Mike Richards (Warning in OP)

[cyclones22]

I daresay this move to get Gaborik moved people in their more natural places then the move to get Carter did in 2012. That fourth line is dangerous; hell, they are all very dangerous.

Clifford looks like a changed man playing with Richards. Moving Lewis back to wing is a good move too. Yeah, he can play center, but he's spent the majority of his career playing wing here and he looks more comfortable there.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Some of you guys make it like the move of Richards to the 4th line was a strategic move, when in actuality, it was a punishment of sorts.

I like the lines as they are, but I can't help feeling bad for Nolan not being in the lineup.

 

[Herby]

I agree with you RH63, but where else was he supposed to go?

Stoll has been playing well as the third line center, keeping the puck out of his own net while chipping in some offense with Brown and King, don't think they were going to break up a quality 3rd line to insert a struggling player.

Richards has not been anywhere close to a second line center for months now, Sutter had no choice, MR simply played himself out of that role, he had 13 points over a 46 game stretch and was horrible defensively. There was no where else he was going to go.

For this season it's fine, mainly because Columbus picked up half Gaborik's contract. But next season it's not going to be realistic to expect the Kings to be paying $22.5 million to 4 centers, and even if they move Stoll for a pick it's still $20 million for four centers. If DL decides to keep Richards he needs to be content in paying a 3rd line center almost $6 million a year for the next 6 seasons, some people seem to think that is reasonable, I am in the camp that doesn't. Maybe if MR had two years left, but the length of his contract is a huge issue.

I still think Richards is traded this summer for cap reasons, especially if re-signing Gabby is a high priority (and it should be) as well as maybe adding a defenseman. Can't do that with centers taking up so much of your cap.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I still don't understand how anyone on here can even remotely think for a second that Dean would actually trade Richards. I just don't get it.

 

[Herby]

I still don't understand how anyone on here can even remotely think for a second that Dean would actually trade Richards. I just don't get it.

Because if he is a bottom six player going forward it's hard to justify paying him that much for that long.

I don't think you give DL enough credit when it comes to thinking long term. The Kings are going to eventually need that almost $6 million in cap space they would be paying the third line center to address the holes that will certainly be there in the future. I think you have a hard time differentiating between 2011 MR that Dean traded for and the player we have seen most of this season. If MR were still that player no one would be advocating moving him, but he's not.

And anyone can be traded. Wayne Gretzky, Wilt Chamberlain and Babe Ruth were traded.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I don't have a hard time differentiating between anything. He still speaks extremely highly of Richards. Again, a bunch of people on here will be pretty disappointed this offseason when he doesn't get traded. In fact, I guarantee he won't be traded. I'd love for a reporter to ask Dean, "Richards' game has been down the second half of this season, will you trade him?" He'd probably tell them to get out.

The Kings can fit Gaborik in at 5-6 million. And I wouldn't be shocked if Dean signs Orpik for 3-3.5 million. As it stands now, the Kings will have roughly $14,750,000 in cap space to sign Gaborik, a defenseman, and a fourth liner.

Kopitar's cap hit down the road will likely be the 7-7.25 range.

 

[Nefarious]

Everything seems to be jelly with these lines. I'm in happy land, no real complaints. The real question is will Richards and Brown go into beast mode in the playoffs? Let's hope so.

 

[Herby]

I don't have a hard time differentiating between anything. He still speaks extremely highly of Richards. Again, a bunch of people on here will be pretty disappointed this offseason when he doesn't get traded. In fact, I guarantee he won't be traded. I'd love for a reporter to ask Dean, "Richards' game has been down the second half of this season, will you trade him?" He'd probably tell them to get out.

The Kings can fit Gaborik in at 5-6 million. And I wouldn't be shocked if Dean signs Orpik for 3-3.5 million. As it stands now, the Kings will have roughly $14,750,000 in cap space to sign Gaborik, a defenseman, and a fourth liner.

Kopitar's cap hit down the road will likely be the 7-7.25 range.

What's he going to do, talk poorly on the guy? Not his style. Dean also said that he was shocked that Smyth asked to be moved and was happy with him despite Smyth barely able to skate up and down the ice his last year in LA.

I can guarantee you it was not strictly Sutter's decision to move him to 4th line, coaches and GM's meet regularly to discuss these types of things. Again, if this is a third line player going forward are you content with paying him $35 million for the next six seasons?

As for Kopitar, I think that number is a little bit low, depending on how much the cap goes up or down between then. Kopitar is one of the best players in the world and he will be paid like it.

 

[Reclamation Project]

What's he going to do, talk poorly on the guy? Not his style. Dean also said that he was shocked that Smyth asked to be moved and was happy with him despite Smyth barely able to skate up and down the ice his last year in LA.

I can guarantee you it was not strictly Sutter's decision to move him to 4th line, coaches and GM's meet regularly to discuss these types of things. Again, if this is a third line player going forward are you content with paying him $35 million for the next six seasons?

As for Kopitar, I think that number is a little bit low, depending on how much the cap goes up or down between then. Kopitar is one of the best players in the world and he will be paid like it.

What if the Kings go deep in the playoffs this year (again) and he's on the third line producing? Bottom six doesn't really matter to me so long as everyone is playing responsibly and producing. Would it really bother you if down the middle you had Kopitar, Carter, and Richards producing roughly 75 points, 30-35 goals, and 50 points? It wouldn't bother me.

And I'm well aware that everyone in management is constantly talking and I also know Dean would say he needs more production out of Richards, but he also considers him an important piece of this team.

 

[HYORI 1963]

As for Kopitar, I think that number is a little bit low, depending on how much the cap goes up or down between then. Kopitar is one of the best players in the world and he will be paid like it.

Not really. At 7.25, that would make him the highest paid king, and he should be fine with that. I'm sure Kopi wants to remain a king as much as Lombardi wants to keep Kopi a king.

 

[Herby]

Not really. At 7.25, that would make him the highest paid king, and he should be fine with that. I'm sure Kopi wants to remain a king as much as Lombardi wants to keep Kopi a king.

People say that all the time, people thought the same thing about Pujols and the Cardinals, and he left for better $$$.

We are still a bit away from talking Kopitar extension (but it still has to be considered when discussing other contracts) but Getzlaf got 8.25, that should be in the neighborhood Kopitar will want.

 

[Reclamation Project]

No way does he get more than 8.25.

 

[Herby]

No way does he get more than 8.25.

I think you underrate how Kopitar is viewed around the league. He is arguably the best defensive center in the league, is close to a point per game player despite playing in a defensive system and never having another elite talent up front with him (like Toews, Getzlaf, Crosby do), he has a dominant playoff, he is extremely durable and will be under 30 years old when he hits UFA in 2016. If he gets to UFA someone will offer him 8-8.5.

He is that good.

 

[HYORI 1963]

People say that all the time, people thought the same thing about Pujols and the Cardinals, and he left for better $$$.

We are still a bit away from talking Kopitar extension (but it still has to be considered when discussing other contracts) but Getzlaf got 8.25, that should be in the neighborhood Kopitar will want.

Getzlaf isn't a good comparison. The way Murray runs the dux and the way Lombardi runs the kings is quite different.

If you noticed when DD became the highest paid king, it was just 200K more than what Kopi was making. And when Quick got his big contract, it was 50K more than what Richards was making. And of course when Brownie got his big deal, it was just 75K north of what Quick got. So, for you to suggest that Kopi will get paid 1M more than our current highest paid player, I don't see it happening. That's not how Lombardi operates.

 

[Herby]

Getzlaf isn't a good comparison. The way Murray runs the dux and the way Lombardi runs the kings is quite different.

If you noticed when DD became the highest paid king, it was just 200K more than what Kopi was making. And when Quick got his big contract, it was 50K more than what Richards was making. And of course when Brownie got his big deal, it was just 75K north of what Quick got. So, for you to suggest that Kopi will get paid 1M more than our current highest paid player, I don't see it happening. That's not how Lombardi operates.

It doesn't matter how Lombardi operates, in 2016 Kopitar is an UFA, in those negotiations Dean was not up against other teams like he would be in a Kopitar negotiation.

I just have a hard time seeing Kopitar only getting a 400k raise when he hits UFA. Not after how he has played and what he has accomplished in LA. This is a very special player and he deserves to among the leagues truly elite when it comes to compensation.

 

[HYORI 1963]

It doesn't matter how Lombardi operates, in 2016 Kopitar is an UFA, in those negotiations Dean was not up against other teams like he would be in a Kopitar negotiation.

I just have a hard time seeing Kopitar only getting a 400k raise when he hits UFA. Not after how he has played and what he has accomplished in LA. This is a very special player and he deserves to among the leagues truly elite when it comes to compensation.

And if Kopi's more about the money than remaining a king, then Lombardi will have a tough decision to make. Honestly, I think you're not taking into account how much Kopi will want to remain a king. I don't think he cares about $$ as much as him remaining a king. And it isn't as if we're asking him to take a paycut. We're gonna make him the highest paid king. Just not one of the highest paid player in the nhl.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Kopitar doesn't strike me as the player that will sign with the team that offers him the biggest offer. I believe he'll re-sign with LA far before his conotract expires and take a cut over what his market value would be. And I do expect him to get a raise.

 

[Nefarious]

Kopitar doesn't strike me as the player that will sign with the team that offers him the biggest offer. I believe he'll re-sign with LA far before his conotract expires and take a cut over what his market value would be. And I do expect him to get a raise.

This is how I see it as well. Would I mind if he got a hefty pay raise? Nope. But it'd be nice if didn't milk every penny so we can potentially add more pieces and raise more banners.

The atmosphere that Dean has tried to build is exactly that, a team/family with a culture of winning. The core being drafted up with each other. I think the players and the management like it and appreciate it from both sides. With the culture of winning, draws potential high caliber players. I mean, despite east coast bias, the Kings are getting notoriety on many fronts. And they are also getting a lot of hate from opposing team fans (which is comical and I enjoy immensely). I just hope we never see the Kovalchuk drama again, at least not here. Dean seems to not judge players solely on skill, but also personality on the ice, and in the locker room. I think that's a good thing.

 

[Herby]

Didn't some of you guys who still defend the Smyth trade say that he taught Kopitar so much?

Guess we will see come contract time

 

[damacles1156]

Kopitar will get around 8.0 Million.

It will also fit in the cap, Dean will create the space needed. It won't be by trading Richards or Brown either.

 

[HYORI 1963]

7.5 Max!

 

[Reclamation Project]

Smyth had very little impact on Kopitar's game. The only person who I believe had a strong impact on the growth of his game was Terry Murray.

 

[Herby]

Smyth had very little impact on Kopitar's game. The only person who I believe had a strong impact on the growth of his game was Terry Murray.

Well we agree on something! TM deserves a ton of credit for Kopitar's development.

Just poking fun at certain people who used to argue that Smyth taught Kopitar how to play defense.

Which would be like saying Chico Lind taught Barry Bonds how to hit homeruns.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Well we agree on something! TM deserves a ton of credit for Kopitar's development.

Just poking fun at certain people who used to argue that Smyth taught Kopitar how to play defense.

Which would be like saying Chico Lind taught Barry Bonds how to hit homeruns.

Ha, we agree quite often. Mike Richards is usually the exception.

 

[kolankosf]

Hey Guys,
I was just wondering if Richie has done any autograph signings in LA, or if someone knows a website I can keep an eye on. The major sites like Steiners, AJ Sportsworld and signings hotline, seem to list players in the eastern conference and anyone in the west is a rarity.

Any help would be great! Thanks guys