Mike Richards IV: Started From The Bottom, Still Here *MOD WARNING Post #194*

[Johnny Utah]

Excuses, excuses.

Jeff Carter is 30 and probably playing the best hockey of his career the past 2-3 years.

You would rather have Richards' at 5.75 million on the 4th line than Stoll at a reduced cap hit?

I would take neither. Kings should sign a guy like Kyle Brodziak. He's good for 10 goals and can actually play like a 3rd line center can at a decent price and plays like a Sutter and Lombardi type player.

 

[Johnny Utah]

MR get's praise for doing nothing in 2 games. It's embarrasing. Dude almost makes 6 million. No physical game still and crappy in face-offs, but he made a nice pass to Lewis? Lol.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Everybody agrees that Richards is overpaid but if you cant see the difference between him and Stoll, than you have a problem.

That's no surprise to me, because for years you have terrorized us with all those goons the Kings had to dress or sign.

You are probably pissed off that Andreoff is a healthy scratch.

 

[Johnny Utah]

They are both awful but I would rather be playing a UFA who actually throws a body check and wins a face off over a waste of space MR who occasionally throws a behind the back pass and pretty much that's it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

MR get's praise for doing nothing in 2 games. It's embarrasing. Dude almost makes 6 million. No physical game still and crappy in face-offs, but he made a nice pass to Lewis? Lol.

He wasn't stellar, but you're downplaying the hell out of it.

He made some strong defensive plays, checked a few guys (didn't destroy anyone) pretty good, made some leverage plays a la Sekera, caused some strong turnovers, and made some honestly elite passes that his linemates couldn't finish. DID suck at faceoffs, though. I'm not under any delusion that he's our savior, but praise is due for at least his attention to detail which was the most sorely lacking thing and most complained about deal on these forums.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

They are both awful but I would rather be playing a UFA who actually throws a body check and wins a face off over a waste of space MR who occasionally throws a behind the back pass and pretty much that's it.

Yeah, this post isn't biased or deluded at all.

 

[Herby]

MR get's praise for doing nothing in 2 games. It's embarrasing. Dude almost makes 6 million. No physical game still and crappy in face-offs, but he made a nice pass to Lewis? Lol.

I wouldn't say he did nothing. I think that is an incorrect statement.

Certain people who are fans of the player more than team are again judging more with their heart than their head, but I think you are being a bit unfair to in saying he did nothing, he certainly created more chances than Jarret Stoll and has yet to have a defensive breakdown.

As long as Sutter keeps his minutes where they are (10-12 a night) and doesn't put him in a position where he is matched up against other teams scoring line centers he can be a positive contributor as a playmaker in the bottom six for the rest of this season. Obviously it's not going to work long term with his contract, but we will deal with that this summer (still think it will be a buyout)

Yeah, this post isn't biased or deluded at all.

This whole thread is full of biased posts, there are still people arguing he should be playing 15+ minutes a night with Carter for God's sake, that tells you everything you need to know about the mindset of some people. There are "fans" here who would rather see Richards succeed than the Kings, which I still find really odd to follow a guy from team to team, but that's just me I guess.

 

[Reclamation Project]

If you're gonna nitpick every defensive lapse before he went down, we'll bring up every positive play now. Richards' has played ok in these last two games and the situation is going nowhere until the off season. Ride it out with him as a 3/4C until the season ends.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Richards set up one of the best scoring chances up until that point of the game (against the Devils) when he made a nice pass to Trevor Lewis. If that were most of the other guys on the team, it would've been a goal. Richards actually knocked a few players off the puck too.

Look, it is sad that we have to sit there and analyze every little play of his. But you are completely biased if you don't at least think he has played better than he was before he was sent down. That doesn't mean he is worth his pay check yadda yadda. It is encouraging to see him make strides in that direction. We should all be cheering for the guy because the more he improves, the more likely the Kings are alleviate themselves of the contract with minimal cap impact.

I think most people agree that his play in his own zone was the reason for sending him down. I don't see what harm it would be by letting him play on the second unit of the power play. If he can contribute in small ways, it is better than nothing. I don't know the last time the second PP unit scored a goal. I haven't been paying attention but if Brown is out there, I think I'd prefer that be Richards. I was out of town the past week and didn't see the games against the Ducks and the Canucks (only bits and pieces).

 

[Herby]

I don't think anyone was nitpicking MR's defensive play before he went down. It was as bad as any Kings forward has played defensively since I have followed the team, it was a nightly defensive breakdown. Agree with the rest of your post and the Richards issue won't be dealt with until the summer, but I think nitpick was not a good choice of words.

 

[KINGS17]

I wouldn't say he did nothing. I think that is an incorrect statement.

Certain people who are fans of the player more than team are again judging more with their heart than their head, but I think you are being a bit unfair to in saying he did nothing, he certainly created more chances than Jarret Stoll and has yet to have a defensive breakdown.

As long as Sutter keeps his minutes where they are (10-12 a night) and doesn't put him in a position where he is matched up against other teams scoring line centers he can be a positive contributor as a playmaker in the bottom six for the rest of this season. Obviously it's not going to work long term with his contract, but we will deal with that this summer (still think it will be a buyout)



This whole thread is full of biased posts, there are still people arguing he should be playing 15+ minutes a night with Carter for God's sake.

I agree with everything here. I think the stint in the AHL did Richards some good, followed by his extended stay in LA just working with the team's strength and conditioning staff. Not many players in the NHL are afforded the luxury of playing only on the weekends for many weeks and then having around 10 days off to get it together before playing again.

Richards looks fresh, but his skating still doesn't look quite up to par. I think the best course of action this summer is a buyout, then having Dean make a trade to get a legit #3 center in here.

Anyone suggesting Richards should be in the top six is delusional, and I hope Sutter doesn't even consider it.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Dwight King and Trevor Lewis are having better years than Mike Richards.

Enough said.

MR was a star player in the NHL for 6-7 years and makes almost 6 million. He is now back to being a 4th line center and fringe NHL player.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Johnny, I think you're a bit salty that the player you triumphantly buried has resurfaced.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Dwight King and Trevor Lewis are having better years than Mike Richards.

Enough said.

MR was a star player in the NHL for 6-7 years and makes almost 6 million. He is now back to being a 4th line center and fringe NHL player.

Dwight King: .306 PPG, extended time in the top 6 alongside Carter, 14:12 TOI/Game
Trevor Lewis: .36 PPG, extended time in the top 6 alongside Gabitar, 14:05 TOI/Game
Mike Richards: .306 PPG, 13:36 TOI/game in the bottom 6.

Marginal at best. He's back in the NHL, showing signs of improvement. Deal with it.

And as I told you before, fact check yourself.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Dwight King and Trevor Lewis are having better years than Mike Richards.

Enough said.

MR was a star player in the NHL for 6-7 years and makes almost 6 million. He is now back to being a 4th line center and fringe NHL player.

Thanks for the update. We don't have access to NHL's stat lines nor do we watch Kings games.

 

[Johnny Utah]

No I'm bitter because people are praising him in 2 games where has done nothing really.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

No I'm bitter because people are praising him in 2 games where has done nothing really.

What does he have to do to 'do something?' That's the problem. I can appreciate a high bar of expectations, but he's out there doing positive things, he just hasn't scored or thrown a thunderous hit.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

If that is the biggest problem you face today, then you're doing alright. I'm not bitter about any Kings player or NHL player for that matter. "It's a ****ing game." -Darryl Sutter

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I don't see a lot of blind praise in here. I see a whole room of people pleased that he isn't a liability, and moreover seems to be an improvement on Stoll/Shore and Shore/Andreoff.

 

[KINGS17]

I don't see a lot of blind praise in here. I see a whole room of people pleased that he isn't a liability, and moreover seems to be an improvement on Stoll/Shore and Shore/Andreoff.

That's what I see as well. The Kings can certainly do better than Stoll or Richards as the #3 center next season if the right components on the blue line fall into place and an NHL defenseman can be moved to get a younger, faster, better #3 center.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I don't think anyone was nitpicking MR's defensive play before he went down. It was as bad as any Kings forward has played defensively since I have followed the team, it was a nightly defensive breakdown. Agree with the rest of your post and the Richards issue won't be dealt with until the summer, but I think nitpick was not a good choice of words.

You know I agree with you that he was lost in the defensive zone. Nitpick wasn't the best choice.

 

[Fishhead]

Richards is doing fine since returning, nothing flashy, but he's been solid.

He's created some chances for others that probably should have been buried. He's actually made a few impact defensive plays. He's been good on faceoffs (54%). Yea he's -2, but he just jumped off the ice before Regehr scored and had a puck go in off of him. He's been active, which he absolutely wasn't before.

Not worth his salary right now, but baby steps I guess. I still see him getting moved somehow unless he goes off down the stretch and in the playoffs.

 

[Reclamation Project]

+/- is a rubbish stat anyways. It's all about the optics and he's looked solid.

 

[bob77]

For Richards, they need to use his minutes on the power play. You can tell me all you want about his 5 on 5, but his cleverness belongs on the PP. And, he'll be somewhat fresh when it comes along.

 

[damacles1156]

Richards is a magnet for minus hockey, he is not hard on the puck carrier anymore, or the boards.

Probably can't do it physically anymore. Still needs to change his game a bit more to the cerebral side(better positioning).

One thing is certain though. Richards hands, and passing vision is top notch. He created more chances( on offense) in two nights, than Stoll has done in the last 40 games.

The Kings are getting adequate play out of Richards, that's all they are looking for right now. Stoll was not providing that, it was glaring that the Kings Center depth was a problem.