Mike Richards (Warning in OP)

[kingsfan]

I'm curious as to why Richards gets all the attention when Brown has basically the same contract and has produced less last season and this year. There also seems to be a lot of people complaining about his contract yet most posters seem willing to throw $4+ million at a 3rd pairing d-man. I won't see Richards as the reason we lose anyone, it will be the combo of Richards, Gaborik's contract, and Brown's/ that we do. Just my $.02

I think people understand that Brown brings a locker room presence, likely due to the C he wears. They don't understand it as much with Richards and Stoll, yet those guys are huge glue guys as well. I recall someone posting about how Stoll is the guy to go and meet new players, meet the rookie recalls, etc. because he's just a great team ambassador. And not team as in the LA Kings, but team as in the guys that are in the locker room.

They are like a band of brothers, and in any tight knit group like that you need some guys to be the 'leaders' so to speak, the ones everyone rallies around and who holds the team close and together. That's guys like Brown, Richards, Stoll and Doughty. I don't think everyone understands how important the behind the scenes/off the ice stuff is to a team.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm curious as to why Richards gets all the attention when Brown has basically the same contract and has produced less last season and this year. There also seems to be a lot of people complaining about his contract yet most posters seem willing to throw $4+ million at a 3rd pairing d-man. I won't see Richards as the reason we lose anyone, it will be the combo of Richards, Gaborik's contract, and Brown's/ that we do. Just my $.02

To be honest, the last page or so has been meta-discussion about contracts and the cap, Richards just happens to be the lens because he's one of a group of guys who are on a sort of cap-value hotseat and this thread exists. Literally SOMEONE has to go. I don't necessarily believe that's Richards, but it is reality, unless that cap goes up 15 million or something absurd. It's not mismanagement or anything imo either, it's just reality when you have an elite, experienced team. If anything, our contracts are more reasonable than most.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

I'll be short and sweet. Yeah, Richards looks a little better but I'm still not impressed. That being said, I'll let the guys who get paid the big bucks do the accounting. They seem to have done a good job the past few years so I have faith that they'll do the right thing.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I feel like Richard's leash is the length of time between the last goal he scored and the end of the last game he didn't score in. In this case, about 2 days.

When this war was raging around March of last year, and some people wanted to stick a fork in Richards, I said wanted to wait until this season to pass judgement on him. He had a great first half, then hit a wall, so I figured something had to be up beyond what we knew. It'd only be fair to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I think he's passed the eye test so far. He's looked good on the PK, contributed to the PP early on when it was still stalled, and produced as much or more than the rest of the MIA forward core.

In 2 games deputized as the 2C, he has one game tying goal, and has proven he cannot hang with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Fine. In reality, he should probably be our 3C. With our depth on wing he'd do perfectly fine. That's the role I'm looking for him when we get healthy, that's what I'm going to judge him on.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I feel like Richard's leash is the length of time between the last goal he scored and the end of the last game he didn't score in. In this case, about 2 days.

When this war was raging around March of last year, and some people wanted to stick a fork in Richards, I said wanted to wait until this season to pass judgement on him. He had a great first half, then hit a wall, so I figured something had to be up beyond what we knew. It'd only be fair to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I think he's passed the eye test so far. He's looked good on the PK, contributed to the PP early on when it was still stalled, and produced as much or more than the rest of the MIA forward core.

In 2 games deputized as the 2C, he has one game tying goal, and has proven he cannot hang with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Fine. In reality, he should probably be our 3C. With our depth on wing he'd do perfectly fine. That's the role I'm looking for him when we get healthy, that's what I'm going to judge him on.

I can get on board with this. If Richards proves he can be a 3C that cap is manageable.

 

[sinister6000]

Put Richards with Kopitar, and move Gaborik to RW when they come back. Give them time to get some chemistry, then on Stoll's line you can rotate Williams, Brown, and King on the wings.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Yeah in terms of production, nobody is really producing outside of the Carter line so it is hard to get on Richards for that.

 

[Reaper45]

I'm curious as to why Richards gets all the attention when Brown has basically the same contract and has produced less last season and this year. There also seems to be a lot of people complaining about his contract yet most posters seem willing to throw $4+ million at a 3rd pairing d-man. I won't see Richards as the reason we lose anyone, it will be the combo of Richards, Gaborik's contract, and Brown's/ that we do. Just my $.02

because even if he's not scoring, brown can be an effective checker or 4th line player. Plus he led but kings to their first and second Stanley Cup championships as the team captain, he gets a pass in my book.

 

[kingsfan]

To be honest, the last page or so has been meta-discussion about contracts and the cap, Richards just happens to be the lens because he's one of a group of guys who are on a sort of cap-value hotseat and this thread exists. Literally SOMEONE has to go. I don't necessarily believe that's Richards, but it is reality, unless that cap goes up 15 million or something absurd. It's not mismanagement or anything imo either, it's just reality when you have an elite, experienced team. If anything, our contracts are more reasonable than most.

In regards to the bolded this only true if th cap doesn't go up much (very early preliminary numbers suggest it won't, but it is very preliminary) and/or if AEG stops letting us spend to the cap.

If the cap jumps to $75-$77 million as some last year had suggested it would this year then we should be fine.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

I think Brown has played fairly well this year even though he isn't scoring. His speed looks better and he doesn't look lost out there like he did for large stretches last year. I think he'll score 20 goals this year.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I think Brown has played fairly well this year even though he isn't scoring. His speed looks better and he doesn't look lost out there like he did for large stretches last year. I think he'll score 20 goals this year.

Yeah I would agree with you on Brown. I'd like a little more physicality and driving the net from him but he'll hit his hot streak at some point like always.

 

[wabwat]

because even if he's not scoring, brown can be an effective checker or 4th line player. Plus he led but kings to their first and second Stanley Cup championships as the team captain, he gets a pass in my book.

they both should.

it really is just an argument of fan sentiment towards the player.

without the name on the back of either jersey, #23's contract is worse.


and i remain fairly convinced the luxury item here is Marian Gaborik

 

[wabwat]

Yeah in terms of production, nobody is really producing outside of the Carter line so it is hard to get on Richards for that.

right, and despite the fact that none of Toffoli-Carter-Pearson registered a single shot 5 on 5 last night after about the 7-minute mark of the 1st, Richards remains the hot-button.

his contract isn't even the most troubling, yet he remains the hot button.

2 championships in 3 three years, and he's the one who gets isolated as if his entire time here has been spent as some sort of outlier.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

right, and despite the fact that none of Toffoli-Carter-Pearson registered a single shot 5 on 5 last night after about the 7-minute mark of the 1st, Richards remains the hot-button.

his contract isn't even the most troubling, yet he remains the hot button.

2 championships in 3 three years, and he's the one who gets isolated as if his entire time here has been spent as some sort of outlier.

From my end, the concern is with the (head) injury history. I will say that the fact that he "got in shape" this year is encouraging. But like I said before, I never understand these accounting debates. If someone has to go, so be it. I trust the guy in charge to make the right decision. Why shouldn't I?

 

[Bandit]

I think Brown has played fairly well this year even though he isn't scoring. His speed looks better and he doesn't look lost out there like he did for large stretches last year. I think he'll score 20 goals this year.

You could sub Richards for Brown in that sentence and it would still be true.

 

[Bandit]

they both should.

it really is just an argument of fan sentiment towards the player.

without the name on the back of either jersey, #23's contract is worse.


and i remain fairly convinced the luxury item here is Marian Gaborik

Absolutely. If anyone ends up having to go, it will be Gaborik.

 

[kingsfan]

Absolutely. If anyone ends up having to go, it will be Gaborik.

I doubt it. Gaborik has seven years left on his deal. Odds are if we have to unload a contract (which we don't yet) then it will be someone on a smaller term or a UFA to be. Not to mention I doubt very much it'll look good on DL with all other players in the league to get a guy like Gaborik to sign a cap friendly seven year deal, then trade him in year one. You can kiss goodbye any favors from players here on in if you do that.

 

[Bandit]

I doubt it. Gaborik has seven years left on his deal. Odds are if we have to unload a contract (which we don't yet) then it will be someone on a smaller term or a UFA to be. Not to mention I doubt very much it'll look good on DL with all other players in the league to get a guy like Gaborik to sign a cap friendly seven year deal, then trade him in year one. You can kiss goodbye any favors from players here on in if you do that.

Everyone said that when Dean traded Visnovsky too. I'm not saying jettison him to siberia. Dean would do him a solid.

 

[Trolfoli]

Absolutely. If anyone ends up having to go, it will be Gaborik.

So Kings add Gaborik 2 games after the Olympics and score at a 3 goals a game pace through the end of the season, go on to a 3.3-3.4 goals per game during the playoffs....

Last year without Gaborik the Kings had the 29th ranked offense.. and this year without Gaborik they're sitting at 26th and being carried offensively by a rookie and sophomore players....

Clearly Gaborik is the extra part that should be moved.

Edit: He makes less then 5M against the cap.

 

[wabwat]

So Kings add Gaborik 2 games after the Olympics and score at a 3 goals a game pace through the end of the season, go on to a 3.3-3.4 goals per game during the playoffs....

Last year without Gaborik the Kings had the 29th ranked offense.. and this year without Gaborik they're sitting at 26th and being carried offensively by a rookie and sophomore players....

Clearly Gaborik is the extra part that should be moved.

Edit: He makes less then 5M against the cap.

for seven years with a career GP resume slanted heavily toward the first half of his career.

and unless i'm mistaken, he's less than 5m on the shelf.

aside from Quick, Gaborik's was and is the most concerning contract.

 

[Bandit]

So Kings add Gaborik 2 games after the Olympics and score at a 3 goals a game pace through the end of the season, go on to a 3.3-3.4 goals per game during the playoffs....

Last year without Gaborik the Kings had the 29th ranked offense.. and this year without Gaborik they're sitting at 26th and being carried offensively by a rookie and sophomore players....

Clearly Gaborik is the extra part that should be moved.

Edit: He makes less then 5M against the cap.

If you have to choose between two supremely talented up and coming young wingers and an aging, oft-injured vet, the choice is quite easy. Even if they end up having to trade Gaborik, the difference between 2012 and today would be Toffoli + Pearson - Penner, and somehow they managed to win it all in 2012...

Whether some of you choose to admit it or not, Brown, Richards and Stoll are part of Lombardi's core culture, and it's highly unlikely they are going anywhere.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I can get on board with this. If Richards proves he can be a 3C that cap is manageable.

I've been on board with this ever since it was clear Carter was going to stick at center for the foreseeable future with Toffoli on his wing (2013 Hawks series was where the two really began to show some incredible chemistry).

Stoll is gonna go, and I'm fine with that, I guess. Resign Williams and keep King-Richards-Williams as the third line over the next few years. Let Lewis center Clifford and whomever on the fourth line.

 

[Jtown]

I've been on board with this ever since it was clear Carter was going to stick at center for the foreseeable future with Toffoli on his wing (2013 Hawks series was where the two really began to show some incredible chemistry).

Stoll is gonna go, and I'm fine with that, I guess. Resign Williams and keep King-Richards-Williams as the third line over the next few years. Let Lewis center Clifford and whomever on the fourth line.

what does williams sign for?

What do toffoli and pearson sign for?

What about martinez and jones?

 

[Trolfoli]

If you have to choose between two supremely talented up and coming young wingers and an aging, oft-injured vet, the choice is quite easy. Even if they end up having to trade Gaborik, the difference between 2012 and today would be Toffoli + Pearson - Penner, and somehow they managed to win it all in 2012...

Whether some of you choose to admit it or not, Brown, Richards and Stoll are part of Lombardi's core culture, and it's highly unlikely they are going anywhere.

The choice isn't between Gaborik and Pearson/Toffoli because they can all score. This may be the case if the Kings offense wasn't at 26th again, that still with the 70's killing it. The choices are as follows

Richards/Stoll... Richards singed for longer... and Lombardi passed on the opportunity to buy him out, so right/wrong Lombardi went with Richards beyond this year.

King/Brown/Williams... all playing like 3rd liners at this point... able to plug holes on the first line. They are going to need Gaborik/Kopitar to carry them... One of them is 230 lbs+ and only makes 2M.

 

[wabwat]

The choice isn't between Gaborik and Pearson/Toffoli because they can all score. This may be the case if the Kings offense wasn't at 26th again, that still with the 70's killing it. The choices are as follows

Richards/Stoll... Richards singed for longer... and Lombardi passed on the opportunity to buy him out, so right/wrong Lombardi went with Richards beyond this year.

King/Brown/Williams... all playing like 3rd liners at this point... able to plug holes on the first line. They are going to need Gaborik/Kopitar to carry them... One of them is 230 lbs+ and only makes 2M.

they won the Stanley Cup with the 29th ranked offense... with was 30th until Carter got here.

i think you and quite a few others really underestimate the mental resolve of this team.