Mike Richards (Warning in OP)

[moosehead81]

My sense is that it'll come down to Brown, Richards, Williams and Stoll. Brown, who makes more than Richards, will soon be the 2014-15 "Mike Richards" on this board, unless he pulls his socks up big time. Justin Williams is actually playing with some "talent", such as it is, and I would have thought he'd be playing for that last big final contract, wherever it is. He's got to get better. Stoll is playing like Stoll, good defensive upside but not much on the offence. They just signed Brown last season so he's not going anywhere and Stoll could likely be had for a big home-town discount (otherwise he'll probably just move across town to Anaheim).

Some big decisions coming up, and likely sooner than later, particularly if Voynov ends up being shopped. You might get a decent defenceman back (and maybe a serviceable winger) if you package one of Stoll, Richards or Williams with Voynov for a return. A lot would depend on whether the receiving team wants to take (or has the room to take) the contracts associated with the 2 LA players, Voynov and one other. Of course, we could all be sucking air and nothing happens.

 

[damacles1156]

My sense is that it'll come down to Brown, Richards, Williams and Stoll. Brown, who makes more than Richards, will soon be the 2014-15 "Mike Richards" on this board, unless he pulls his socks up big time. Justin Williams is actually playing with some "talent", such as it is, and I would have thought he'd be playing for that last big final contract, wherever it is. He's got to get better. Stoll is playing like Stoll, good defensive upside but not much on the offence. They just signed Brown last season so he's not going anywhere and Stoll could likely be had for a big home-town discount (otherwise he'll probably just move across town to Anaheim).

Some big decisions coming up, and likely sooner than later, particularly if Voynov ends up being shopped. You might get a decent defenceman back (and maybe a serviceable winger) if you package one of Stoll, Richards or Williams with Voynov for a return. A lot would depend on whether the receiving team wants to take (or has the room to take) the contracts associated with the 2 LA players, Voynov and one other. Of course, we could all be sucking air and nothing happens.

Richards + Slava would be a huge cap hit no team would take on.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

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/

Totally agree. And there are a few guys that are underperforming but are shooting waaaaayy below career shooting percentages, too. Our offense is going to correct itself as the possession numbers come back around.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Richards + Slava would be a huge cap hit no team would take on.

Not saying we would but this depends on whats coming back wouldn't it ? if there sending 8 million in salaries back it may work

 

[damacles1156]

Not saying we would but this depends on whats coming back wouldn't it ? if there sending 8 million in salaries back it may work

Then that defeats the purpose of moving them to begin with. The only reason people want Richards gone, is his cap hit.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Then that defeats the purpose of moving them to begin with. The only reason people want Richards gone, is his cap hit.

Well if we only get 8 million back it would in theory gain us 2 millionish in cap space Also depending on who the 8 million is may improve us So no it wouldn't defeat the purpose of trading them .

 

[damacles1156]

Well if we only get 8 million back it would in theory gain us 2 millionish in cap space Also depending on who the 8 million is may improve us So no it wouldn't defeat the purpose of trading them .

Lombardi pretty much made his mind up. The time to rid themselves of Mike Richards was in the off-season (free buyout) Lombardi didn't. Too many things have to go right or (fit) if you want to trade the guy now.

Edit:

Folks,

Can we please stop with the ridiculous notion; that Richards cap hit is going to stop the Kings from locking up Kopitar.... That is just outlandish, Lombardi will move/trade/buyout/beg/barrow/steal, what ever the hell he has too, to lock up Kopitar.

Just stop with that nonsense.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Lombardi pretty much made his mind up. The time to rid themselves of Mike Richards was in the off-season (free buyout) Lombardi didn't. Too many things have to go right or (fit) if you want to trade the guy now.

Edit:

Folks,

Can we please stop with the ridiculous notion; that Richards cap hit is going to stop the Kings from locking up Kopitar.... That is just outlandish, Lombardi will move/trade/buyout/beg/barrow/steal, what ever the hell he has too, to lock up Kopitar.

Just stop with that nonsense.

where did this come from all im saying is in theory it wouldn't stop teams from aquiring both of them at once . I never once said anything to do with actually trading them. Also where is this kopitar rank coming from on me I never once said anything about him resigning because of him I totally agree no way that he doesn't resign.

 

[damacles1156]

where did this come from all im saying is in theory it wouldn't stop teams from aquiring both of them at once . I never once said anything to do with actually trading them. Also where is this kopitar rank coming from on me I never once said anything about him resigning because of him I totally agree no way that he doesn't resign.

The (edit) is not directed at you.

 

[bmr]

Totally agree. And there are a few guys that are underperforming but are shooting waaaaayy below career shooting percentages, too. Our offense is going to correct itself as the possession numbers come back around.

Yep. Definitely not the time to start talking about which players we are gonna jettison after a few short weeks. This team has had the recipe for success the past few years - why would we change that now?

It's easy to just look at stats - especially during the regular season...but name some other players in this league who have the playoff pedigrees of Williams and Richards. You won't find many.

I've said it before and i'll say it again: I don't envy the position DL is going to be in over the next few seasons - especially if the salary cap doesn't go up. Tough decisions.....

 

[Trolfoli]

Then that defeats the purpose of moving them to begin with. The only reason people want Richards gone, is his cap hit.

I know you are saying "People"

Stoll: 3.25M
Richards: 5.75

5.75-3.25 = 2.5M

So 2.5M of savings going from Richards to Stoll...

Now factor in cap hit from buying Richards out or possible cap recapture penalty from trading him. Could be lessened if salary is retained until the end of that contract in 2020.

You are left with 2.5-X.... so swapping Richard for Stoll maybe buys 1-2M in cap space... and Stoll hasn't been resigned yet so who knows how much he'll ask for... possibly further lowering savings.

There just isn't much savings going from Richards to Stoll...

 

[KingCanadain1976]

The (edit) is not directed at you.

ok well it was under my quoted part so please in the future if u got more to say to others in this thread make it to them please. I am apart of the same keep richards group as you are.

 

[bmr]

Lombardi pretty much made his mind up. The time to rid themselves of Mike Richards was in the off-season (free buyout) Lombardi didn't. Too many things have to go right or (fit) if you want to trade the guy now.

Edit:

Folks,

Can we please stop with the ridiculous notion; that Richards cap hit is going to stop the Kings from locking up Kopitar.... That is just outlandish, Lombardi will move/trade/buyout/beg/barrow/steal, what ever the hell he has too, to lock up Kopitar.

Just stop with that nonsense.

If I had to keep any single player on this team, it would be Kopitar. When he is at his best, I'm not sure there is another Center in this league I would take over him. Toews would be the only guy, and it's 50/50 for me.

 

[Whiskeypete]

the year will be 2040, M Richards will be 55 and likely retired for around 20-years

you fools will still be sitting here trying to convince one another why Richards should be traded.

i vote for a ban on any and all M Richards topics until after the first of the year.....i'm tired of seeing it

 

[scramble91]

If I had to keep any single player on this team, it would be Kopitar. When he is at his best, I'm not sure there is another Center in this league I would take over him. Toews would be the only guy, and it's 50/50 for me.

I think Dean would agree that keeping kopitar, Drew, quick and now carter would be the priority over anyone else in the organization ( except uncle Phil )

I added carter to the main core strictly because his impact, fitness, and a very affordable contract.

The issue is with the secondary core is cap hit if the cap doesn't move.

Not worried about toffoli or Pearson yet as most bridge deals range in the 2-2.4 area similar to Schwartz in St. Louis .

 

[Buddy The Elf]

the year will be 2040, M Richards will be 55 and likely retired for around 20-years

you fools will still be sitting here trying to convince one another why Richards should be traded.

i vote for a ban on any and all M Richards topics until after the first of the year.....i'm tired of seeing it

Once Mike Richards is gone, it will be somebody else. Its great to debate the merits of a player and all but at some point (very quickly) everyone starts recycling the same points. Its stuff like this and trade proposals that I'll never get. I get discussing a player's contribution and impact. The accounting side of it is better left to the professionals. I think we can all do 3rd grade math and understand that the Kings will have to make decisions with players at some point. I have a feeling the management of the organization is aware of that and probably has a game plan. And that game plan is probably better than a bunch of idiots like ourselves jockeying around the computer keyboard come up with.

It stuff like this where I feel like the side of the people defending Richards should just say "yeah, you're right. They should get rid of him to free up cap space". That pretty much takes all of the fun out of it though.

 

[Trolfoli]

Fun Fact!

Richards has more points then Stoll/Williams combined! Has also played a lot of time with Clifford/Nolan.

 

[kingsfan]

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.

I'd do a 1 year offer to J-Dub if the season continues the way it has. If he comes around I'll do a 2 year offer. I wouldn't want to assume he went from Conn Smythe winner to dud in five months.

Stoll, I'd resign for at least two years, but I agree, he needs a pay cut. I'd go $2.8 or $2.9 million per year though, he'd fetch that on the open market easily. Again, assuming his offense returns to what it has been the past few years.

Lombardi pretty much made his mind up. The time to rid themselves of Mike Richards was in the off-season (free buyout) Lombardi didn't.

I wonder if he was allowed to. While a buy-out doesn't count against the cap, it is not free. For compliance buy-outs, the players received the full amount of their pay still owing on the contract. For Richards, he was still owed $29 million. It might have been a hard sell to AEG to eat that much, especially since the likely goal of doing the buy out would have been to hand a different player another contract, putting the Kings on the hook for another player and it would have questionable just how much of an upgrade that player would have been.

 

[Little Psycho]

I think it will be either Stoll, Richards, or Williams that leaves. I see both toffoli and pearson getting 2 million per year, 2-3 years. (Hopefully...keeping my fingers crossed) If we do lose a center, likely gonna have Weal come replace the leaving center. Richards has been good, just think it comes down to money. If we lose RR do we have really have anyone to replace him? Its gonna be a hard offseason. Going to look different for sure next year.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Funny thing is Richards' name was the only King mentioned in the offseason for a buyout. He was the only King that Lombardi visited. He was the only top 6-9 King's forward who spent the post season on the 4th line.

The bottom line is there was merit behind the buyout rumors because everyone (fans, media, Lombardi), saw that he was awful last year and for that money and that term, he has to be better or he is GONE.

In his first year as a King, he had 4 short handed goals. He averaged 18 minutes of ice time. He scored 44 points. He has 5 fights. He was the Mike Richards' of old. He destroyed Vorachek with a hit in the regular season. He was a beast in the playoffs and had 15 points and was a +1. He leveled Burrows in the 1st round and set the tone for the whole playoffs.

Cut to last year...He scored 41 points. He had 1 fight. He didn't throw one big hit I noticed all year. He had 1 short handed goal. He averaged 16 minutes of ice time. He had 10 points in the playoffs. He was a -6 in the playoffs and regular season.

This year he is averaging 15 minutes of ice time.

The physical play needs to be mentioned because that is Mike Richards' game. He is supposed to be in his prime at 29, yet in the 2 years since the first Cup run he is getting worse. In those two years actually his ice time has dropped 2 minutes, his hitting game is gone, his short handed goals are gone, and he is a - player.

This is the guy that has to go to solve the Kings cap problems. He is making almost 6 million and spending most of the time as at the 3rd or 4th line center. That is way too much money.

Jeff Carter is in amazing shape. Richards' has never been. That is one of his problems..the other...I don't know...mental? Decline? Size?

 

[damacles1156]

Funny thing is Richards' name was the only King mentioned in the offseason for a buyout. He was the only King that Lombardi visited. He was the only top 6-9 King's forward who spent the post season on the 4th line.

The bottom line is there was merit behind the buyout rumors because everyone (fans, media, Lombardi), saw that he was awful last year and for that money and that term, he has to be better or he is GONE.

In his first year as a King, he had 4 short handed goals. He averaged 18 minutes of ice time. He scored 44 points. He has 5 fights. He was the Mike Richards' of old. He destroyed Vorachek with a hit in the regular season. He was a beast in the playoffs and had 15 points and was a +1. He leveled Burrows in the 1st round and set the tone for the whole playoffs.

Cut to last year...He scored 41 points. He had 1 fight. He didn't throw one big hit I noticed all year. He had 1 short handed goal. He averaged 16 minutes of ice time. He had 10 points in the playoffs. He was a -6 in the playoffs and regular season.

This year he is averaging 15 minutes of ice time.

The physical play needs to be mentioned because that is Mike Richards' game. He is supposed to be in his prime at 29, yet in the 2 years since the first Cup run he is getting worse. In those two years actually his ice time has dropped 2 minutes, his hitting game is gone, his short handed goals are gone, and he is a - player.

This is the guy that has to go to solve the Kings cap problems. He is making almost 6 million and spending most of the time as at the 3rd or 4th line center. That is way too much money.

Jeff Carter is in amazing shape. Richards' has never been. That is one of his problems..the other...I don't know...mental? Decline? Size?

Richards was the only player with a contract to buy out. This has been pointed out to you numerous times.

Brown's contract is not able to be bought.

Carter/Quick are the only other one's that would meet requirements.

Players are no longer in Prime years at 29, Kingsfan has debunked that myth. Prime scoring years are 24-27, players lose production from 28 on.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=76675719&postcount=47

I was critical of the Richards deal for a long time, even getting tossed from the board, but in the end, Richards proved me wrong. He had 4 goals and 11 assists in the Cup run. That hit on Burrows was huge. I think the way he plays in the playoffs forces Kopitar to step up.

Richards would be a #1 center on a lot of teams. He can shoot, hit, pass and fight. He is on pace for another 50-60 point season this year.

I'm not so much doing this (in this case anyway) as an attack, but to make a simple point.

This post is from December 23rd, 2013. I think we lost to Dallas around then and it began our trail of tears to the Olympics.

To that point, Richards was doing great, prompting even some of his most vocal critics to praise Richards and make sweeping claims regarding past, present and future.

Fast forward to less than a year later. Richards played poorly for half a season (and ruined a fantasy team or two, from what I've gleamed) prompting some of his most vocal critics to denounce Richards and make sweeping claims regarding past, present, and future.

There is a valid and a constructive argument to be had about Richards, but its usually buried in hyperbole, impatience, self-serving moments of captain hindsighting, a lack of thoughtful analysis, and a willingness to shift the goal posts of fact and fiction.

 

[Johnny Utah]

In that 1 year, he has fallen off quiet a bit.

Also, read the rest of my post...

Losing Schenn didn't bother me so much, I think he is over-rated. It was Simmonds, who emerged as an elite power forward. He broke though with a 28 goal season the year of the trade and was on pace for 30 last season. Still only 25 years old.

There was a rumor the Flyers were debating between Clifford and Simmonds...man, what a fumble by DL is that is true. Can you imagine Simmonds on the Kings now?

Ask me know who I would rather have....Richards' or Simmonds? Obvious answer for anyone...and that doesn't include Schenn or the 2nd.

We all knew this deal might be bad long term, but didn't think it would be only barely 4 seasons in.

He's 7 years into a 12 year 69 million dollar deal. I can only imagine how that is going to look in 2 more seasons.

 

[damacles1156]

In that 1 year, he has fallen off quiet a bit.

Also, read the rest of my post...

Losing Schenn didn't bother me so much, I think he is over-rated. It was Simmonds, who emerged as an elite power forward. He broke though with a 28 goal season the year of the trade and was on pace for 30 last season. Still only 25 years old.

There was a rumor the Flyers were debating between Clifford and Simmonds...man, what a fumble by DL is that is true. Can you imagine Simmonds on the Kings now?

Ask me know who I would rather have....Richards' or Simmonds? Obvious answer for anyone...and that doesn't include Schenn or the 2nd.

We all knew this deal might be bad long term, but didn't think it would be only barely 3 seasons in.

Bad deal ?

The Kings have two Cups, Philly has none....

You have lost your mind.

Even if you want to argue, that Richards was a passenger in 2014 Cup (fine). But you cannot deny he was a driving force in 2012 cup run. You make that deal 10/10 times. If you don't you're a complete failure as a GM.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Bad deal ?

The Kings have two Cups, Philly has none....

You have lost your mind.

I'm talking about the deal itself...not the impact. Compare stats, contracts and long term.

Even the Richards' lovers agreed that eventually this deal might not look good...