Mike Richards VIII Kings vs NHLPA

[Reclamation Project]

That article is insane. You have to really wonder where Dean's head is at. I wonder if he can even focus at work.

 

[Kingspiracy]

Quite a sad situation

 

[Herby]

Wow, some major and very true words from Dean Lombardi. Richards was never lose to being the player Dean thought he was getting from Philly and Dean basically admitted he was played and lied to.

Dean will come out of this as a better GM, he learned a valuable lesson from this whole MR fiasco.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

damn this situation sucks

 

[Stimpythecat]

Very sad situation.

 

[DocWest]

That was brutal to read. I feel so bad for Lombardi.

 

[kingsfan28]

For some reason, when I saw Dean Lombardi trending, my first thought was he stepped down or was fired.Quite a tale from that article.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That's brutal and sad. Would love to eventually hear MR's take too.

 

[King'sPawn]

I feel really bad for Lombardi. I think this has had quite the effect on him; hopefully not derailing the topic, but with some of the moves he has made the past year or two, it really makes me wonder if this has affected his judgment

 

[Bandit]

None of what Lombardi said surprises me, but I am a little surprised that he made that public. He's basically outing Richards' for having a drug problem or worse.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

None of what Lombardi said surprises me, but I am a little surprised that he made that public. He's basically outing Richards' for having a drug problem or worse.

I was surprised by how candid he was, but I don't know that he outed Richards in any way. He got caught at the border with oxycodone and given his history I don't think anyone is really finding out anything new.

It was obviously personal with Lombardi, but the way he talks about it it was clearly more than just him using the opportunity to weasel out of a bad contract. This quote in particular is telling.

I certainly believe that Mike Richards must be held accountable for his actions — but when a player who at one time symbolized everything that was special about the sport can become caught in such a destructive spiral, then I believe the institution of sport must begin to examine its level of culpability.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/kings...mike-richards-termination-20151009-story.html

 

[Telos]

Just a sad moment for all involved. Glad that it is finally behind the Kings. With the final controversy being out of the way hopefully things get back to being business as usual. Lombardi is certainly strong for going through it.

 

[King'sPawn]

My biggest shock is Lombardi putting his head in thee sand and refusing to believe it when he first heaard it.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Won't be shocked if this roster looks very, very different next season. I really feel bad for Dean.

I agree. On the bright side, they have a lot of players in the last year of their deal who have value on their own and could allow Dean recoup draft picks (Kopitar, Lucic, Lewis, King, Ehrhoff), if things go sideways this year.

 

[bob77]

16 years is absurd.

The NHL and NHLPA need to come together and give teams leeway to buy-out/eliminate at least 1 contract every 6-7 years so long as there is adequate compensation for the player which is cap exempt.

And every team should be able to to do it so that it's not just the Kings or some other team. That was my only problem with hit as a fan, that one team would get to do something and then other teams would likely be denied if trying the same thing later on.

I have no problem with how the cap hit will be handed. It is basically following the flow of money to Richards, presumably exactly, and the recapture penalty for 5 years still stands. I think it's enough to keep other teams from just terminating players. If this had gone all the way to arbitration, I believe MR would have won, and the CBA implemented exactly. However, MR wins this because certain things couldn't have possibly been known by Kings at the time of the termination. But, and a huge but, that wouldn't mean the Kings couldn't terminate him a second time after more is apparent, especially if it turns out he has travel and visa issues. It's this possibility of a second termination that I think had MR worried, and thus took what money he could. As far as future terminations, teams will be at least a little bit skeptical if they are frivolous because they'll realize it won't be as easy as just a way to dump a complete cap hit. In many ways, what is happening as far as cap hit is following the CBA. And to further add, if we see a constant hit each year, it might not mean the payout is that much each year, but could be like the AAV. What is sort of not following the CBA is the idea almost here that MR contract got renegotiated. And, is this a different form of a buyout. What if a player and a team agree to terminate a contract and no dispute even exists, could a player agree to all this for the sake of his team? And what happens further if the player finally retires? MR is a UFA. He hasn't retired yet. There are still parts to all this that will have other teams wondering if they can make use of all this in the future. IMO

 

[DryIslandBartender]

My biggest shock is Lombardi putting his head in thee sand and refusing to believe it when he first heaard it.

Yeah there's some responsibility here too on DL, if he was notified or told what was going on while he had the chance to dump Richards with zero cap ramifications. He choose not to believe it and both of these guys actions have hurt the club's cap hit going forward.

Sad fall for Richards. I really hope the guy gets on the mend mentally and physically. Otherwise we might be seeing his obituary in the papers. This doesn't sound like a guy that just experimented with some oxy, it sounds like a guy dealing with some serious issues.

 

[The Tikkanen]

As was speculated Mike Richards was a modern day functioning junkie.

 

[LAKings88]

I don't buy it. I think DL respected Richards but I don't buy the ignorance. Richards had rumors coming out of Philly.

That non buyout will be marked as the beginning of LAs decline. Could have resigned Mitchell with that money.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Won't be shocked if this roster looks very, very different next season. I really feel bad for Dean.

What's your definition of very very different? DL will keep a good chunk of players next year. Kopitar might be shipped to another team for a kings ransom if negotiations are far apart, Lucic might be traded for a first round pick.

The back end is due for a major overhaul. It's pretty clear that outside of Doughty/Muzzin, everyone else might be gone next year.

 

[Keith Sweaty]

Wow, what a read

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

Just sad all the way around. If MR has a problem, I hope he gets help for it.

Lombardi is gonna have to move on and let go here. Good for him for speaking his mind, now back to work and get this team out of the drama and focused on the next game.

 

[moosehead81]

As was speculated Mike Richards was a modern day functioning junkie.

Ah- that's a bit out there. Careful now.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

One who can admit his faults is always better than the one who tries to bury them.

 

[Ron*]

One who can admit his faults is always better than the one who tries to bury them.

Pastafarian brings it everyday. Great mantra to live your days by.

 

[Omni Owl]

Lombardi's head is far from up his ass

He simply got attached to the group of guys that helped win 2 championships and bring the best Kings years we've ever seen. I'd feel ****ing betrayed too, the guy is obviously gutted by all of these recent events.