History
2001 Draft, First Round (16th Overall) by the Vancouver Canucks.
Considered to be the best player to ever come out of the Pittsburgh area, Richard J. Umberger has excelled at every level of hockey that he has played.
Talent Analysis
Umberger is an excellent blend of size and skill. For a big young man, he skates almost effortlessly, with a smooth, powerful stride which often leaves opposing forwards in his tracks.
His offensive game is still a tad unpolished, yet well-developed for a younger player. Good passing skills, and a hard shot are attributes that describe him well.
Defensively, it has been said in the past that Umberger is a player who lacks desire. He is not always overly willing to come back and help out in his own zone; which has brought others to think that he's unmotivated. That said, he still needs a bit of work in this area.
One other thing he would be well-advised to work on is his physical play. For someone with such good size, Umberger is not overly physical. If he were to add this element to his game, and put on some weight, he could be an effective power forward.
Future
Umberger was dealt back to the Philadelphia Flyers by the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Scott Hartnell and a 2014 draft pick.
