KopitarFAN
Reno Sucks!
Total sum of the buyout would have been $14.67M last summer, had this been overturned he would have gotten his full salary this year ($6M) and been bought out this summer for $10.55M.
Mike Richards VIII Kings vs NHLPA
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Total sum of the buyout would have been $14.67M last summer, had this been overturned he would have gotten his full salary this year ($6M) and been bought out this summer for $10.55M.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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It wasn't a "tabloid interview" was it? I thought it said it was a written statement from Lombardi that he provided to the LA Times.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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I don't think Dean is lying about his knowledge of Richards' oxy addiction.
I think he is a man of good character and would have insisted that Richards get the help and treatment he needed. We'll see if Richards makes a statement and refutes anything Dean says. My guess is that won't happen.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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Richards is one of my favorite players. I loved the guy, the way he played, and how he led. Unfortunately these guys have an expiration date and the combination of his gritty play and apparent off-ice problems made his come far too soon. I hope he gets the treatment he needs to clean up his life - for his sake. He's battling demons and I wish him nothing, but the best. Top to bottom, an extremely depressing ordeal. He's got a nice retirement fund to fall back on and with proper investing and management, he can easily live a comfortable life.
Minor Boarding
Registered User
The tears of HFboards members whining on the Richards settlement threads:
Apparently, the Kings have the NHL in their pockets... Describing some of those posts as ridiculous would be an understatement.
I am glad this chapter has found its end.
Apparently, the Kings have the NHL in their pockets... Describing some of those posts as ridiculous would be an understatement.
I am glad this chapter has found its end.
MsMeow
Registered User
- Nov 4, 2005
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The over the top emotion, the woe is me, how could someone do this to me, the number of times Dean said "I" and "me" was ridiculous. He shouldn't have said a word after the Kings said they wouldn't comment, instead he paints himself as a tragic figure who didn't know a thing about Richards' drug problems. I like Dean a lot but there are times it's better to say nothing. They didn't say a word after the contract termination which was the right thing to do.
Assuming Richards still has friends on the team I can't imagine they are happy with the interview.
I'm with you- better to say nothing and both parties get on with life. I can't understand what drove Lombardi, and one assumes his employer, to come out with a statement as self-serving and sappy as this. I also think this almost puts an end to Mike Richards getting gainful employment with another NHL team which is the real tragedy. If there is, in fact, no medical evidence of Mike Richards being a "drug addict" as implied in the article and he's found not guilty of the possession charge or the Crown drops the case, I'm sorry to say that we may not have heard the end of this issue.
fsanford
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2009
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Herby
How could Blake have known?
Lombardi made a decision that is going to result in his boss shelling out an eight figure sum to Mike Richards to basically go away and never come back. In a business that is heavily covered by the media and followed by millions of fans around the world he has every right to discuss why he had to do that. This would be true in any other line of work and shouldn't be different in the NHL. The feelings of a an addict who just was compensated $14m in salary the last two seasons to be the worst player on the ice means jack ****, Lombardi has a right to defend himself and his reputation and that is what he was doing.
I understand addiction can be a tough thing, but the NHL also has treatment plans to help out players who are looking to get help, which apparently Richards never bothered to use, not even after he was traded in the prime of his career because his previous employer acknowledged he had a problem that was crippling their team (and they were stupidly mocked for it by members of this board), not after having many talks with his GM, not after his game completely fell apart, not after his fiance left him, not after a teammate was busted in Vegas.
And as far as what his teammates think, seriously, who cares? I think it's become painfully obvious that despite being great on the ice, the Kings had some really troubled dudes on their team. We already know what happened to Slava, Stoll was busted and it's obvious he was bringing in the drugs for all the other boys and now the Richards situation.
I think Dean has learned a painful but important lesson in all of this, that players are players, they are not his sons, they are his employees, this is not a family, it's a group of employees and with any group of employees there are bad apples that need to go. Dean let his heart get way in the way of making objective and rational hockey decisions, such as buying out Richards in 2014. This obviously kills Dean on the inside and he feels betrayed, but he also shares some of the blame, his unrealistic views and belief in his sons have crippled this team since June 2014 because everything he has done from keeping Richards and Greene to trading multiple first round picks to support a core that is likely done have been disastrous.
We know Dean loves the Yankees (which is odd as hell for a guy from Mass) and while he didn't get his Derek Jeter he can atleast take solace in knowing he got Steve Howe, hopefully for MR's sake someone steps in before he ends up like Steve Howe,
I understand addiction can be a tough thing, but the NHL also has treatment plans to help out players who are looking to get help, which apparently Richards never bothered to use, not even after he was traded in the prime of his career because his previous employer acknowledged he had a problem that was crippling their team (and they were stupidly mocked for it by members of this board), not after having many talks with his GM, not after his game completely fell apart, not after his fiance left him, not after a teammate was busted in Vegas.
And as far as what his teammates think, seriously, who cares? I think it's become painfully obvious that despite being great on the ice, the Kings had some really troubled dudes on their team. We already know what happened to Slava, Stoll was busted and it's obvious he was bringing in the drugs for all the other boys and now the Richards situation.
I think Dean has learned a painful but important lesson in all of this, that players are players, they are not his sons, they are his employees, this is not a family, it's a group of employees and with any group of employees there are bad apples that need to go. Dean let his heart get way in the way of making objective and rational hockey decisions, such as buying out Richards in 2014. This obviously kills Dean on the inside and he feels betrayed, but he also shares some of the blame, his unrealistic views and belief in his sons have crippled this team since June 2014 because everything he has done from keeping Richards and Greene to trading multiple first round picks to support a core that is likely done have been disastrous.
We know Dean loves the Yankees (which is odd as hell for a guy from Mass) and while he didn't get his Derek Jeter he can atleast take solace in knowing he got Steve Howe, hopefully for MR's sake someone steps in before he ends up like Steve Howe,
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Herby
How could Blake have known?
Just amazing the same people who were defending the garbage play on the ice for the past two seasons with excuse after excuse after excuse are now blaming Lombardi for throwing Richards under the bus and preventing him from getting employment.
It's just amazing, in all my years of following multiple sports I've never seen anything like it, seen massive homers and devoted fans to a team, but never this, never the devotion to one guy, following him from team to team and defending him non-stop no matter how awful he played or what he did off the ice.
It's just amazing, in all my years of following multiple sports I've never seen anything like it, seen massive homers and devoted fans to a team, but never this, never the devotion to one guy, following him from team to team and defending him non-stop no matter how awful he played or what he did off the ice.
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Richards was a warrior in a pint size body for many years winning pretty much every team award one can. His physical style took a toll and if he turned to illegal drugs or got hooked on them after being subscribed them for an ailment I can understand that.
Now no one knows what happened behind the scenes. We don't know if L.A tried getting him help, knew there was a problem and looked the other way, or cared and were shut out by Mike. The last half year, MR in the minors, absences by MR, recalls to L.A. We do not know what was happening, testing, etc.
No one wins here, the team gets a massive black eye, Lombardi looks like a fool, and Richards reputation takes a massive hit and his career is possibly done. Sure he is compensated massively but let's hope he gets the help he needs.
At first I feel bad for Richards but if the drug rumors are true, he did it himself and will have to live with those decisions and get help. I will not hold it against him, I see everyday what drugs do and just hope he gets the help he needs and one day I hope to see him taking a regular NHL shift.
As for Lombardi, I am torn. He built a dynasty team, brought us not 1 but 2 cups, and should have been executive of the year with some of his shrewd moves. But like MR his effectiveness has taken a brutal turn and he is compiling bad decision after decision. Wether he be thinking with his heart, putting trust in the wrong people the guy has been blowing it and in the competitive enviroment of the NHL a team can go from first to out of the playoffs in a hurry.
Are we as fans guilty as Lombardi and thinking with our hearts and allowing DL to much leeway? Should DL graciously take a bow and also step down? I am on the fence. I look at the team he has now assembled and have major worries. Is he capable of getting this team on track, yes, is he in the right mind Frame? That I question.
I just want this chapter in the past. Non playoffs, Voynov, Stoll, Richards, it has been a rough year. Thank God we have the best fan base in the league, guys on these boards full of knowledge and fight, and mixture of glass half full vs empty guys to keep everyone balanced. Let's hope for a massive turn in fortunes.
Now no one knows what happened behind the scenes. We don't know if L.A tried getting him help, knew there was a problem and looked the other way, or cared and were shut out by Mike. The last half year, MR in the minors, absences by MR, recalls to L.A. We do not know what was happening, testing, etc.
No one wins here, the team gets a massive black eye, Lombardi looks like a fool, and Richards reputation takes a massive hit and his career is possibly done. Sure he is compensated massively but let's hope he gets the help he needs.
At first I feel bad for Richards but if the drug rumors are true, he did it himself and will have to live with those decisions and get help. I will not hold it against him, I see everyday what drugs do and just hope he gets the help he needs and one day I hope to see him taking a regular NHL shift.
As for Lombardi, I am torn. He built a dynasty team, brought us not 1 but 2 cups, and should have been executive of the year with some of his shrewd moves. But like MR his effectiveness has taken a brutal turn and he is compiling bad decision after decision. Wether he be thinking with his heart, putting trust in the wrong people the guy has been blowing it and in the competitive enviroment of the NHL a team can go from first to out of the playoffs in a hurry.
Are we as fans guilty as Lombardi and thinking with our hearts and allowing DL to much leeway? Should DL graciously take a bow and also step down? I am on the fence. I look at the team he has now assembled and have major worries. Is he capable of getting this team on track, yes, is he in the right mind Frame? That I question.
I just want this chapter in the past. Non playoffs, Voynov, Stoll, Richards, it has been a rough year. Thank God we have the best fan base in the league, guys on these boards full of knowledge and fight, and mixture of glass half full vs empty guys to keep everyone balanced. Let's hope for a massive turn in fortunes.
The Tikkanen
Pest
Mike Richards demise was 100% his fault, I don't understand the need to protect him whether he has an issue with pills or alcohol. He chose this path and now the character damage and career maybe coming to an end is the result of his inability to either get help or stop himself from ingesting substances that hindered his performance on and off the ice. I take issue with people attacking Lombardi, as somebody who not only doesn't pop pills or hang out or work with people how the hell is Lombardi or a regular person on the street supposed to know that Richards, a co worker or friend has an issue? The only reason I know what Oxy is is because of Rush Limbaugh, another devout drug basher who proved to be a giant addict. These people are great at lying, most work in careers where you can take pills constantly and nobody knows. This is a serious issue in our society where people are taking pills all day long for any sort of ailment without realizing it's nothing more than a mask and the pharma companies are raking in billions. Dean Lombardi isn't to blame here.
Richards right now would be an upgrade at the 3C position. Even if he was playing with a fishing pole. The way the team is trending a cap hit for the next 16 years seems like a bit of a joke. When the cup window closes you might as well run Lewis as the 1C to tank properly.
If Lombardi could have upgraded the center position (and defense) to get this team back to a contending status then dumping Richards would have been worth it. Otherwise just ride out a couple bad years and clear the cap issue up within the next decade.
I for one defended DL keeping Mike because I thought he just needed a little more dedication. Obviously it was the wrong move but Dean stuck to his guy through thick and thin so yes he deserves a little blame but the bulk is with MR who pissed his career away because as Dean said Mike won a championship at every level and was everything good about hockey but his demons set him ablaze now it's up to him to salvage the remains...the Kings and DL finally did what was need and if the rest of the league doesn't like it effe them, this is the LA KINGS organization and any outside opinion means squat...
Agreed. After everything has been and done it's obvious Mike Richards has some issues and he doesn't want to deal with him.
Issues followed him in Philly to LA. Now he is not engaged as well. Obviously he has some things going on and with the amount of deaths in the league it's kinda his fault he hasn't reached out for help like some of these other players have. At the same time he ate up salary and lied to his boss. I think myself, I would have taken a leave of absence or checked myself into a program even during the summer so no one could know.
Lombardi gave this player so many chances. If he was making 500k and not named MR he would have been gone a long time ago.
yankeeking
Registered User
obviously neither of you have lead men in any form whether that is military, business or just coaching your kids teams as they grow, when you do you become part of their lives and they become part of yours, at least if you are doing it right. When DL says be feels betrayed over the drug issues that is so easy to believe because it happens all the time in every walk of life and in all trades , I have the benefit of being older and from the 60's/70's era where even today I know of guys who still do drugs/smoke weed and hold positions at all levels where people would be shocked to find out yet they function daily. The fact he sounds so humbled or shocked for lack of a better word is because he poured his heart out for this team and honestly thought he was doing the right thing, some have mentioned they thought he might have known of mike's trouble but how many straight people go along with people using drugs anymore when they find out especially when it hurts someone they love or endangers their own job, he would have put mike in a program instantly ............you guys need to get over the hate for the team and let this sad time go away, hopefully mike gets the help he needs and can go on with his life, DL mentioning that this is potentially a culture problem only scratches the surface here in north america
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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I know Dean would like to redeem himself as a GM, and I'm not sure that redeem is even the right word here, but I would like to see Dean kick himself upstairs and focus on the things he talked about in his written statement.
It's probably time for Futa to take the reigns and make the tough decisions that are going to be necessary going forward.
BTW, pretty much agree with everything Herby posted regarding Mike Richards. Those of you that don't think he bears personal responsibility for his own actions just enable people like Mike Richards. Everyone makes mistakes. Some people know when to get help or correct their mistakes, some people just keep fooling themselves.
Another Carter Snipe
Terminated User
Richards, Dean aside, it's funny to see this arrogant hack proved wrong after all of his condescending articles. Even funnier to see the crying from those on the main forum that took his opinion as gospel.
Kingsfan1
Registered User
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Link?
(Not that I don't believe you, just on the go and could use some official corroboration)
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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"Hard to believe the Kings have a case...blah, blah, blah..." Hope this is the last we hear from this tool on any subject.
