12?
Wow, and anyone who relies on them early tomorrow is screwed.
- puckhead17

I meant temple university, not septa just to be clear.

but most of my classes are skewed towards later in the afternoon and evening anyway. so i dont miss any classes.

Skating is a funny thing; it just shows you what it takes to be a professional player

Richards would probably destroy any one of us athletically, at 29 years of age

But he looks like an old man on the ice in an NHL game
- AllInForFlyers

yeah. exactly.

and you know what, even with the player he is right now. id still be tempted. but to me, can you imagine how its going to get in 2 years time?

then 4?


then 6? for pushing 6 million a year. in a capped sport, that is (frank)ing suicide.

the term is everything.

i really dont know what it is. the skating does seem to be gone. and we can say oh pluck him out of there and put him in a different style and he would be good. but skating is skating, doesnt matter what jersey you have on.

and i agree. the lack of numbers doesnt bother me so much as just he often looks decrepit.
- stayinthefnnet

Mike Richards games was never about skating. My personal opinion is he is satisfied and unmotivated, and has lost his desire, at least during the regular season.

yeah. exactly.

and you know what, even with the player he is right now. id still be tempted. but to me, can you imagine how its going to get in 2 years time?

then 4?


then 6? for pushing 6 million a year. in a capped sport, that is (frank)ing suicide.
- stayinthefnnet

I saw Dany Heatley trying to keep up last year when Mike Yeo put him on the fourth line...painful to watch

yeah. exactly.

and you know what, even with the player he is right now. id still be tempted. but to me, can you imagine how its going to get in 2 years time?

then 4?


then 6? for pushing 6 million a year. in a capped sport, that is (frank)ing suicide.
- stayinthefnnet

seeing richards in a penguins jersey would be the worst thing all season. just the thought of it is vomit inducing.

Mike Richards games was never about skating. My personal opinion is he is satisfied and unmotivated, and has lost his desire, at least during the regular season.
- MJL

there is a sneaking suspicion in me that sees that too.

but i dont know.

there are good amounts of kings games on nbcsn, so its not like i dont get to see it a lot. and i still have a hard time making up my mind.

i know his game was never about skating, but skating is still a part of the nhl. i realize the example is somewhat strained because read's game is more reliant on his skating, but just look at how bad read has been this year.

sometimes, when guys go, they really go. however, i do admit that i dont think mentally he is all there right now.

seeing richards in a penguins jersey would be the worst thing all season. just the thought of it is vomit inducing.
- hammarby31

oh grow up. i had to endure jagr in orange

there is a sneaking suspicion in me that sees that too.

but i dont know.

there are good amounts of kings games on nbcsn, so its not like i dont get to see it a lot. and i still have a hard time making up my mind.

i know his game was never about skating, but skating is still a part of the nhl. i realize the example is somewhat strained because read's game is more reliant on his skating, but just look at how bad read has been this year.

sometimes, when guys go, they really go. however, i do admit that i dont think mentally he is all there right now.
- stayinthefnnet

I have zero doubt that Mike Richards is still a very capable player, if he wants to be.

I saw Dany Heatley trying to keep up last year when Mike Yeo put him on the fourth line...painful to watch
- AllInForFlyers

hes another one. my god. out of all the guys the sens had in that stretch. him, spezza, hossa, alfie for (frank)s sake.

he ends up being the first to burn out. and this was from someone who scored goals at an insane pace for a decent number of years. he wasnt a cheecho one year wonder.

oh grow up. i had to endure jagr in orange
- stayinthefnnet

oh don't tell me what to do.

I have zero doubt that Mike Richards is still a very capable player, if he wants to be.
- MJL

i agree on the capable. right now, i am hesitant to give him the very.

and that term. i dont think the still in your sentence can stretch for 6 years.

hes another one. my god. out of all the guys the sens had in that stretch. him, spezza, hossa, alfie for (frank)s sake.

he ends up being the first to burn out. and this was from someone who scored goals at an insane pace for a decent number of years. he wasnt a cheecho one year wonder.
- stayinthefnnet

Cheecho at least had injuries to blame.

I think there's some validity to the loss of intensity argument with Richards. In the playoffs last seasn, he was able to elevate his game and be a positive player for the Kings.

oh don't tell me what to do.
- hammarby31

sorry sir.

Cheecho at least had injuries to blame.

I think there's some validity to the loss of intensity argument with Richards. In the playoffs last seasn, he was able to elevate his game and be a positive player for the Kings.
- Jsaquella

yeah. which is really what i would want him for anyway.

he doesnt need to be that 70 point force anymore. he wouldnt sniff powerplay time.

he would basically just show brandon sutter how to be a man, buckle down that third line, grind away, and kill the odd penalty.

but whoever picks him up is going to end up holding that bag at some point when the bottom entirely falls out.

i agree on the capable. right now, i am hesitant to give him the very.

and that term. i dont think the still in your sentence can stretch for 6 years.
- stayinthefnnet

I don't see him becoming the 80 point player again he was on the Flyers, but I have no doubt that he could still be a very effective two way center in this league. In my opinion, it's not about skating and keeping up. Richards was never a player that would out skate anyone. His game was always about competitiveness, toughness, and heart. He simply refused to lose, and with the talent and ability he did have, he was a pretty good player. I think that fire is gone right now, and who knows if it will ever come back.

Cheecho at least had injuries to blame.

I think there's some validity to the loss of intensity argument with Richards. In the playoffs last seasn, he was able to elevate his game and be a positive player for the Kings.
- Jsaquella

No one can be a max effort player every night

Can he get it up for a game, maybe even a stretch of games? Maybe. Sure, even

But he is what he is, now: Smallish, slowing if not slow. It's physical

Kings aren't eating 5 million per in cap hit because his "try hard" meter is broken

No one can be a max effort player every night

Can he get it up for a game, maybe even a stretch of games? Maybe. Sure, even

But he is what he is, now: Smallish, slowing if not slow. It's physical

Kings aren't eating 5 million per in cap hit because his "try hard" meter is broken
- AllInForFlyers

I don't think it's physical at all, I think it's mental, and a lack of desire. Mike Richards was never big, and never a great skater. I've watched him play quite a bit as a King. I don't see a big difference in his skating.

No one can be a max effort player every night

Can he get it up for a game, maybe even a stretch of games? Maybe. Sure, even

But he is what he is, now: Smallish, slowing if not slow. It's physical

Kings aren't eating 5 million per in cap hit because his "try hard" meter is broken
- AllInForFlyers

Two cups and over 20 mil due may have taken whatever compete Mike had left from him.

It's no different than Daniel Briere, or Brad Richards, or R.J. Umberger, or Wheels

Older players don't all "lose the fire"

They lose the ability to keep pace over 82 games

yeah. which is really what i would want him for anyway.

he doesnt need to be that 70 point force anymore. he wouldnt sniff powerplay time.

he would basically just show brandon sutter how to be a man, buckle down that third line, grind away, and kill the odd penalty.

but whoever picks him up is going to end up holding that bag at some point when the bottom entirely falls out.
- stayinthefnnet

That's the thing-if he's only interested for a couple months at a time...I mean you have to make the playoffs for it to mean anything.

It's no different than Daniel Briere, or Brad Richards, or R.J. Umberger, or Wheels

Older players don't all "lose the fire"

They lose the ability to keep pace over 82 games
- AllInForFlyers

Mike Richards is 29, Briere is 37. Brad Richards is still a capable player. Umberger had some injuries last season, and went to a new team. Many factors go into it, and it's different for every player.

yeah. which is really what i would want him for anyway.

he doesnt need to be that 70 point force anymore. he wouldnt sniff powerplay time.

he would basically just show brandon sutter how to be a man, buckle down that third line, grind away, and kill the odd penalty.

but whoever picks him up is going to end up holding that bag at some point when the bottom entirely falls out.
- stayinthefnnet

Believe it or not, the PP is where you can use him -- less skating, more set plays. Same with the PK

It's 5 on 5 where he can't make any real impact

No one can be a max effort player every night

Can he get it up for a game, maybe even a stretch of games? Maybe. Sure, even

But he is what he is, now: Smallish, slowing if not slow. It's physical

Kings aren't eating 5 million per in cap hit because his "try hard" meter is broken
- AllInForFlyers

It could well be. Richards played the game very hard for a long time and it takes a toll. Despite not having an injury like Cheecho, which basically robbed him of his explosive first step which was one of the keys to him scoring so many goals, the cumulative wear and tear could be a factor.

That's the thing-if he's only interested for a couple months at a time...I mean you have to make the playoffs for it to mean anything.
- Jsaquella

i think the pens could probably cart his disinterested ass around and still make it to the dance. but hed have to really show up with some gumption.

but realistically. his deal would need to be 3 years shorter for me to have interest.

Believe it or not, the PP is where you can use him -- less skating, more set plays. Same with the PK

It's 5 on 5 where he can't make any real impact
- AllInForFlyers

i do follow the logic there. but he wouldnt really get much time on the pens in that role anyway, for better or worse.

what i would need is the ability to cycle down low and chew up possession time when crosby and malkin arent on the ice. go out there and be able to kill a big penalty in the third.

and im not 100 percent sure he can/cant do those things anymore.