Editing Maurice Richard (section)

==Playing style==
Richard was nicknamed "the Comet" early in his career. When teammate [[Ray Getliffe]] remarked that Richard "went in like a rocket" as he approached the opposition goal, Richard was dubbed "The Rocket" by a local sportswriter; both Baz O'Meara from the ''[[Montreal Star]]'' and Dink Carroll of the ''Montreal Gazette'' have been credited for the appellation.<ref name="Cameron156" /> The nickname described Richard's play in terms of speed, strength, and determination. Teammate and coach Toe Blake said the moniker was fitting because "when he would take off, nothing got in his way that could stop him".<ref name="TelegraphRetrospective">{{citation |last=Grimsley |first=Will |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19881022&id=zBImAAAAIBAJ&pg=7010,6457176 |title=Richard: The original Rocket |work=The Telegraph |location=Nashua, NH |date=October 22, 1988 |access-date=April 1, 2014 |page=C10}}</ref> Goaltender [[Jacques Plante]] declared it one of the most appropriate nicknames given to an athlete, noting the fierce intensity that often showed in Richard's eyes and comparing it to "the rocket's red glare" referenced in "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]".<ref name="Cameron156" /> [[Glenn Hall]] agreed: "What I remember most about Rocket was his eyes. When he came flying toward you with the puck on his stick, his eyes were all lit up, flashing and gleaming like a pinball machine. It was terrifying."<ref name="TelegraphRetrospective" />
[[File:Hhof maurice richard.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]] is presented annually to the leading goal scorer in the NHL|alt=A trophy featuring a brass-coloured statuette of Richard atop a wood base with metal plates bearing the inscription of the trophy's winners]]
The prime of Richard's career was the era immediately following the Second World War, where battle-hardened players returned to the NHL and implemented a "gladiatorial" style that featured rugged, physical and often violent play.<ref>{{harvnb|Foran|2011|p=59}}</ref> Richard's own temper was infamous, as illustrated by his actions that precipitated the Richard Riot.<ref name="SheerTerror">{{citation |last=Murray |first=Jim |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19660422&id=2otRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7152,4289671 |title='Rocket' used sheer terror on puck foes |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |date=April 22, 1966 |access-date=April 1, 2014 |page=Pt. 2, Pg. 3 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

A pure goal-scorer, Richard did not play with finesse, nor was he known for his passing.<ref name="PodnieksPlayers723" /> One of his teammates remarked that "Maurice wouldn't even pass you the salt".<ref name="SheerTerror" /> Richard led the NHL in goals five times, but never in points.<ref name="TelegraphRetrospective" /> He was best known for dashing toward the net from the [[Ice hockey rink|blue line]] and was equally adept at scoring from his forehand or backhand. His exploits revived a Montreal Canadiens franchise that had struggled to draw fans in the 1930s.<ref>{{citation |last=Carroll |first=Dink |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19850207&id=xg0vAAAAIBAJ&pg=1549,3105610 |title=Players owe a large debt to Richard |work=The Gazette|location=Montreal |date=February 7, 1985 |access-date=April 1, 2014 |page=E8}}</ref> In addition to his 14 appearances on post-season all-star teams (eight on the first team, six on the second), Richard played in 13 consecutive [[NHL All-Star Game]]s between 1947 and 1959.<ref name="Cameron156" />

Richard was still an active player when [[Gordie Howe]] overtook his career record for points.<ref>{{citation |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19600114&id=BNoxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6940,2540148 |title=Gord Howe ties Rocket Richard but Wings lose |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=January 14, 1960 |access-date=April 1, 2014 |page=17}}</ref> Howe surpassed Richard's career mark of 544 goals in 1963, while the latter's record of 50 goals in one season stood for 20 years until broken by [[Bobby Hull]] in 1965.<ref name="Cameron156" /> The Montreal Canadiens donated the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]] to the NHL in 1999 as an award presented annually to the league's leading goal scorer.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashrocketrichard.shtml |title=Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=April 2, 2014 |archive-date=June 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628064124/http://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashrocketrichard.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>