In the weeks ahead, many of the Blue Jackets will be scattered all over the globe, decompressing after the grind of an 82-game season.
Todd Richards is going right back to work, however, and his journey will take him to the Czech Republic and the IIHF World Hockey Championships.
USA Hockey announced Monday afternoon that Richards, who just completed his third season as full-time head coach of the Blue Jackets, will serve as coach of Team USA at the World Championships which officially began May 1 in Ostrava.
He will be assisted by former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma (whom Richards knows well and previously worked with during his time in the Pittsburgh organization) and Greg Carvel, coach of St.