It's a rumor that doesn't seem to want to die, but it is an interesting one.
Earlier this week, The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL), a member of the PWHA, tweeted that the Washington Capitals are one of three potential landing places for former L.A. Kings center Mike Richards.
Richards' play has been on the decline the last few years. After a couple of Cup wins in L.A. and a stint on the 4th line, Richards was demoted to the AHL in an attempt to bury his hefty salary.
The Kings terminated Richards contract back in June after he was arrested at the Canadian-US border for possession of a controlled substance.
The Kings were once a good fit for Richards, especially in the playoffs where he excelled at a solid two-way game. Richards was also a tremendous leader as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, but had a falling out with the organization.
At 30 years old, Mike Richards best playing days are behind him, and many are wondering if he can even make an impact on a team in need of a depth center. Richards demotion to the third line in L.A. was a punch in the gut for a former top-6 player, and his play was never the same on a Kings team that played a tough puck possession game.
The Caps are on a roll right now, and, going into the New Year, are 15-1-1 in their last 17. Chemistry is high and the locker room is in a good place.
Would bringing on Mike Richards give the Caps the depth they need to make the playoff run they have worked so hard to earn?
It's a tough question because it depends on what Mike Richards is available. There is no question that Richards needs a fresh start to rebound from a tough last two years. A trip back to the East could be just what he needs, and playing with two-time former teammate Justin Williams could help with the transition to Trotz-style hockey.
Richards would also be an affordable pick up most likely around the league minimum. It's doubtful he'd take a two-way contract, but it depends on how desperate he is to return to the NHL.
The other obvious question is: Where would he fit in?
The top three lines have been rolling, especially the third line trio of Chimera, Beagle and Wilson. To break up that chemistry would be an Oates-style mistake. Richards would most likely spend some time centering the 4th line, especially now that Michael Latta is out with an arm injury.
The Caps are also sitting at $71.5M against the cap ceiling, which means Burakovsky and Galiev would spend the rest of year in Hershey if Richards were to come in.
Right now I'm torn. Richards could be a great fit with this team and would give the Caps an incredible amount of depth down the center going into the playoffs. However, we saw Derek Roy in the pre-season fail to make to make the team, even after playing pretty solidly. If Richards were to come along, he would have to make an impact with limited ice-time playing alongside Brooks Laich and whoever they can fit.
The two other teams rumored to be interested are the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks. If Richards is serious about a comeback, the Caps are his best bet among the 3 to make a decent run at a Cup. If he just wants to make some more money and hang out on the West Coast, then none of this matters to us here in DC.
What do you guys thinks?
Should the Caps kick the tires on Mike Richards, or stay away?
More to come...