Speculation: Mike Richards

[Ruck Over]

In situations like this, I always look at a connection with a former coach:

- He played under Pete DeBoer in Kitchener (4 seasons, Memorial Cup Champ in 2003)
- He played under Peter Laviolette in Philadelphia (2 seasons, Stanley Cup finalist in 2010)

Any chance San Jose or Nashville would see value in Richards' veteran leadership and use him on their 4th line?

Part of the reason he was traded out of Philly was due to the friction with Laviolette, Dry Island. He's not going to end up in Nashville.

 

[HanSolo]

The way our offseason is going, probably Anaheim

 

[YP44]

In situations like this, I always look at a connection with a former coach:

- He played under Pete DeBoer in Kitchener (4 seasons, Memorial Cup Champ in 2003)
- He played under Peter Laviolette in Philadelphia (2 seasons, Stanley Cup finalist in 2010)

Any chance San Jose or Nashville would see value in Richards' veteran leadership and use him on their 4th line?

Wasn't it under Laviolette that the whole "dry island" thing came up?

 

[YP44]

Part of the reason he was traded out of Philly was due to the friction with Laviolette, Dry Island. He's not going to end up in Nashville.

beat me to it.

 

[Spawn]

Edmonton should use him for the 4th line.

The Oilers 4th line as it stands today is

Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian

Don't really see the fit for Richards. Maybe as a 13th guy? But even then, I'm not sure the Oilers wouldn't rather just hold onto Lander/Pakarinen for their extra forwards.

 

[Homesick]

Edmonton should use him for the 4th line.

McDavid, RNH, Draisaitl, Letestu, Lander.....nope.

 

[Kurisu]

McDavid, RNH, Draisaitl, Letestu, Lander.....nope.

those guys playing on the 4th line?

 

[Yog S'loth]

He did what he needed to. He came back into the league and played a handful of games just so his final chapter wouldn't be his fall and disgrace in LA.

That accomplished, I think he just hangs 'em up. I don't see him really being a viable NHL player at this point, he has tons of money coming to him, and nothing to prove to anybody.

 

[Kolzilla]

Wasn't it under Laviolette that the whole "dry island" thing came up?

I'm curious, can you enlighten us on this?

 

[Rorschach]

I wonder if the Kings are allowed to sign him.

 

[YP44]

I'm curious, can you enlighten us on this?

I am very fuzzy on the details but basically the flyers team was asked to commit (by Laviolette) to stop drinking or something and it was dubbed dry Island. Not sure if they were the only two but richards and carter refused to sign the commitment.

Reports then surfaced about the locker room being divided, and some people believe this lead to Carter and Richards being traded.

I have not researched any of it, but was pretty widely reported. So take with a grain of salt

 

[YP44]

I wonder if the Kings are allowed to sign him.

I doubt it.

I would like to see it just to piss some people off. He would not be of much use in LA though.

 

[Rorschach]

I doubt it.

I would like to see it just to piss some people off. He would not be of much use in LA though.

I agree we probably can't.

I disagree that we can't use him. If he retires in a Kings uniform, that would be good for the Kings.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Edmonton should use him for the 4th line.

Mike Richards was at one point my favorite player. Even though I'm an Oilers/Kings fan I have a Richards Flyers jersey hanging in my closet. That said, I think he's done at the NHL level. I'd offer a PTO at most. Hopefully he can land a 1 year contract from someone, just not the Canucks. I'd hate to have to wish one of their players well.

 

[Bleedred]

where does he go?

First thing I was going to reply

retirement

Was this.

Guy is completely finished. He's lucky the Caps bought him 50 extra games to extend his career with. Maybe he can be a decent 4th line and PK/shutdown guy. But his days of producing offense are completely finished.

 

[Hivemind]

I'm curious, can you enlighten us on this?

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blo...tying-for-carterrichards-deals?urn=nhl,wp9667
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/pu...chards-revisit-the-dry-island?urn=nhl,wp11483
http://www.broadstreethockey.com/20...nd-peter-laviolette-mike-richards-jeff-carter

TL;DR- It actually happened, but was likely blown completely out of proportion thanks to the Philly sports media being the Philly sports media.

 

[Esq]

I admittedly didn't watch him very much last year on the Caps. Is he really finished?

 

[YP44]

I agree we probably can't.

I disagree that we can't use him. If he retires in a Kings uniform, that would be good for the Kings.

Who does he replace in the current Line up? Would rather play Dowd them him

 

[Iceman]

I admittedly didn't watch him very much last year on the Caps. Is he really finished?

I guess so. He won't be a top 6 player but I can't see why he couldn't be a bottom 6 center again.

He came into the season with an unfair disadvantage of not having quite the training and skating regiment that other players had so I guess he has a better shot at being a valuable teammate if he gets another shot next season with a team.

I have a tough time believing that someone who has been as good as he has been some years ago can't at least be a contributing player no matter what happened to him... unless he is bound to a wheelchair or something.

While his best fit at this point is probably in the LA Kings system again, the Lombardi mafia family doesn't see him as one of his brilliant young capo.

 

[YP44]

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blo...tying-for-carterrichards-deals?urn=nhl,wp9667
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/pu...chards-revisit-the-dry-island?urn=nhl,wp11483
http://www.broadstreethockey.com/20...nd-peter-laviolette-mike-richards-jeff-carter

TL;DR- It actually happened, but was likely blown completely out of proportion thanks to the Philly sports media being the Philly sports media.

reading the first link, it sure did suck for the flyers that Pronger got injured.

 

[YP44]

I guess so. He won't be a top 6 player but I can't see why he couldn't be a bottom 6 center again.

He came into the season with an unfair disadvantage of not having quite the training and skating regiment that other players had so I guess he has a better shot at being a valuable teammate if he gets another shot next season with a team.

I have a tough time believing that someone who has been as good as he has been some years ago can't at least be a contributing player no matter what happened to him... unless he is bound to a wheelchair or something.

While his best fit at this point is probably in the LA Kings system again, the Lombardi mafia family doesn't see him as one of his brilliant young capo.

The thing is he seems to lose his back check often, and does not play with the physical edge he used to anymore. plus he has never been able to transition to the wing effectively. So in the bottom 6 most teams likely have better options.

 

[BEERnSOUP]

He'll be making some nice coin fishing until 2032 on the kings payroll. Lucky guy.

Didn't LA weasel out of a Buyout by terminating the contract? As far I understand he's not getting anything from them?

Edit: nvm, obviously there's the settlement column there as well so there was something worked out I guess.

 

[StrompTroller]

Not sure he would be a tim murray kinda guy but he'd do wonders in our black hole of a 4c spot in buffalo. We need a face off specialist and anyone who can take tough defensive assignments away from eichel and ror could help...knowing my team however it's twice as likely legwand comes back...

 

[Rorschach]

Who does he replace in the current Line up? Would rather play Dowd them him

As I mentioned, sign and retire.

 

[Herby]

Are you suggesting he sign and retire like NFL players do? I don't even know if that's possible in the NHL, but even if it were, the guy played 3 1/2 seasons with the Kings, and was only productive in 1 1/2 if those seasons, was demoted to the minors and had his contract terminated because he tried to bring pain killers over the border which almost lead to him and the Kings ending up in court. I seriously doubt either party is interested in kissing and making up. It's not like he spent a decade in LA.

If you are suggesting he come back and play for the Kings, well all of those same things apply, plus he is a terrible player now. No idea why anyone would want to watch that man struggle to keep up with the speed of the NHL.