Speculation: Will Richards Be A King Come Next Season?
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KingCanadain1976
Registered User
If mike is going to leave la it will be by trade. This is the only way he will be let go. Buying him out is not a smart move at all. He has trade value So get that agent shoping him for a new deal stuff out of your head cause it ain't going to happen no way. Even trading him to the leafs for lupul would be a better idea at least you would get something for him. We gave up a lot to get him we simply aren't going to give up on him for nothing. He will be 3rd line center with time on pk and pp bringing his mins close to Carters for 2nd most on the kings. Dean is one of the best gms in the league richard would not be let go for nothing.
Reclamation Project
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KingCanadain1976
Registered User
Mike not wanting to stay in the same role he had in the playoffs is something very possible to me. If the kings don't see him moving back to at least top 9 i could see mike wanting out. However with this said i don't see this as a issue as I see dean sitting down with him and giving him the get your ass in shape speech and you will get your role back.
Again all true but I'm just throwing the thought out there. One thing players have is pride and they want to play significant roles in their team's success. I'm not denying one thing you said but if Mike Richards heard anything from a reliable source in the Kings' management team that they were even thinking of buying him out, he (and/or his agent) would be talking to them in a flash. I'm pretty sure his agent has already talked to other teams (and probably the Kings first off) about the potential for a buy-out; he wouldn't be doing his job otherwise. Just like the LA Kings owe Mike Richards nothing, neither does he owe them anything as far as moving on with his career and life. Just look at the history of Jeff Carter and the Flyers; signed to a multi-year, home town discount deal the fall before, told he wasn't going anywhere when rumours floated in the late spring and, bang, traded to Columbus 2 weeks later, a couple of weeks before his no trade kicked in. That's how much a player owes the team he plays for. Not that I'm saying the Kings' player relations are similar to the Flyers' because, up to now, they don't seem to be. Kings' management and players are having a current love-in and, given the circumstances, who can blame them?
So...
http://mynhltraderumors.com/
June 15th, 2014 9:45 am
Huh? Everything is up in the air? What? Couple different ways that could be taken I guess.
http://mynhltraderumors.com/
June 15th, 2014 9:45 am
Sounds like Gaborik needs to choose between crazy money and playing with Kopitar.
Huh? Everything is up in the air? What? Couple different ways that could be taken I guess.
MsMeow
Registered User
- Nov 4, 2005
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That's what he says to the media but nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. That said, he isn't a typical 4th liner as the Kings roll all 4 lines. In Philly he centred the 3rd line behind Giroux and Briere (Carter was on Giroux's RW the final year) because Giroux and Briere can't play defence and neither wanted to play RW. He still played the PP and PK, just like he is in LA.
Hopefully the team doesn't buy him out and hopefully he wants to stay. This team works as well as it does because of its depth and hopefully he is okay with that.
And that last statement was in direct reference to Mike Richards so I'm with you. What the hell does that mean.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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Are you guys sure that was Dean's exact quote? Sounds like it was more of a general statement on the team and not MR. I don't trust people when quoting as they're usually wrong and/or out of context.
Here`s the quote and reference: Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Mike Richards: “We’ve got to prepare for July 1st in a hurry. Everything is up in air right now.†Dated June 15 from Steve Simmons so don`t know the further context.
Just pulled the quote of Mynhltraderumors... no context.... Sounds like DL dismissing the reporter and saying too much going on.... Just not the answer I would expect for Richards.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
I don't know why anyone is surprised with either quote by Lombardi.
Lombardi is not an idiot and like any good GM he is looking ahead, he knows that the salary demands for all those guys that need to be re-signed after this coming season are going to be huge. It really is basic math and the numbers just don't add up. Muzzin and Martinez alone are going to probably be in the $8 million a year combined based on current market value, or around $6 million more than they made this season and this coming season, that alone sucks up a large chunk of this "massive cap increase" everyone is talking about. And one year from now DL can begin negotiating with Kopitar, which is the big one and they absolutely need to have plenty of room to give Kopitar a blank check if he so desires.
I personally think the Kings bring the same squad back next season, they deserve a shot to repeat and the cap isn't an issue for this year, but if DL feels this summer is the time to free up the room needed for the long term health of the team (whether that be Richards, Voynov, not re-signing Gaborik) then he may just act this summer. But I certainly hope he doesn't lose Gaborik over keeping either Voynov of Richards, I think Gaborik is far more important to the team than either of the other guys.
Lombardi is not an idiot and like any good GM he is looking ahead, he knows that the salary demands for all those guys that need to be re-signed after this coming season are going to be huge. It really is basic math and the numbers just don't add up. Muzzin and Martinez alone are going to probably be in the $8 million a year combined based on current market value, or around $6 million more than they made this season and this coming season, that alone sucks up a large chunk of this "massive cap increase" everyone is talking about. And one year from now DL can begin negotiating with Kopitar, which is the big one and they absolutely need to have plenty of room to give Kopitar a blank check if he so desires.
I personally think the Kings bring the same squad back next season, they deserve a shot to repeat and the cap isn't an issue for this year, but if DL feels this summer is the time to free up the room needed for the long term health of the team (whether that be Richards, Voynov, not re-signing Gaborik) then he may just act this summer. But I certainly hope he doesn't lose Gaborik over keeping either Voynov of Richards, I think Gaborik is far more important to the team than either of the other guys.
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Buy out period begins tomorrow, June 16, just after midnight and ends June 30 at 5 pm EDT. I think a player has to clear unconditional waivers before leaving a team on a but-out and a claim on the player pre-empts the buy out. Not sure of the order teams fall into for making a claim (last to first, I guess), if that`s even pertinent.
I hope you`re right about Gaborik, and so far you probably have been, but history tells me otherwise. He`s been known to have some down years too.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Right now, with the season he had Slava is probably #5 on the Kings depth chart, and he is behind three guys who play a somewhat similar offensive style.
As far as Richards he is either the #3 or #4 center, he is never going to be a 2nd line center as long as Kopitar and Carter are here.
The Kings really have no one like Gaborik, and he completely changed the dynamic of the team when he was acquired.
I think if the decision on the $$$ is between these three guys it's a no brainer on which one it shouldn't be. The Kings can contend next season if they move Richards or Voynov, I don't know if they can seriously contend without Gaborik.
Buddy The Elf
Kings!
Alright, this idea is straight out of Internet looney land and I doubt it's likelihood but could the Kings conceivably buy out Richards, have somebody sign him to a reasonable contract and then trade him back to LA? Just curious if there is any restriction that or if that's considered collusion or cap circumvention.
Or maybe they trade him to another team (with something of value like a player or prospect) that agrees to buy him out and the Kings re-sign him? Seems stupid the league won't let a team renegotiate a contract in lieu of the buyout process.
Or maybe they trade him to another team (with something of value like a player or prospect) that agrees to buy him out and the Kings re-sign him? Seems stupid the league won't let a team renegotiate a contract in lieu of the buyout process.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
He couldn't be traded back to LA for a full year from the buy out.
And I agree with you, I don't think there will be a buyout, and I still feel like the Kings will return an almost identical roster next season. I have said this before and still feel like the only way he is gone this summer is if DL believes that another terrible season by Richards would make his contract untradeable and then the Kings are stuck paying a bottom six player almost $6 million when they are entering cap hell, that is the only way I think he isn't a King this fall.
I'm about 80% sure he is a King this fall and 80% sure he won't be a King the fall after.
And I agree with you, I don't think there will be a buyout, and I still feel like the Kings will return an almost identical roster next season. I have said this before and still feel like the only way he is gone this summer is if DL believes that another terrible season by Richards would make his contract untradeable and then the Kings are stuck paying a bottom six player almost $6 million when they are entering cap hell, that is the only way I think he isn't a King this fall.
I'm about 80% sure he is a King this fall and 80% sure he won't be a King the fall after.
deeshamrock
Registered User
From:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/21219/trades-cheat-deals-and-more-cba-details
COMPLIANCE BUYOUTS
Teams will be allowed up to two buyouts over the next two summers -- 2013 and 2014 -- either one in each summer or two in one summer and none in the other. The new detail here that I found interesting is that any player bought out under these circumstances CANNOT be re-acquired by that same team during the upcoming season, not by waivers, not by trade and not by free-agent signing.
Obvious reason here: The league doesn’t want teams to cheat the system and get a player back under a cheaper salary (since the buyout doesn’t count against the salary cap).
Buddy The Elf
Kings!
Well, for our sake, the teams sake and Richards sake, let's hope he's able to return to at least close to the player he was. I think that would be the ideal situation. I think if he were to become that player again, the Kings can stomach him centering the 3rd line and PP specialist when Stoll is gone. It keeps them strong down the middle and great back up in case of injury to kopitar or carter.
Thanks for the info!
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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Would Amber Heard chauffeur me to Katy Perry's house for a wild night?
Scratch that, that actually that seems more plausible than Richards for Florida's #1 pick.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
Seriously, what are some of these people thinking...
In regards to MR playing on the top 9, it's really up to Richards. If he comes in fit and ready to play and produce, I don't see why not.
ScoreZeGoals
Boooorrrrriiiinnnnng
- Jun 29, 2010
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I agree with Herby, I think Richards probably returns, but his future with the team past that remains in serious doubt. That contract is poisonous if his level of play doesn't increase
