Speculation: Will Richards Be A King Come Next Season?

[Reclamation Project]

I doubt he even hits the market.

 

[kingsfan]

I doubt it, No one is going to pay Williams much more than he already makes.

Also does Williams seem like a guy that wants another big pay day ? Not really.

Regular season Williams I could agree with you on. Playoff Williams? He gets a raise.

If Bryan Bickell can secure a $4 million cap hit thanks to one good playoff, what can Mr. Game Seven get? The dude might win the Conn Smythe.

I say if he were a UFA this off-season, you'd be looking at $5 million per season. The guy is a natural leader, clutch as hell and comes with more rings than a Peoples jewellery store.

 

[gonnaneedsomewine]

This guy has played in 3 of the last 5 Stanley Cups (2010, 2012, 2014).

He has been to the Conference Finals 5 times in the last 7 years (2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).

He has been on 2 out of the 4 teams in NHL history that came back from 0-3 deficits to win a seven game series 4-3 (Philly 2010, LA 2014).


These things are not a coincidence. In the consummate team sport that hockey is, no single player can determine the fate of a team by himself. However, this lends credence to the type of player Mike Richards is and what he brings to a team - which cannot simply be measured in point totals, +/-, or other irrelevant stats.

He brings an identity, a style, an attitude, a mentality, and he leads in a way that very few men are capable of. It is no surprise that since he has come to LA, the Kings have taken that "next step" and been to the Conference Finals three straight years, making the Cup Final in two of them.

It is also no surprise that since he was shipped out of Philadelphia, the Flyers have been unable to recapture their previous playoff success, failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs, while also dealing with a coaching change and questions about how adequate of a leader their new captain, Claude Giroux, is.

The guy continually rises to the occasion, no matter how many times he has been counted out. I don't get caught up in the points totals - they are irrelevant to me most of the time. The eye test is far more conclusive when judging a player. Richards is clearly, in my opinion, playing through an injury that has sapped his conditioning, slowed down his footspeed, and rendered him less physical than usual but he is still gutting it out.

I expect him to rest up, heal, and recover this offseason and come back and be more similar to the guy that he was when he first arrived in LA instead of the player he has been over the last few months. There is no shot I would consider buying him out or trading him. None.

 

[The Tikkanen]

They talked about Richards on HNIC Radio yesterday, said he came to camp in terrible shape and that he will be bought out this summer. I think there will be a discussion where Richards promises to re-dedicate himself in the offseason. It's time to put down the fishing poles, being a professional athlete is a year round job, when you're not working you're training. You should have a dietitian and a trainer year round, they're write offs and you make millions, being out of shape is unacceptable.

 

[damacles1156]

Richards has plenty of time to fish, when he is retired. I hope he stays in LA and trains with Carter/Stoll this off-season.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Here's the thing about Richards...even if he came back next season in the best shape of his life, where does he fit in exactly? Do you guys really want to break up the 70s line? Does he overtake Stoll as our 3C? If so, we might as well say adios to Stoll, because he's not going to re-sign with the kings to be our 4C.

Lombardi has some tough decisions to make this off-season.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Here's the thing about Richards...even if he came back next season in the best shape of his life, where does he fit in exactly? Do you guys really want to break up the 70s line? Does he overtake Stoll as our 3C? If so, we mind as well say adios to Stoll, because he's not going to re-sign with the kings to be our 4C.

Lombardi has some tough decisions to make this off-season.

The Kings depth is what does in other teams. You can't relax against any line and Sutter likes to shuffle the deck to mess up the other coaches matchups. I don't think that shuffling strategy to get players away from checking lines is given enough attention by Kings fans. Most teams have 1 or 2 lines, the Kings have 4 and if you try and match up to shut one down Sutter can move centers to wing and wings to center. Often times on a defensive faceoff you'll see 2 centers on the ice for the Kings, strategy. With the contracts spread out Lombardi does not have a gun to his head during the summer with Richards. Look at the Hawks, labeled a dynasty by the media yet Kane and Toews are UFA after next season. Good luck keeping both. The Rangers have 6 UFA's and 5 RFA's after this season and they need to figure out what to do with Nash and Richards. The Penguins have 11 UFA's, the Kings biggest luxury is depth and the spacing of contracts and they are exposing other teams.

 

[HYORI 1963]

the Kings biggest luxury is depth and the spacing of contracts and they are exposing other teams.

Simply put: Winning Culture.

 

[etherialone]

Cap rumor from this week for what it is worth is that the cap will go up to $72m. I know we have a thread saying $70 but $72 is what to be said the number that is being considered correct by a few.

Big difference in those two milling and change.

We keep MR and if we can we keep Stoll. If not then of the two I say a very fond farewell to JS. With Shore Vey and Andy all coming up to ready and the possibility of Porky coming over too we will need to make some room up the middle anyways. I also can see us bringing up McNabb (going to happen) and possibly making a shift on D.

I am not going to borrow any trouble for the season after next. MR will be a King next season and so will everyone else we want to be. The following season will be one for DL and co to consider. I can't see ANY way we buy out MR. Big player who plays when it matters and is a key part of our identity. I think the buy him out position is just wishful thinking from our competitors.

 

[Inner Turbulence]

Cap rumor from this week for what it is worth is that the cap will go up to $72m. I know we have a thread saying $70 but $72 is what to be said the number that is being considered correct by a few.

Big difference in those two milling and change.

We keep MR and if we can we keep Stoll. If not then of the two I say a very fond farewell to JS. With Shore Vey and Andy all coming up to ready and the possibility of Porky coming over too we will need to make some room up the middle anyways. I also can see us bringing up McNabb (going to happen) and possibly making a shift on D.

I am not going to borrow any trouble for the season after next. MR will be a King next season and so will everyone else we want to be. The following season will be one for DL and co to consider. I can't see ANY way we buy out MR. Big player who plays when it matters and is a key part of our identity. I think the buy him out position is just wishful thinking from our competitors.

Looking at the current roster and the current reserves list it is getting increasingly difficult to find room for everyone. Camp in the fall will be a dogfight and DL has a lot of tough decisions to make this summer. For a lot of teams it's a matter of filling gaps in the lineup ... and it has been for the Kings in the past ... but now it's a real war just to make the team. The guys coming in - AA, Vey, Prokhorkin, Moller, McNabb, Gravel ? are coming right on the heels of TT and Pearson ... what an embarrasment of riches considering the core is still pretty young. The influx of new and inexpensive talent allows DL to retain big game players like JW and MR. Guys who steps up in big games.

A few replacements each year is a good thing too. It freshens up the team with some new enthusiasm and energy.

What a time to be a Kings fan.

 

[etherialone]

Looking at the current roster and the current reserves list it is getting increasingly difficult to find room for everyone. Camp in the fall will be a dogfight and DL has a lot of tough decisions to make this summer. For a lot of teams it's a matter of filling gaps in the lineup ... and it has been for the Kings in the past ... but now it's a real war just to make the team. The guys coming in - AA, Vey, Prokhorkin, Moller, McNabb, Gravel ? are coming right on the heels of TT and Pearson ... what an embarrasment of riches considering the core is still pretty young. The influx of new and inexpensive talent allows DL to retain big game players like JW and MR. Guys who steps up in big games.

A few replacements each year is a good thing too. It freshens up the team with some new enthusiasm and energy.

What a time to be a Kings fan.

Exactly.

I thought I knew or would know what a great GM would look like when I met them and saw them work but DL has taken things to a place I wouldn't have thought possible in the amount of time he has been at the helm.

Our culture is changing and has been for the past 5 years, it just took a little time to catch up with results. It is just plain great to be witnessing this transformation. Just an amazing thing to watch.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Richards will retire a King and nothing will make me happier.

 

[kenito7]

Cap rumor from this week for what it is worth is that the cap will go up to $72m. I know we have a thread saying $70 but $72 is what to be said the number that is being considered correct by a few.

Big difference in those two milling and change.

We keep MR and if we can we keep Stoll. If not then of the two I say a very fond farewell to JS. With Shore Vey and Andy all coming up to ready and the possibility of Porky coming over too we will need to make some room up the middle anyways. I also can see us bringing up McNabb (going to happen) and possibly making a shift on D.

I am not going to borrow any trouble for the season after next. MR will be a King next season and so will everyone else we want to be. The following season will be one for DL and co to consider. I can't see ANY way we buy out MR. Big player who plays when it matters and is a key part of our identity. I think the buy him out position is just wishful thinking from our competitors.

Weather the cap hit is 70m or 72m no team can afford to pay 5.75m to a 4th
line center and remain competitive. Even in the last 2 games were Richards was
more of a factor he still played 4th line minutes(19m56s out of 90 min and 14m21s). If there are extenuating circumstances such as injury that explain
his poor performance maybe he should be retained. Freeing 5.75m cap space doesn't mean you can replace a pre 2014 Mike Richards but if this is all he has
left the Kings have no choice but to try.

 

[tsanuri]

Here's the thing about Richards...even if he came back next season in the best shape of his life, where does he fit in exactly? Do you guys really want to break up the 70s line? Does he overtake Stoll as our 3C? If so, we might as well say adios to Stoll, because he's not going to re-sign with the kings to be our 4C.

Lombardi has some tough decisions to make this off-season.

I don't think Stoll will mind being moved down to the 4th line. Being used as PK and face off specialist with his regular line being the 4th. He'd get more minutes than what a normal 4th liner would. He'll be 33 when he starts his next contract. He's very happy in LA.

 

[etherialone]

Weather the cap hit is 70m or 72m no team can afford to pay 5.75m to a 4th
line center and remain competitive. Even in the last 2 games were Richards was
more of a factor he still played 4th line minutes(19m56s out of 90 min and 14m21s). If there are extenuating circumstances such as injury that explain
his poor performance maybe he should be retained. Freeing 5.75m cap space doesn't mean you can replace a pre 2014 Mike Richards but if this is all he has
left the Kings have no choice but to try.

I see what you are saying and you make a well reasoned argument but the thing is Richards is significantly more than a fourth line C and is also capable of playing greater hockey then most bottom 6ers in the game. I also want to add that his O went down after december, prior to that he was scoring just fine.

I expect him to be back next season to his typical scoring ways and that he will also be our 3rd line C more so than anything else. I would also add that MR brings so much more to the table than a fourth line C in every zone that he transcends the average bottom 6 player does too.

 

[kenito7]

I see what you are saying and you make a well reasoned argument but the thing is Richards is significantly more than a fourth line C and is also capable of playing greater hockey then most bottom 6ers in the game. I also want to add that his O went down after december, prior to that he was scoring just fine.

I expect him to be back next season to his typical scoring ways and that he will also be our 3rd line C more so than anything else. I would also add that MR brings so much more to the table than a fourth line C in every zone that he transcends the average bottom 6 player does too.

Mike Richards at his best is irreplaceable and stands only behind Kopitar and Carter
for Kings forwards. My concern is not being a big guy but a very competitive one
has time taken its toll on him? I know the Kings can fit everyone under the cap in
2015 but after that it gets more difficult. I also would like to see enough cap space
left for late season acquisitions(Carter and Gaborik) who I think have been key to
making it to the SCF.

 

[etherialone]

Mike Richards at his best is irreplaceable and stands only behind Kopitar and Carter
for Kings forwards. My concern is not being a big guy but a very competitive one
has time taken its toll on him? I know the Kings can fit everyone under the cap in
2015 but after that it gets more difficult. I also would like to see enough cap space
left for late season acquisitions(Carter and Gaborik) who I think have been key to
making it to the SCF.

I share your concerns for certain. I think the cap space will be there if we want it to be. Our depth is going to have to step in if things go one way or a situation might have to be worked out but I haven't seen anything that makes me think that DL won't have several different variables in place to make certain that we keep our core together without compromising our ability to compete at the highest level.

I know it sounds like a whole bunch of in dean we trust but I guess it is because he has earned my faith in his abilities. I prefer MR on the team because he is a guy I want on the ice when the game is on the line and the clock is running out. I would keep him around for those moments and would do whatever I could to keep the key pieces of our team together right now but I am in no position to determine who those pieces are or how I would go about doing so.

 

[damacles1156]

Linden Vey doesn't have a future with the Kings if you ask me, he is not as good as any of the Kings current Centers. Vey is not suited for fourth line Center duty, he is not good enough to be a second line Center.

Vey is also not going to play wing, he is not as good as Shore. Shore is a much more refined Center, and his game suits third/Fourth line play.

Andy Andy will most likely play wing on the Kings, doubt he plays Center.

I can see Stoll getting resigned to play the fourth line in LA till he retires. With Shore being the Kings future third line Center.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Huh? Wha? The NHL abandoning the cap for next season would be quite the news.

I think he was referring to the Kings situation, specifically.

I love that everyone has their excel workbooks out and is trying make sense of the accounting here. There is actually a guy who gets paid a lot of money to make these decisions and contrary to what a lot of people used to believe, he isn't an idiot. I'm quite certain he is aware of Richards decline in play. Sutter clearly is aware of it. You can bank on him having already pondered his options leading into this summer and I'm quite certain he has an out should Mike not return to form next season. The Kings have a lot of flexibility next summer as a lot of the veterans will be off the books after the 2015 season. Everyone assumes these players will command more money and/or won't be replaced by younger, cheaper players. I think it is safe to say that Matt Greene, Robyn Regher and Willie Mitchell have all maxed out their earning potential on this team. They aren't getting increases if they remain. The only one I can see possibly getting a raise is Williams and that is if he stays.


Some of you guys act like the Kings have Rick Nash and Brad Richards signed to their awful deals. I find it hilarious that Rich Nash has 3 goals in the playoffs and makes more than any single player on the Kings. Friggin Lundqvist makes $8.5M and is signed until the next president is in his/her second term!!

 

[kenito7]

I share your concerns for certain. I think the cap space will be there if we want it to be. Our depth is going to have to step in if things go one way or a situation might have to be worked out but I haven't seen anything that makes me think that DL won't have several different variables in place to make certain that we keep our core together without compromising our ability to compete at the highest level.

I know it sounds like a whole bunch of in dean we trust but I guess it is because he has earned my faith in his abilities. I prefer MR on the team because he is a guy I want on the ice when the game is on the line and the clock is running out. I would keep him around for those moments and would do whatever I could to keep the key pieces of our team together right now but I am in no position to determine who those pieces are or how I would go about doing so.

I completely understand the in Dean we trust. Been a kings fan since 1972 and
saw them trade enough high draft picks for 2 NHL teams. It was not until 1979 I
actually saw a Kings 1st round draft play for the Kings(Jay Wells) of course that
was the year they had traded there own 1st round pick to Boston that turned out
to be Ray Bourque. Its nice to finally have a GM that has a clue.

 

[Trolfoli]

So.... centers available....
UFA, Stastny.... cap hit??? 6,7M +???

Centers available for trade.
Kessler
Thornton
Speeza

Which of those guys would you take over Richards? 2 with an extra helping of choke and one that doesn't know what defense is. This is why I think any talk of a buyout is a joke. There just aren't that many upgrades over M.Richards out there, even with his down year. (4th team scoring) Other teams would love a UFA M.Richards and would line up to sign him.

Solution: Get Richards more skilled wingers then Clifford/Lewis and watch a winner rebound next year. Either bump Carter up to first line with Gaborik/Kopitar... put Richards with Pearson/Toffoli.... Or bring in Porky/Moller/Vey to play on Richards wings and run 4 ridiculous lines.

 

[etherialone]

I completely understand the in Dean we trust. Been a kings fan since 1972 and
saw them trade enough high draft picks for 2 NHL teams. It was not until 1979 I
actually saw a Kings 1st round draft play for the Kings(Jay Wells) of course that
was the year they had traded there own 1st round pick to Boston that turned out
to be Ray Bourque. Its nice to finally have a GM that has a clue.

We both joined the club in 72. That's awesome.

Back when the Forum was in an alright neighborhood.

Jaybird one of my favorites too. Dealt for Doug Crossman because we didn't want to pay Jay $250k per season and Doug got $225. My how things have changed. I have so many memories of those teams. I have a ton of old Kings crap too. Back when everything was either paper or plastic. I just never thought we would be the team we are now. I was hoping we would get one or two lucky runs to the cup and maybe nab one of them.

I have been astonished by our development department from day 1 and remain so to this day. Just amazed.

 

[kenito7]

​

So.... centers available....
UFA, Stastny.... cap hit??? 6,7M +???

Centers available for trade.
Kessler
Thornton
Speeza

Which of those guys would you take over Richards? 2 with an extra helping of choke and one that doesn't know what defense is. This is why I think any talk of a buyout is a joke. There just aren't that many upgrades over M.Richards out there, even with his down year. (4th team scoring) Other teams would love a UFA M.Richards and would line up to sign him.

Solution: Get Richards more skilled wingers then Clifford/Lewis and watch a winner rebound next year. Either bump Carter up to first line with Gaborik/Kopitar... put Richards with Pearson/Toffoli.... Or bring in Porky/Moller/Vey to play on Richards wings and run 4 ridiculous lines.

All of the centers you mentioned are older except Stastny and more expensive except Kessler. None of them are 4th line centers except Richards. I would take
Kessler over Richards if that was all it cost the Kings. He is only 1 year older has only 2 years left on his contract and is currently more productive. Your solution to
put Carter on the line with Gaborik/ Kopitar would be ideal except this year Richards
was not up to it. I sure if the others you mention are ready they can replace
Clifford/Lewis next year but let prove they are available or ready first.

 

[kenito7]

We both joined the club in 72. That's awesome.

Back when the Forum was in an alright neighborhood.

Jaybird one of my favorites too. Dealt for Doug Crossman because we didn't want to pay Jay $250k per season and Doug got $225. My how things have changed. I have so many memories of those teams. I have a ton of old Kings crap too. Back when everything was either paper or plastic. I just never thought we would be the team we are now. I was hoping we would get one or two lucky runs to the cup and maybe nab one of them.

I have been astonished by our development department from day 1 and remain so to this day. Just amazed.

This is just a great time to be Kings fan.
I was unable to attend my first game in person until 1979 but from that time forward I only missed two Saturday home games in the next 10 years. I used to check the home schedule before I would schedule vacation from work and I always
took vacation at the start of the playoffs just in case the Kings made the playoffs.

 

[apadilla]

I don't think Stoll will mind being moved down to the 4th line. Being used as PK and face off specialist with his regular line being the 4th. He'd get more minutes than what a normal 4th liner would. He'll be 33 when he starts his next contract. He's very happy in LA.

I'd surely be happy if I were playing on a Stanley Cup contending team, and not to mention having a hot blonde girlfriend