Let me explain or give my reasoning as to why I think it will be the only viable option:
1. A trade is difficult for two reasons: the team acquiring Richards doesn't want the term that remains on the deal, and the Kings don't want to sweeten the pot with the type of player(s) that would make it palatable for the other team.
2. A buyout provides the Kings with the lowest cap hit possible on Richards' contract over the next 3 seasons. That's prime winning time for this core group. That kind of low cost certainty on the Richards contract is something Dean can deal with and plan around going forward.
3. I get the long-term concerns, but let's face it in 2019 it's likely time for a rebuild and the cap will have gone up by then.
A better solution then a 10 year cap hit would be to ride Richards out for another year. That assumes that,
1 The cap goes up enough that Lombardi can get everyone signed that he wants (Sekera)
2 The team is going to do a re-tool... After losing multiple guys Lombardi is going to have to see how everything sorts out. Next year the Kings aren't going to be worrying about contending... Maybe they make the playoffs maybe they don't, but Lombardi will be looking at ways of addressing issues that come up.
Now after next season the Kings should have players working their way up to the team.... like Kempe/Zykov... once the next batch of youngsters is on their way then Richards could be moved at the deadline the year after next season with 3 years left on his contract....
There are too many variables to predict what will happen next year... also the penalties are lessened the longer Lombardi waits at this point. As long as the cap doesn't force his hand it's probably better to just wait.... of course people that are freaking out about the "window" won't like this at all...
Who knows... maybe Lombardi works some Voodoo magic and trades Richards.
I doubt the Kings would get any help from the NHL on some sort of Pronger like situation for Richards.
I also doubt Richards would agree to such a thing.
I don't see how there's any way you could burn another year of Doughty's prime with a half-assed team. For better or for worse we're all in the next few seasons because after that, Kopitar, Carter, Brown, Quick will all be declining. It would be criminal to write of next year as a loss.
Sake of argument, say Lombardi could trade Richards to Buffalo or Arizona or something. Would you throw in the 1st round pick this year? An additional prospect if needed?
Agree 100%. That's like any of us posters winning the lottery, setting up payments and then telling the state of California "you know what, forget about the last 3 or 4 payments, I don't need them". It's the opinion of somebody who doesn't have or has never had any sort of money to their name. Nobody on here would refuse the kind of money that is coming to Mike Richards, ZERO chance he retires.
Sake of argument, say Lombardi could trade Richards to Buffalo or Arizona or something. Would you throw in the 1st round pick this year? An additional prospect if needed?
Not only Doughty, but Kopitar, Carter and Quick as well. The Kings have 3-4 years to win another cup and it's going to be to tough with almost $6m being completely wasted on a player who probably won't even be good enough to make the roster. The cap penalty for the first three years is much more manageable.
Maybe, but at what point are you just giving away to many first round picks.
That would be... 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016
Also another thing to consider with the Kings affiliate being in Ontario now it makes it even less likely the Kings could force his hand into retiring. It would not be the greatest drive with traffic but Richards could still keep his home in the south bay and commute to Ontario if he chose. Maybe the prospect of spending another long season in Manchester would have made him think about just hanging them up (although that is an insane amount of $$$ to pass up)
I don't see how there's any way you could burn another year of Doughty's prime with a half-assed team. For better or for worse we're all in the next few seasons because after that, Kopitar, Carter, Brown, Quick will all be declining. It would be criminal to write of next year as a loss.
I think for a team that holds players accountable the only thing to do is buy out Mike Richards. It shows the rest of the team, once again, that LA is not a retirement home that it once was. You either stay in shape year round, eat clean, train constantly or you're out of here at any cost. If you want to fish in the offseason then you'll wind up in Buffalo or Ontario (sorry if you live in Ontario it's just not Manhattan Beach).
Sake of argument, say Lombardi could trade Richards to Buffalo or Arizona or something. Would you throw in the 1st round pick this year? An additional prospect if needed?
Pretty sure Richards would agree to take a lead pipe to his kneecaps from Lombardi and go on LTIR before he would even consider retiring.
So Brown get bought out too?
I'd try and trade him, I know I'll take flak for my opinion but the guy has not been good is a 3rd line winger making 1st line money. Luc got traded, Wayne got traded, I don't know why Kings fans think Brown is not an expendable asset.
I'd try and trade him, I know I'll take flak for my opinion but the guy has not been good is a 3rd line winger making 1st line money. Luc got traded, Wayne got traded, I don't know why Kings fans think Brown is not an expendable asset.
I think for a team that holds players accountable the only thing to do is buy out Mike Richards. It shows the rest of the team, once again, that LA is not a retirement home that it once was. You either stay in shape year round, eat clean, train constantly or you're out of here at any cost. If you want to fish in the offseason then you'll wind up in Buffalo or Ontario (sorry if you live in Ontario it's just not Manhattan Beach).
I'd try and trade him, I know I'll take flak for my opinion but the guy has not been good is a 3rd line winger making 1st line money. Luc got traded, Wayne got traded, I don't know why Kings fans think Brown is not an expendable asset.
Trade him for what, picks ? Brown's issues, like Gabby's is he need a decent center to get him going. How many times did we see Stoll ,Lewis or whoever fumble the puck or shoot it into a skate,miss a pass by 10 feet? Hell, even when he's planted in front of the net, someone would miss the net by 5 feet or shoot before any traffic can occur. His best years have always been with Kopitar, not with the clowns Sutter puts him with.
Richards play paired with his contract sure seems like an albatross we can't remedy. Still, I have trouble being upset with DL for showing some loyalty to his players. I can't speak for the players, but I know I've always appreciated it when a boss gave the same loyalty they expect. Though it hurts us specifically with Richards, with the right balance it can help us in the long run. Look at the Pearson contract. That might've factored into the lower pay Pearson was willing to take. If several players are willing to take a little less to play for that kind of GM - a million here, a couple hundred grand there - and that could be the difference in signing one more difference making player.
I really wish we knew what was really up with Richards. Fitness, concussions, wear and tear, whatever. They must have a good idea after they did tests on him after bringing him back from Manchester. I'm hoping it's something that maybe having a long summer off can help and is addressed as well as it can be, that he can improve a little to be at least a better 4th line center next year, but I know that's thinner than Murtaugh's wife's cooking.
Great idea, a defensive zone liability that has no power on his shoot and has trouble keeping up with the speed of the game should really be considered as our next years 2nd line forward.I'd put him back on a line with carter and move toffoli or pearson up to Kopitar's line for next year and see how it goes.
DL says a Richards buyout is "a possibility" but the priority is for the team is to keep him. No firm decisions at this point.