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Lombardi says they will NOT be buying out Richards

MsWoof said:
If he was out of shape going in, how was it that he was almost at a ppg in the first couple of months? You'd think that a player would get into better shape as he went along. I am kind of puzzled by all this because you'd think he would have gotten up to speed after a month or so if he came into camp in bad shape. He was exactly the opposite.

I hope they are careful with whatever workout plan they have for him. He isn't very fast so bulking up will cause problems with footspeed. Hopefully someone like Gary Roberts can set something up for him so he can improve in the right way. I remember Danny Briere saying once that he was better at his end of season weight than at his early season weight so he purposely started the following season at the lower weight.

I don't want to wish summer away but I can't wait for the season to start!
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I don't play pro sports but I'd like think a hockey season is more like a marathon than a sprint. As the season goes on, the body stops recovering as quickly and becomes more fatigued.
 
Plus, his best bro just got engaged and he's watching his 20s flash before his eyes. Never underestimate a guy who's going 'holy **** I'm about to turn 30.' :P Hell, it helped me lose 20 pounds and get back in hockey shape, imagine what it can do for a guy with a contract!

I find it hard to believe that he won't bounce back. I think he has too much pride to just fizzle out so young and that cap hit isn't as horrible as it seems if he returns to anywhere close to form.
 
Brad Doty said:
Plus, his best bro just got engaged and he's watching his 20s flash before his eyes. Never underestimate a guy who's going 'holy **** I'm about to turn 30.' :P Hell, it helped me lose 20 pounds and get back in hockey shape, imagine what it can do for a guy with a contract!

I find it hard to believe that he won't bounce back. I think he has too much pride to just fizzle out so young and that cap hit isn't as horrible as it seems if he returns to anywhere close to form.
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Yeah we better hope he gets it together. Pretty steady decline last two years. I just think the West is to big and fast for Richie...imo his best games in the last couple years were against the eastern conf. I think DL is doing him and the team right by this and placing the onus publicly on MR, which is quite telling in of the situation itself.
 
KingCanadain1976 said:
I disagree if he has a bad year there still would be teams looking at his cap hit to reach the cap floor as he helps teach young players. His salary drops before his cap hit and that would be attractive.
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You don't trade for someone to help reach the cap floor for 5-6 years, nor do you pay almost 6M to be a teacher for that long. What you're suggesting would be for ideal for someone with a 2 year contract, not 5.
 
Herby said:
I thought you were on our side RC :cry:

Oh well atleast we still have KINGS17!
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I said all along that playoff performance might very well decide the fate of one or two players going forward. Had the Kings lost to the Sharks or the Ducks, I don't think Mike Richards is a member of the LA Kings in 2014-2015.

Richards played as he should against the Rangers, but they aren't exactly San Jose, Anaheim, or Chicago are they?

Of course I am sure most of you read this:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/kings/la-sp-kings-richards-20140621-story.html

...and this quote from Dean:

"As long as he looked me in the eye and made that promise that he would make the commitment in the off-season.… Essentially, I have to trust him. Once that deadline goes, we're locked in."
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For all of you that have been saying it would have been stupid to even consider a compliance buy out of Richards, you're wrong. It was seriously considered.

That quote from Dean tells me that Mike Richards is on a very short leash. I hope his off season program improves. I would enjoy seeing what a Mike Richards playing to 100% of his potential can do, because there is no doubt that his hockey IQ is off the charts.
 
MsWoof said:
If he was out of shape going in, how was it that he was almost at a ppg in the first couple of months? You'd think that a player would get into better shape as he went along. I am kind of puzzled by all this because you'd think he would have gotten up to speed after a month or so if he came into camp in bad shape. He was exactly the opposite.

I hope they are careful with whatever workout plan they have for him. He isn't very fast so bulking up will cause problems with footspeed. Hopefully someone like Gary Roberts can set something up for him so he can improve in the right way. I remember Danny Briere saying once that he was better at his end of season weight than at his early season weight so he purposely started the following season at the lower weight.

I don't want to wish summer away but I can't wait for the season to start!
Click to expand...

It's a marathon, not a sprint. We all saw Jeremy Roenick kick ass his first few weeks as a King.
 
I hope he pulls a Luc and revitalizes his career with a new level of fitness. He still has such a good hockey mind, it's really surprising that his play has fallen off so much.
 
The Black1963 said:
You don't trade for someone to help reach the cap floor for 5-6 years, nor do you pay almost 6M to be a teacher for that long. What you're suggesting would be for ideal for someone with a 2 year contract, not 5.
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They could use him as long as they wanted then buy him out when neccessary as his final couple years are cheap and wouldn't cost them alot. After this next season his salary is cheaper then cap hit :)
 
Last edited:
posted this over in the main boards on their richards thread... here's my opinion:

Wouldn't be surprised if Richards was traded sometime this season depending on his performance. the kings are in a bit of a cap pinch after the 2014-2015 season:

UFA'S:
--Jarret Stoll
--Justin Williams
--Alec Martinez

RFA'S:
--Kyle Clifford
--Tanner Pearson
--Tyler Toffoli
--Jordan Nolan
--Jake Muzzin
--Martin Jones

that's potentially 9 players that the kings may want to bring back
---and a few of them like Martinez // Muzzin // Toffoli // Pearson looking for substantial raises.
All 4 of these guys currently make 1mil or less.

I see Richards being moved for some picks and some prospects to an east coast team possibly
at the deadline. Sutter is the type of coach that gives you the minutes if you earn it not matter
who you are. If Richards again earns those puny 4th line minutes... I'm sure there's a ton of young teams
that could use the centerman w/ leadership for their cup run. And I wouldn't be surprised
if dean makes a move here to make sure we have depth in the 2016 season.
 
KINGS17 said:
I said all along that playoff performance might very well decide the fate of one or two players going forward. Had the Kings lost to the Sharks or the Ducks, I don't think Mike Richards is a member of the LA Kings in 2014-2015.

Richards played as he should against the Rangers, but they aren't exactly San Jose, Anaheim, or Chicago are they?

Of course I am sure most of you read this:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/kings/la-sp-kings-richards-20140621-story.html

...and this quote from Dean:



For all of you that have been saying it would have been stupid to even consider a compliance buy out of Richards, you're wrong. It was seriously considered.

That quote from Dean tells me that Mike Richards is on a very short leash. I hope his off season program improves. I would enjoy seeing what a Mike Richards playing to 100% of his potential can do, because there is no doubt that his hockey IQ is off the charts.
Click to expand...

And these quotes tell me he is committed:

"He was very candid," Lombardi said Friday during an interview in his office. "The most important thing is he realized he wasn't anywhere near where he is capable of being. If he's telling you, 'Well, I was good.' Then you've got a big problem. If he's not able to critique himself, then we're wasting our time.

"But he freely admitted that it was nowhere near where he was capable, and the root is not age or injury. It starts with the understanding that I've got to prepare like a 28- or 29-year-old, not a 22-year-old."
 
Scottkmlps said:
And these quotes tell me he is committed:

"He was very candid," Lombardi said Friday during an interview in his office. "The most important thing is he realized he wasn't anywhere near where he is capable of being. If he's telling you, 'Well, I was good.' Then you've got a big problem. If he's not able to critique himself, then we're wasting our time.

"But he freely admitted that it was nowhere near where he was capable, and the root is not age or injury. It starts with the understanding that I've got to prepare like a 28- or 29-year-old, not a 22-year-old."
Click to expand...

It sounds like Richards is committed. We will begin to get a better idea when he shows up to training camp in September. We may get an idea even sooner if we hear that he is spending part of his off season in LA working with the other players.
 
What many of us thought...

"After being sick, I kind of got out of shape, not playing a lot," said Richards in an interview last week. "It probably took me a couple of weeks to realize that. That's when I started getting back on the bike and doing things."
Click to expand...
 
agentfouser said:
I hope he pulls a Luc and revitalizes his career with a new level of fitness. He still has such a good hockey mind, it's really surprising that his play has fallen off so much.
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We should all take a deep breath and I'll take Richards at his word. This is a competitive man, his situation is public, and I don't doubt for a second that he wants to prove everybody wrong and support his teammates (who I also trust to support him and push him to improve too). Luc is a good example, but I think the best example for Richards is to look at Willie Mitchell who was on the scrap heap from concussions when we got him. Mitchell is proof you can come back from them and playing through concussions last year is, I think, what likely started Richards' downward spiral this season (which was compounded and complicated by the viral infection). It's a long, inexact healing process, and he is going to have to take a deep breath, trust his doctors, and work like a madman this offseason. That said, I don't doubt he will be better next year. If he can keep from getting another concussion next year, then the year after, provided he stays committed, we're going to be asking where this awesome Mike Richards came from.

T2M
 
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