There is zero chance this happens. In fact, less than zero. Why can't this meaningless, speculative thread just die. There is a better chance of me hitting the lottery than this happening. This is why this team is not built on performance vs money, but skill, determination, leadership and teamwork. That's exactly how Sutter and Lombardi want it. Fans are myopic. They really are. Sorry, I'm not taking a shot at you personally, but everyone needs to look at the big picture here.
no sweat R, no offense taken. i know how much DL to DS to the guys in the locker room value what you mentioned. the intangibles. personally to me those are as valuable as a guy that is all over the score sheet. without the plugger, plumbers and leaders in a line up the scoring machine isn't scoring.
listen i love Richie and am glad that Dean brought him here, but when you look at the long-term financial status of Mike's contract in relation to the cap and all the contracts coming up I can't see how Dean will make it work. someone (or maybe multiple) will have to take the hit to keep Mike. some guys likely coming off ELC's and into their second contracts may possibly be re-signed for lower amounts.
what happens in say 3-5 years when and if perhaps TTT or Pearson are due a new contract, but Dean doesn't have the cash?
what happens if LA has to trade a guy coming into their prime in a few years from now because they can't afford them? it is a reality this could happen, because of the big long term contracts Dean has given multiple players (not just Mike's and Jeff's contracts from PHI).
i know Dean is a wizard with the cap, but what he can't control is a player's increased performance that will garner a higher cap hit. look at guys like Muzzin and Martinez, they have improved greatly this year and if they continue it may cost more to keep them than Dean had booked out down the road. I'm not saying they are going to be $4 -6M, but what if Dean had them 'slotted' at $2M, but because of their performance and comparable contracts calls for them to get $3M?
it is these types of scenarios that i don't see where Dean will have the wiggle room he always likes to keep all season. i'm not even talking about how he likes to keep room for the trade deadline just in case.
as much as we've *****ed about Stoll being a $3M #3C, now imagine Mike as a $6M #3 or 4C.
there is only so much $$$ to go around, there is no way around this in the cap era. that is the decision that Dean has to make. is he prepared to pay Mike $5.75M per season come 5-years from now, with another year to go?
will Mike turn into the next old man Smyth'ers? barely able to make it up and down the ice, while garnering a big paycheck that handcuffs the Kings from maybe signing player(s) that will improve the team?
are you as fans willing to possibly accept Richards in 2019 and what that could mean to the overall line up? after this summer if Dean doesn't use his buyout then the Kings and the fans are "all in" on Richards and what that may mean in 5+ years.
Are you saying that Lombardi will buy him out, or that he should buy him out?
saying Dean still has his two 'get out jail' cards to use, which he could use on Richards.
