Mike Richards (Warning in OP)

[deeshamrock]

http://nypost.com/2014/11/08/theres-a-good-chance-the-nhl-salary-cap-wont-increase/

Article questioning whether or not there will be an increase in the salary cap next season.

Larry Brooks of the NY Post speculating on the what may lie ahead for the NHL Cap based on the Canadian Dollar. As the article cites , currently .88 but last week was .84.
There 's a lot of factors that will play into that final number and until June, when the season ends, that won't be finalized. Although last year during the playoffs the NHL did release that number even tho the income from the playoffs wasn't final yet.
It's wait and see...

The Ottawa Sun also posted an article yesterday about this subject and said although it might not go up as much as originally thought due to the some of the $$ coming from the CAD, it's unlikely it won't go up at all, due to the revenue from the new TV deal

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/11/08/slumping-canuck-dollar-could-affect-salary-cap

 

[KINGS17]

Larry Brooks of the NY Post speculating on the what may lie ahead for the NHL Cap based on the Canadian Dollar. As the article cites , currently .88 but last week was .84.
There 's a lot of factors that will play into that final number and until June, when the season ends, that won't be finalized. Although last year during the playoffs the NHL did release that number even tho the income from the playoffs wasn't final yet.
It's wait and see...

The Ottawa Sun also posted an article yesterday about this subject and said although it might not go up as much as originally thought due to the some of the $$ coming from the CAD, it's unlikely it won't go up at all, due to the revenue from the new TV deal

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/11/08/slumping-canuck-dollar-could-affect-salary-cap

Thanks for the link. Obviously, we are going to see a lot of differing opinions on this until the salary cap number for next season is announced.

“It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.†- Yogi Berra

 

[Johnny Utah]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

If USA had depth even remotely approaching that of TC, Brown wouldn't have sniffed that roster.

 

[scramble91]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

Wasn't browns contract post cba? I thought the compliance buyouts were only for the pre cba contracts? I think that's the only reason the media or anyone used brown as a buyout candidate ( outside of the captain, leader, etc )

Normal buyout of browns contract would cripple the kings for years since it was executed after sept 15th 2012.

 

[Winger23]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

Edit...Never mind. So sick of the Richards hate when he's playing well. Expectations for him will always be higher than is realistically possible with this current team. For some if you don't drop the gloves and don't score shorthanders you suck. To each their own.

 

[damacles1156]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

Brown's contract can not be bought out.

 

[kingsfan]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

Richards is supposed to be an elite player but the other two aren't? Yet you point out that Brown is an Olympian and don't we all recall that WIlliams was just named the Conn Smythe winner?

Richards can easily be compared to those guys. He's getting the same or less ice time, same or less PP time, worse linemates usually yet you guys expect him to put up great numbers. Even with his weak numbers this year he's fourth on Kings scoring this year, first if you ignore the 70's line.

Richards is Richards. He's not Gretzky. When we got him he was a 60 point guys, not a point per gamer anymore. He's fallen off since then as well, no doubt, but why everyone thinks he should be some all-star is beyond me. He's a heart and soul guy that can pot some points (albeit he should be doing more) and he is clutch almost every post-season. That's what we traded for. As I said in my last post he wins EVERYWHERE. We traded for that, not some 80 point centre. He should be putting up points similar to J-Dub and Brown and he pretty much is.

 

[Scottkmlps]

Richards is supposed to be an elite player but the other two aren't? Yet you point out that Brown is an Olympian and don't we all recall that WIlliams was just named the Conn Smythe winner?

Richards can easily be compared to those guys. He's getting the same or less ice time, same or less PP time, worse linemates usually yet you guys expect him to put up great numbers. Even with his weak numbers this year he's fourth on Kings scoring this year, first if you ignore the 70's line.

Richards is Richards. He's not Gretzky. When we got him he was a 60 point guys, not a point per gamer anymore. He's fallen off since then as well, no doubt, but why everyone thinks he should be some all-star is beyond me. He's a heart and soul guy that can pot some points (albeit he should be doing more) and he is clutch almost every post-season. That's what we traded for. As I said in my last post he wins EVERYWHERE. We traded for that, not some 80 point centre. He should be putting up points similar to J-Dub and Brown and he pretty much is.

Bravo

 

[Herby]

Edit...Never mind. So sick of the Richards hate when he's playing well. Expectations for him will always be higher than is realistically possible with this current team. For some if you don't drop the gloves and don't score shorthanders you suck. To each their own.

Couple things, earlier in the thread, you said....

He is actually off to a good start, and if you focus more on just stat watching you would realize this.

Which makes zero sense because those of us who have been critical of Richards in the past have listed quite a bit more than lack of offense as reasons, yet some of you guys just can't help yourself in thinking that is what it's all about, it's like you just choose to ignore the defensive and physical aspect.

Last year Mike Richards was, on many many nights the worst player on the ice for the Kings, you could see it not only in offensive and defensive stats but just from watching the games. And guess what, there were people on this board, many who are participating in this very discussion who simply refused to admit it, called people "haters", said the Kings were happy with his season, said all anyone looked at was stats. The acceptance of Richards having an abysmal season on this board really only happened after the Lombardi visit to MR's summer home came to light, before that there were many people here who thought his season was just fine, or that he was just in an "offensive slump", you can go access the old threads if you don't believe me.

And you are right Richards is playing better this season, I don't think anyone is disputing that, even those of us who are not his biggest fans, which is more objectivity than many gave last year. The question is, is he playing at a level that warrants $5.75 million until 2020? It ultimately comes down to this, the Kings have to shed salary, there is a debate on this board, it's very divided on who has to go, and it usually comes down to Williams, Richards and Stoll, and we also have s small group with their heads in the sand thinking that DL will find a way to make it happen. I am of the opinion that Richards is the one to go, I have listed numerous reasons over the past few months which go well beyond your guys favorite offensive stats. I could care less if he ever fights again, fighting is a black eye on the sport and I rarely agree with Johnny Utah, but his lack of physical play and lack of SH offense is definitely a concern, that was a big factor in why MR is paid close to $6 million a year and if he isn't physical, isn't scoring much, isn't very good defensively (last year was an embarrassment) then what exactly is he, an energy player who provides leadership? Again, for almost $6 million until 2020?

No one is being a "hater" for discussing the merits of keeping that contract on the books.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Why hasn't this been sticky'd yet?

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Why hasn't this been sticky'd yet?

no need to it. Its never been to the bottom of the page

 

[Herby]

Richards is supposed to be an elite player but the other two aren't? Yet you point out that Brown is an Olympian and don't we all recall that WIlliams was just named the Conn Smythe winner?

Richards can easily be compared to those guys. He's getting the same or less ice time, same or less PP time, worse linemates usually yet you guys expect him to put up great numbers. Even with his weak numbers this year he's fourth on Kings scoring this year, first if you ignore the 70's line.

Richards is Richards. He's not Gretzky. When we got him he was a 60 point guys, not a point per gamer anymore. He's fallen off since then as well, no doubt, but why everyone thinks he should be some all-star is beyond me. He's a heart and soul guy that can pot some points (albeit he should be doing more) and he is clutch almost every post-season. That's what we traded for. As I said in my last post he wins EVERYWHERE. We traded for that, not some 80 point centre. He should be putting up points similar to J-Dub and Brown and he pretty much is.

I find it funny that we hear people talking about points constantly, from all angles of the discussion, Johnny will rag on him for not scoring enough, last year Ziggy tried saying that him being 36th in center scoring made him a high scoring 2nd liner.

I look beyond points, to me I just wonder why after coming to LA he was nowhere close to the player that we saw in Philly. This is a player who at one point was a Selke Trophy nominee who almost overnight became a complete joke in the defensive zone. Again with the scoring, LA plays a more defensive oriented system, no one expected 80 points, but to fall off the cliff like he did last year? In Philly he was known as a physical player, in LA we see rare flashes but nowhere close to what we saw. You want to talk special teams, in Philly one of the best in the league both on the PP and SH, one of the most dangerous SH players in the league, 23 SH goals in six seasons as a Flyer, after a solid four in his first year as a King he has 1 since. And everyone knows the reason why, because he has clearly lost a step, lost burst whatever cliche anyone wants to use to describe a player who is nowhere near as good as he was in his prime.

But again, the problem is dollars and cents. Not doing nearly as much as he did to earn him that contract yet still being paid to be that player.

 

[Trolfoli]

But again, the problem is dollars and cents. Not doing nearly as much as he did to earn him that contract yet still being paid to be that player.

There is the problem... to get rid of the contract and be free and clear of it Lombardi needed to buy it out last summer....

Going forward..

If Richards is traded there is a cap recapture penalty if he retires early.

If Richards is bought out there is now a cost to that buy out.

I don't see a way of getting rid of Richards without a cap hit at this point... well could always "Pronger" him I guess...

Lombardi has already made his choice.

Can't wait to see (Porky,Kempe)/Richards/Zykov!!!

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I find it funny that we hear people talking about points constantly, from all angles of the discussion, Johnny will rag on him for not scoring enough, last year Ziggy tried saying that him being 36th in center scoring made him a high scoring 2nd liner.

I look beyond points, to me I just wonder why after coming to LA he was nowhere close to the player that we saw in Philly. This is a player who at one point was a Selke Trophy nominee who almost overnight became a complete joke in the defensive zone. Again with the scoring, LA plays a more defensive oriented system, no one expected 80 points, but to fall off the cliff like he did last year? In Philly he was known as a physical player, in LA we see rare flashes but nowhere close to what we saw. You want to talk special teams, in Philly one of the best in the league both on the PP and SH, one of the most dangerous SH players in the league, 23 SH goals in six seasons as a Flyer, after a solid four in his first year as a King he has 1 since. And everyone knows the reason why, because he has clearly lost a step, lost burst whatever cliche anyone wants to use to describe a player who is nowhere near as good as he was in his prime.

But again, the problem is dollars and cents. Not doing nearly as much as he did to earn him that contract yet still being paid to be that player.

I've only ever argued points when literally confronted with overblown claims about lack of production. And I'm pretty sure I'm on record in that mess last year saying I wanted till this season to decide what's up with him.

I don't think anyone will argue that he's lost a step since Philly, but that step he lost, in my opinion, was not what we saw last year. We saw normal (for us) Richards for half the year, then an abomination between Christmas and the playoffs. Philly Richards, LA Richards, and last-half-year Richards have all been very different hockey players. "LA Richards" is still a player worth keeping around, and the entirety of any point I've ever tried to make about the guy is that LA Richards is not confirmed KIA, due to the reasons surrounding his drastic decline last winter (like the illness that I NEVER see contextualized), and is still a solid contributor on this team. So far that is who I'm seeing this year, so I'm sticking by him.

As to the salary cap implications. If LA Richards doesn't vanish, I take him over present-day Stoll every day of the week. I do not hate Stoll in any way whatsoever. But I do not care how affordable he may be. If Stoll is retained his biggest contribution will be cheap labour. You get what you pay for - so I'm in favour of the mild over-payment in Richards, who provides meaningful depth at both ends of the ice. Williams would sting, and I admittedly have no answer for, but I'm also not decided on if he's viable after this year or what he could be looking for. He might be a problem or he might not be, its tomorrow's problem.

 

[raswilliam]

I just re-watched some of the 2014 playoff highlights. That goal Gaborik scored in game 1 vs the ducks to tie the game up with 0.7 seconds left....guess who had the primary assist on that... thought I'd mention that for no particular reason. I just realized myself.

 

[Little Psycho]

Why hasn't this been sticky'd yet?

I'm hoping we get a part 2 soon.

 

[HiEverybody]

I just re-watched some of the 2014 playoff highlights. That goal Gaborik scored in game 1 vs the ducks to tie the game up with 0.7 seconds left....guess who had the primary assist on that... thought I'd mention that for no particular reason. I just realized myself.

Bryan Allen?

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'm hoping we get a part 2 soon.

Almost halfway!

 

[Ron*]

I just re-watched some of the 2014 playoff highlights. That goal Gaborik scored in game 1 vs the ducks to tie the game up with 0.7 seconds left....guess who had the primary assist on that... thought I'd mention that for no particular reason. I just realized myself.

Bryan Allen?

 

[KINGS17]

There is the problem... to get rid of the contract and be free and clear of it Lombardi needed to buy it out last summer....

Going forward..

If Richards is traded there is a cap recapture penalty if he retires early.

If Richards is bought out there is now a cost to that buy out.

I don't see a way of getting rid of Richards without a cap hit at this point... well could always "Pronger" him I guess...

Lombardi has already made his choice.

Can't wait to see (Porky,Kempe)/Richards/Zykov!!!

I don't think Dean has made up his mind about anything other than he is going to keep Brown and try to keep Martinez. If Dean can sign Martinez, that deal might have an impact on who stays or goes among Williams, Stoll, and/or Richards.

Dean's loyalty to Richards may cost the Kings some cap space down the line, but if Richards isn't a fit going forward, he won't be here.

 

[bmr]

I just re-watched some of the 2014 playoff highlights. That goal Gaborik scored in game 1 vs the ducks to tie the game up with 0.7 seconds left....guess who had the primary assist on that... thought I'd mention that for no particular reason. I just realized myself.

Also, don't forget who assisted on the Williams OT goal against the Rangers.

I believe he was also one of the 2-3 best players on the ice during the 2013 Conference Finals where we lost to Chicago. He really has only had one subpar season.

He thinks the game well, is a great leader and i'm not concerned with his cap hit. Frankly, i'm more concerned about Brown at this point, not Richards.

Carter is probably going to be the best value contract we have on this team for years to come.

 

[damacles1156]

The way J-Dub has started this year, I wouldn't resign him. Everyone knows I am a huge J-Dub homer too. But the Kings have Toffoli breaking out, with Mersch RW(left hand shot too) looking promising.

I wouldn't spend 4+ million on J-Dub if he is only going to put up 30+ point seasons now.

Stoll will have to take a pay cut, no way around it, Like a 1 million pay cut. Williams has 3 points in 14G played, that is a terrible start to the season(which no one seems to be talking about). His possession numbers are also down.

If J-Dub has a subpar post season this year, that would make my mind up if I am Lombardi.

Most likely what will happen is, J-Dub/Stoll if they wish to retire Kings. Will sign front loaded, Cap friendly deals(Gaborik style) to remain Kings.

 

[bmr]

The way J-Dub has started this year, I wouldn't resign him. Everyone knows I am a huge J-Dub homer too. But the Kings have Toffoli breaking out, with Mersch looking promising.

I wouldn't spend 4+ million on J-Dub if he is only going to put up 30+ point seasons now.

Stoll is going to have to take a pay cut to stay a King, Like a 1 million pay cut. Williams has 3 points in 14G played, that is a terrible start to the season. His possession numbers are also down.

Big D -

I'm totally feeling you on this, but you gotta understand that we've played more playoff hockey in the past 3 years than any other team. The veteran guys are going to not going to light the world on fire in the first part of the season. Give it at least 'til after the Allstar break before we decide we won't want J-Dub any more. The guy has come up *HUGE* for us and there's no way I get rid of a game changer like him. Even Kopitar has started the season slow. These guys know what it takes to get it done. I'll leave you with this:

http://nextimpulsesports.com/2014/06/01/justin-williams-distracted-willie-mitchell-rubbing-stick/

 

[no name]

You can't compare Brown, Williams and Richards'. First off, Richards' is supposed to be an elite player.

Williams makes only 3.625 million and is a UFA. He has always been a goal scorer who is a team leader.

Brown makes 5.875 million until 2021. He has always been barely a 20 goal scorer who can hit.

Richards' makes 5.75 million until 2020 and is supposed to a star player who can hit, score 60-80 points, skate, fight, score short handed, and be a leader.

Though Brown has struggled last regular season and this regular season there was never any talk of buying him out. He also still made Team USA. Richards' wasn't even considered for Team Canada this past year.

Do you realize that the attention and lack of attention from one player to the next screams agenda. The wording. The tone and structure. Sensational on both spectrums.