New York life and the Rangers family. With this decision finalized, I can now look forward to starting the next chapter in my career." The 34-year-old Richards had six years remaining on the nine-year, $60 million deal he signed in 2011, and this move will remove his $6.67 million salary-cap charge. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Richards will receive two-thirds of the remaining money to be paid out over 12 years -- a total of $12.6 million. Richards will also be paid $8 million in signing bonuses over the next three seasons. He didnt have to clear waivers before the buyout because his contract had a no-movement clause. The Rangers used their second and final compliance buyout on Richards after using the first on former defenceman Wade Redden last year. They had to be used before July 1. "We would like to thank Brad for everything he has done for our team on and off the ice during his time here," Sather said in a statement. "This was an extremely difficult decision to make because of how much respect I have for him. "Brads leadership and guidance for our young players was invaluable to the organization. We are grateful to have had the professionalism and experience he brought as an example for our team to follow. Brad has been a very good player for us and an even better person. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours." New York has numerous unrestricted and restricted free agents this summer, and will need as much cap space as possible to bring back key players and perhaps add others on the market. "Were going to work on putting a good team on the ice, but every year is different," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Monday when the Rangers cleaned out their lockers. "Next years team is going to be different, and youve got to go through the same process. Its going to be a challenge to make the playoffs, and then you take it one series at a time." Richards was demoted to the fourth line in the finals against Los Angeles. "I am a big fan of Brad Richards," Vigneault said. "He is a classy, classy individual. If you look at Brads overall season he had a real good year. "I am very happy with what he brought to the table. A veteran player from Day One that was a real good extension of the coaching staff in the dressing room. He should walk away from this season very pleased with how he played and how he contributed to our team." Richards had 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 games this season -- the lowest point-per-game average of his career -- and added five goals and seven assists in New Yorks 25 post-season games. He had only one assist in the five-game finals loss to the Kings. Richards took on a bigger leadership role after captain Ryan Callahan was traded to Tampa Bay for St. Louis in March. His voice carried in the room even as his play declined as the playoff run got deeper. In 210 regular-season games with the Rangers, Richards had 56 goals and 95 assists. He was benched in last years post-season by former coach John Tortorella during New Yorks second-round loss to Boston. Richards earned his contract when he hit the free-agent market after having 28 goals and 77 points during the 2010-11 season with Dallas. Benedikt Howedes Jersey . First, Ivan Nova decided to have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. Then Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games for using pine tar. Kerem Demirbay Jersey . Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. http://www.germanyfcsoccershop.com/c-17-kevin-volland-germany-jersey.aspx . -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two.FRASERVILLE, Ont. -- JR Fitzpatrick did everything he could. LP Dumoulin did what he needed. The result was Dumoulin was crowned the champion of the 2014 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 Saturday, while Fitzpatrick walked away with the winners trophy for the Pintys 250 at Kawartha Speedway. Final championship margin: Three points. It capped a remarkable career transformation for the 35-year-old Dumoulin, who got his start in open-wheel racing and didnt make his NASCAR debut until 2009. He ran his first full season in 2012, won his first NASCAR race last year and first NASCAR oval race this season. And now the Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, native became the first driver besides Andrew Ranger, Scott Steckly and DJ Kennington to take home the coveted national championship for Canadian stock-car racing. Dumoulin qualified 15th and finished ninth at Kawartha. It was enough for him to edge Fitzpatrick for the title after the latter won the pole award and led the most laps en route to his third victory of the season. Fitzpatrick led three times for 171 laps, including the final 78. A late caution gave Steckly one more shot with sevenn to go, but Fitzpatrick pulled away to win by . Marvin Plattenhardt Jersey. 229 seconds. It was all for naught, though, as a 100-lap green flag run in the middle of the race left just 10 cars on the lead lap and all but ensured Dumoulin the title. He entered the race with a 16-point lead and needed to only finish 11th or better to claim the championship. Defending race and series champion Steckly finished second at Kawartha, while Jason Hathaway, Mark Dilley and Kennington rounded out the top five. Jeff Lapcevich was sixth, followed by Steve Mathews, rookie Matthew Scannell, Dumoulin and Jim White. Kennington finished third in points, 48 back of Fitzpatrick. Steckly edged Hathaway by one point for fourth. The Pintys 250 will air on TSN on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. ET, and on RDS2 on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 9:30 p.m. TSN will also air a 2014 Season In Review on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. Dumoulin will be honored for his championship season along with NASCARs other touring series champions on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the NASCAR Touring Series Awards in the Grand Ballroom of the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '