Last season, the two forwards both played with the Lightning's AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch. However, whereas Richard played there for the entire season, Vermin only joined the Crunch after SC Bern did not make the playoffs this spring.
Drafted by the Lightning in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Richard has been able to score 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 64 games in his first full season with the Crunch. He finished the rookie showcase with two assists in three games.
Vermin on the other hand, a seventh round pick in 2013, slowed down in his point production, going from 44 points in 66 games (2012/13) to 22 points in 56 games (2013/14). However, some of it can also be attributed to SC Bern's problems last season. Vermin played eight games for the Crunch in the spring, scoring one assist.
