If the Kings do decide to keep Richards long term you can't keep him on the 4th line. Your gonna have to move Jarrett Stoll.

One thing is for sure having Mike Richards sure does bring a lot of winning. Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, East Champs with Flyers, Gold Medal and 2 Stanley cups. Even if you do decide to keep him because he is one of the leaders of the locker room with that cap going as much it is in the next 2 years you will have enough money to sign your younger players. Besides Kopitar who if FA after the 2015-16 season I don't see any player on the team that will command north of 7 million.

If the Kings do decide to keep Richards long term you can't keep him on the 4th line. Your gonna have to move Jarrett Stoll.

One thing is for sure having Mike Richards sure does bring a lot of winning. Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, East Champs with Flyers, Gold Medal and 2 Stanley cups. Even if you do decide to keep him because he is one of the leaders of the locker room with that cap going as much it is in the next 2 years you will have enough money to sign your younger players. Besides Kopitar who if FA after the 2015-16 season I don't see any player on the team that will command north of 7 million.
- 215mike

This is assuming that you keep Carter and Richards both at center. The first time we won the cup, we had Carter playing RW, and at times this season and last season we had Richards on the LW. If Richards and Carter are both playing at their best, then they are better options than Pearson, King, and Toffioli on either wing on the second line.

To be clear, I'm not advocating the breakup of That 70s Line, especially after their exceptional performance this postseason, but just because they played well together for a couple months doesn't mean they can keep it up indefinitely. The best line for the Kings in 2012 was Brown-Kopitar-Williams, but they didn't have much success together following that run. If Pearson, Carter, and Toffoli have similar struggles next season, then we have options going forward. If we trade or buyout Richards, then we don't.

This season we don't have any cap issues. Next season we may, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Have no real opinion. DL knows what is what, and why his season was lacking in Productivity. He would have been shipped out or bought out if there was a need. Wonder what Browns excuse was? Same? Sense of intitlement from previous 2 years of success!? Resulting in too little pre season prep.

Regardless, I would like to see the Kings get a little more Chicagoesque on the back end. Love WM , MG and RR but their lack of speed almost was the Kings demise this year. Soooo strong Down the middle and much improved on the wings, now just give us a little more speed and puck handling on the back end and there will be a couple of more cups.
- SRC

Brown was injured in the preseason, and was playing most of the year with a knee brace. He took it off during the Olympics, and his numbers went up... However he was still recovering. He finally became more of the player he normally is during the playoffs, and was great. I have no worries about Brown.

I am going to laugh my ass off if he pots close 30 goals and/or gets near or over the 60 point mark. Not once in my mind think this guy was going anywhere except back to LA's camp come this Fall. He's only 29. Marleau scores a crapload, is much older, and plays a heavy game with SJ. Why does Richards have to be "done" in so many fans' eyes?

Re-unite richards with carter and one of either toffoli or pearson, and rick will start to produce again

I'm glad he's staying put. I don't see him getting near 70pts, I'd just be happy if he gets his skating kegs back and something on his passes again. I've thought he's had a nagging wrist injury the last couple of seasons because his backhands have been very weak. As I said in the last thread, his intangibles that come through in the playoffs are worth keeping him around fir years to come.

Mike Richards is far from the player in the video. He got his big contract and then became complacent in Philly. We all here in Philly saw it. He now has 2 cups with a team that most likely would have won it without him and still has that contract. What incentive does he have to get better? And trade him if he has another down year? What team would give up anything of value AND take on his contract? Yes he is in his prime but how many great players decline in their prime? The Kings don't need Mike Richards to be successful and they could use the money to be even better.
- Daveflyers36

Richards is used in a different role in LA....Richards was great in Philly....let's not re write history......with him they went to a cup....he was the captain and a very good young leader......let's add it up....memorial cup, AHL champion, Gold medal, two Stanley cups.....if LA made him available they would be stupid.....all this kid does is win, and as a Flyer fan, I wish he was still here.

If the Kings do decide to keep Richards long term you can't keep him on the 4th line. Your gonna have to move Jarrett Stoll.

One thing is for sure having Mike Richards sure does bring a lot of winning. Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, East Champs with Flyers, Gold Medal and 2 Stanley cups. Even if you do decide to keep him because he is one of the leaders of the locker room with that cap going as much it is in the next 2 years you will have enough money to sign your younger players. Besides Kopitar who if FA after the 2015-16 season I don't see any player on the team that will command north of 7 million.
- 215mike

There are 10 teams in the NHL....that would gladly trade for this guy and his contract ....whenever.....isn't the whole point of playing to win ????? All this winning is not a coincidence ....Mike Richards is a winner.

There are 10 teams in the NHL....that would gladly trade for this guy and his contract ....whenever.....isn't the whole point of playing to win ????? All this winning is not a coincidence ....Mike Richards is a winner.
- landros 2

Winning at every level certainly says something.

And I'm not worried about re-signing the kids. Lombardi's staff is one of the best number crunchers in the league. He has a plan folks.

Richards is used in a different role in LA....Richards was great in Philly....let's not re write history......with him they went to a cup....he was the captain and a very good young leader......let's add it up....memorial cup, AHL champion, Gold medal, two Stanley cups.....if LA made him available they would be stupid.....all this kid does is win, and as a Flyer fan, I wish he was still here.
- landros 2

Winning at every level certainly says something.

And I'm not worried about re-signing the kids. Lombardi's staff is one of the best number crunchers in the league. He has a plan folks.
- cryptical77

I second this.
I'm not worried one little bit!

Mike Richards isn't only a offensive player, and isn't a player that has made no impact if he has scored no points. Great heart and sole guy that can make bigtime Defensive and physical plays that don't show up on the stat sheet. It would be crazy to buyout a man, that could easily be traded at anytime. Also, the post seems to miss out on the fact that Richards was the man in Philly. He got all the PP and PK time that he could handle and played top line duties. No way he could produce at the same level with limited roles. That being said, I think he should be hitting the 20 goal mark consistently, and can pick up his production. That being said, he won't be hitting career highs because he just isn't the man here in L.A.

buying out richards would've not only cost millions but likely put him on a team like ana, van, or chi that could've bit dean on the ass in the next playoff season.

wait a year, then trade him east if need be. i doubt he comes close to the numbers he had in philly (lak system doesn't breed top 10 scoring), but more than a 4C like now.

My argument against keeping him is this. If this were a free agent season for Richards. UFA, RFA, doesn't matter... would you pay him $5.75M a year for 6 years in a new contract? The answer would be hell to the no! $2.5M to $3.5M tops for 2 or 3 years. If and only if you are feeling generous. So, keeping him at $5.75M for 6 years is insane!

Winning at every level certainly says something.

And I'm not worried about re-signing the kids. Lombardi's staff is one of the best number crunchers in the league. He has a plan folks.
- cryptical77

It's a big gamble. His money pretty much signs a lot of the RFAs this year and next. If you can sign Mitchell to one year and then he retires, and then Regehr does the same the following year, you might be able to make cap work. If something is miscalculated, I think you have to dump someone that you might not want to. Like a Martinez or Muzzin.

It will be fun to see if their decisions keep them soaring in lofty air in the mighty Western conference, or if they cause the team to fall back to earth a bit. Get the mix right and they might be a modern-day dynasty in 5 years time. Get it wrong and 1st and 2nd round playoff exits become routine.

Jason Lewis: Mike Richards is Going Nowhere, and That's the Right Call
- Jason_Lewis

I don't think anyone can forget plays like "The Shift" that made him so loved in Philly for his hard-working style.



Flew all the way from Alaska to see that game. Unreal.

My argument against keeping him is this. If this were a free agent season for Richards. UFA, RFA, doesn't matter... would you pay him $5.75M a year for 6 years in a new contract? The answer would be hell to the no! $2.5M to $3.5M tops for 2 or 3 years. If and only if you are feeling generous. So, keeping him at $5.75M for 6 years is insane!
- gradyspop

So instead you're going to buy him out and pay $19 million over the next 12 years to have him NOT play for you? Yea that's a good idea.

Mike Richards is a good player. However, for the reason above, he's not going to get bought out, and due to his subpar season, his trade value is at its lowest. Lombardi probably won't get any decent offers for him.

The argument can be made that Richards will never be the player he was 5 years ago. However, after the news of Lombardi's interview, it seems clear that both Lombardi and Richards acknowledge that his level of play is not acceptable, and that something needs to be done about it. Since the Kings don't have any cap issues this offseason and since there is no deadline for a trade like there is for a buyout, there is very little risk involved in the Kings keeping him another year. If it turns out that he can't get his act together, then the Kings can trade him to a lottery team trying to reach the cap floor for a 7th round pick before next year's draft. If he does pick up his play, then Lombardi will look like the smartest GM in the league for not listening to all of the nay sayers and giving up on him. Win/win.

Winning at every level certainly says something.

And I'm not worried about re-signing the kids. Lombardi's staff is one of the best number crunchers in the league. He has a plan folks.
- cryptical77

soooooo..he doesnt just throw money at the wall??!! interesting

Ya he must b boozing hard get rid of him... said Paul Holmgren LMAO! He wasn't at his best and heknew it he said on hockey night in cCanada he didn't think he did enough in the off seas. He is a winner and will demand more of himself especially with teammates like duey n a bff like carter. All the negativity from kings fans I know u may not like the numbers but he's not the one who will strap u. Its quick! Love the guy but 6.6 for a goalie is just way to much they r all an enigma and a dime a dozen. Cant wait for fleurys 5m off the books

You guys need to stop worrying about the cap. It just went up 7mil this year most likely go up another 10-14 mil in the next 2 years. So much money from the new TV contracts with NBC and Canada.

Ya he must b boozing hard get rid of him... said Paul Holmgren LMAO! He wasn't at his best and heknew it he said on hockey night in cCanada he didn't think he did enough in the off seas. He is a winner and will demand more of himself especially with teammates like duey n a bff like carter. All the negativity from kings fans I know u may not like the numbers but he's not the one who will strap u. Its quick! Love the guy but 6.6 for a goalie is just way to much they r all an enigma and a dime a dozen. Cant wait for fleurys 5m off the books
- Jordy8

A good goalie is critical for a deep run. Quick was OK this year but made a lot of great saves stole a game or two this year. No offense but if Pens gm thinks like you then that explains the lack of success the pens have in the post season. Fleury doesn't deserve 5..........6.5 ....Quick earned that contract in 2012 no quick no cup

A good goalie is critical for a deep run. Quick was OK this year but made a lot of great saves stole a game or two this year. No offense but if turns gm thinks like you then that explains the lack of success the pens have in the post season. Fleury doesn't deserve 5..........6.5 ....Quick earned that contract in 2012 no quick no cup
- dprice818

A good Goalie is enough if the team in front of him is solid (see Niemi and Crawford), but a great Goalie buys wins teams don't often deserve, and playoff wins equal an extra day of rest teams might not get when they need it.

Ya he must b boozing hard get rid of him... said Paul Holmgren LMAO! He wasn't at his best and heknew it he said on hockey night in cCanada he didn't think he did enough in the off seas. He is a winner and will demand more of himself especially with teammates like duey n a bff like carter. All the negativity from kings fans I know u may not like the numbers but he's not the one who will strap u. Its quick! Love the guy but 6.6 for a goalie is just way to much they r all an enigma and a dime a dozen. Cant wait for fleurys 5m off the books
- Jordy8

Quick's cap hit is $5.8 mil, not $6.6 mil.

Quick's cap hit is $5.8 mil, not $6.6 mil.
- tkecanuck341

Thanks I thought 6.5 was too much...... I should have checked

I don't think anyone can forget plays like "The Shift" that made him so loved in Philly for his hard-working style.



Flew all the way from Alaska to see that game. Unreal.
- wilsonecho91

That's cool you came all that way and got to see an exceptional game/effort. You will never forget that.