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Capitals’ clash with Kings rekindles Mike Richards’s rocky exit from L.A. Capitals’ clash with Kings rekindles Mike Richards’s rocky exit from L.A.
(about 1 hour later)
In the month Mike Richards has been a member of the Washington Capitals, he’s evolved from feeling “overwhelmed” at how welcoming his new teammates are to an unabashed and honest voice in the locker room. He’s moved out of a hotel and into an apartment, his dog, Arnold, the only thing missing. Over the month-plus in which Mike Richards has been a member of the Washington Capitals, he’s evolved from feeling “overwhelmed” at how welcoming his new teammates have been into being an unabashed and honest voice in the locker room. He’s moved out of a hotel and into an apartment — his dog, Arnold, the only thing missing.
“It is home now,” Richards said. “The first couple of weeks, there’s a lot going on with just living in a hotel, which sucks, and coming to the rink and still trying to get to know people.”“It is home now,” Richards said. “The first couple of weeks, there’s a lot going on with just living in a hotel, which sucks, and coming to the rink and still trying to get to know people.”
Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings will be the last awkward step for Richards transitioning to a new team. [During exile from hockey, Richards turned to beer league]
It’s been more than four months since Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi released a statement to the Los Angeles Times about the team’s messy divorce from Richards. Some portions of it were biting , like when Lombardi said he was “played” by Richards and “the only thing I can think of that would be worse would be suspecting your wife of cheating on you for five years and then finding out in fact it was true.” Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings will be the last awkward step for Richards’s transition to a new team. It’s been more than four months now since Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi released a statement to the Los Angeles Times about the team’s messy divorce from Richards. Some portions were biting, such as when Lombardi said he was “played” by Richards and that “the only thing I can think of that would be worse would be suspecting your wife of cheating on you for five years and then finding out in fact it was true.”
Richards had retreated to the comforts of his small hometown of Kenora, Ontario, when that statement was circulating. Instead of responding, he preferred to move on. Joining the Capitals was a chance for Richards to add another Stanley Cup ring to his collection, and it might also be a better fit for him personally, as there’s less pressure for Richards to produce points in Washington. Richards had retreated to the comforts of his small hometown of Kenora, Ontario, when that statement was circulating. Instead of responding, he preferred to move on.
“People that know me know that I’m not out to make headlines or anything,” Richards said. “I couldn’t care less if I’m ever interviewed again. I don’t go looking for interviews, like some people might. [Lombardi] obviously wanted to get his whatever out there. He went and sought that, and I’m the type of guy who kind of shies away from that stuff.” “People that know me know that I’m not out to make headlines or anything,” Richards said. “I couldn’t care less if I’m ever interviewed again. I don’t go looking for interviews like some people might. [Lombardi] obviously wanted to get his whatever out there. He went and sought that, and I’m the type of guy who kind of shies away from that stuff.”
Richards was arrested at a Canadian border entry stop on June 17 and later charged with possession of a controlled substance, reportedly Oxycodone, after a two-month investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Kings terminated the remaining five years and $22 million of Richards’s contract over the summer, citing a “material breach” of that contract.Richards was arrested at a Canadian border entry stop on June 17 and later charged with possession of a controlled substance, reportedly Oxycodone, after a two-month investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Kings terminated the remaining five years and $22 million of Richards’s contract over the summer, citing a “material breach” of that contract.
With his offensive production faltering – 16 points in 53 games played last season – Richards was already considered a candidate for a buyout. After the NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance, the Kings and Richards reached a settlement in which Richards received about $10.5 million. [These are the players the Caps may target at the trade deadline]
In his statement to the Los Angeles Times, Lombardi said that when he acquired Richards through a 2011 trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, he thought he had found his “own Derek Jeter. But the fact is that he was never close to the player” he was in Philadelphia. After four straight seasons of more than 60 points with the Flyers, Richards never scored more than 44 points with the Kings. With his offensive production faltering — a career-low 16 points in 53 games played last season — Richards was already considered a candidate for a buyout. After the NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance, Richards and the Kings reached a settlement through which he will ultimately receive about $10.5 million.
In his statement to the Los Angeles Times, Lombardi said that when he acquired Richards, then the Philadelphia Flyers’ captain, through a 2011 trade, he thought he had found his “own Derek Jeter.” “But the fact is,” Lombardi continued, “that he was never close to the player” he was in Philadelphia: After four straight seasons of more than 60 points with the Flyers, Richards never scored more than 44 points with the Kings.
“I thought Dean and [my] relationship was good, to be honest,” Richards said. “Obviously, he had to make some moves and he had to do some things he probably didn’t want to do at the end of the day. But I didn’t make it easy on him either to keep me around. I want to say fault on both parts, but it’s probably more so me than him, and he had to do what he had to do.”“I thought Dean and [my] relationship was good, to be honest,” Richards said. “Obviously, he had to make some moves and he had to do some things he probably didn’t want to do at the end of the day. But I didn’t make it easy on him either to keep me around. I want to say fault on both parts, but it’s probably more so me than him, and he had to do what he had to do.”
Richards signed a one-year $1 million, pro-rated deal with the Capitals on Jan. 6, a deal favorable for both sides. Richards was anxious to play at the NHL level again after months of beer-league hockey with his brothers in Kenora, and the Capitals looked like Stanley Cup contenders. For Washington, Richards provided depth at center at an affordable price and brought a wealth of playoff experience with him. Richards signed a one-year, $1 million pro-rated contract with the Capitals on Jan. 6, a deal favorable for both sides. Richards was eager to play at the NHL level again after months of beer-league hockey with his brothers in Kenora, and the Capitals looked like they would give him a shot at his third career Stanley Cup ring to boot. For Washington, Richards provided depth at center at an affordable price and with a wealth of playoff experience.
Playing mostly fourth-line center, Richards has yet to score a point in his 11 games with the team. He’s contributed on the penalty kill and played an average of 12 minutes a night, winning 55.1 percent of his draws. Playing mostly fourth-line center, Richards has yet to score a point in his 11 games with the team, although he’s contributed on the penalty kill and played an average of 12 minutes a night, winning 55.1 percent of his draws.
“I didn’t expect to come in here and just light the lamp every game, but I also expected to probably contribute a little bit more,” Richards said. “It’s frustrating not getting the success, but I think in the last three or four games, I’ve been getting a lot more chances and making a lot more plays. It’ll come eventually, and hopefully, sooner than later. I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t a little frustrating.” [If Richards is on fourth line, who should play beside him?]
Justin Williams, also playing against his old team for the first time, said, “I want to say it’s just another game, but it’s not.” Richards said this new stint with Washington isn’t about proving the Kings wrong, but about playing to the best of his ability so he doesn’t have regrets later and can be at peace with his career. “I didn’t expect to come in here and just light the lamp every game, but I also expected to probably contribute a little bit more,” Richards said. “It’s frustrating not getting the success, but I think in the last three or four games I’ve been getting a lot more chances and making a lot more plays.
“It’ll come eventually, and hopefully sooner than later. I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t a little frustrating.”
Right winger Justin Williams, also playing against his old team for the first time, said, “I want to say it’s just another game, but it’s not.” Richards said this new stint with Washington isn’t about proving the Kings wrong, but about playing to the best of his ability so he doesn’t have regrets later and can be at peace with his career.
“I’m not a child; I don’t hold grudges,” Richards said. “It’s hockey, and I’m happy to be here now. I’m a true believer that everything happens for a reason. We’ll see how this plays out.”“I’m not a child; I don’t hold grudges,” Richards said. “It’s hockey, and I’m happy to be here now. I’m a true believer that everything happens for a reason. We’ll see how this plays out.”