Today the LA Kings put Mike Richards on waivers. He is free to any team that places a claim on him. He is experienced, has pedigree, has won at pretty much every level (including 2 recent Stanley Cups), plays Center, has been a productive player in the past, and is known for playing the kind of game that the Oilers lack.

But the Edmonton Oilers should not put a claim on Mike Richards.

Mike Richards today is not the player Mike Richards was at his peak and certainly not the player he was supposed to be when he signed his massive 12 year deal worth 5.75M per year. Let’s not forget that when Mike Richards signed that contract he was effectively jobbing the system. He was getting paid LESS than what he was supposed to be worth because of the tacked on years at the end of the deal that paid him less money. Now 5.75M for Mike Richards seems like a massive, massive overpay and there are 5 more years left on the deal.

Right now he is effectively the 4C of the Kings and dragging the team down in almost every category. Worse, he appears to be in full decline. He’s in an effectiveness tailspin and it doesn’t look like he will be able to pull out of it. It was reported that the Kings had a couple trade partners who were interested in Richards but the talks crumbled and now LA and Lombardi are throwing this out there as a Hail Mary.

Richards has 15 points this year in 47 games. At 5v5 he is creating just 1.27 P/60 minutes which is not something to be overly proud of. For example, he’s scoring at a similar rate as Brandon Sutter. An Oiler comparable would be Teddy Purcell. Here are his scoring numbers for the past few seasons 5v5.

2014-2015: 1.27 P/60
2013-2014: 1.32 P/60
2012-2013: 1.51 P/60
2011-2012: 1.27 P/60
2010-2011: 2.06 P/60

His last 5 years have been pointing at decline. He hasn’t really been close to being the player he was as a Flyer ever in Los Angeles and there’s nothing to suggest he would rekindle that scoring rate as an Oiler. The Oilers have a significantly worse defense to get him the puck, a weaker system to rely on, and quite simply they score less as a team than the Kings do. I don’t think Richards would suddenly become a strong offensive player after being a relatively weak one for several years.

But it’s not just offense. Even in terms of possession Richards drags the Kings down. They are still a great possession team and bad for the Kings is still a positive number, but relative to his teammates Richards is a -2.1% CF. The most noticeable change is when Richards plays With and Without Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. When Richards and Doughty are on the ice together they have a 53.6% CF. Without Doughty Richards has a 51.2% CF. When Doughty is without Richards he has a 57% CF.

Mike Richards a boat anchor.

In fact, that’s exactly why nobody should make a claim on him. His contract is actively hurting the Los Angeles Kings. They cannot add the pieces they would otherwise like to add to make a run at another Cup. Actually, they may need those pieces just to make the Playoffs. They currently sit on the outside looking in.

The Los Angeles Kings have a built in draw for players. The weather is beautiful, their tax situation is relative favorable, they can be relatively anonymous, and they win. Who wouldn’t want to play in LA these days? Only a handful of teams can boast a similar set of attractions for players. This Mike Richards contract taking up 5.75M or 4.85M if he’s buried in the Minors is going to handicap the Kings.

They don’t have the flexibility to get the players they want without sacrificing things they need.

The 29 other teams, and especially all of the other Western teams should let the Kings sink down the standings with those cement shoes and climb right past them. The last thing the Oilers need to do is give the Kings any favors. It benefits the Oilers in the long run to let the Kings tip-toe around that contract instead of taking it on themselves.

But the Oilers have weak depth at Center!

Yes. They do. Very weak. Would I cry if next year the Oilers had RNH, Draisaitl, Richards, and Gordon down the middle? Not at all. I would be crying for the next 4 years after that though.

It isn’t about next year. It’s about the next 5 years. The Oilers have a future 2C they drafted 3rd Overall playing in Jr. They could be drafting a generational C this summer, depending on how the Draft plays out. Next year they need experience but at some point the kids are going to take over.

If the Kings REALLY want to tempt the Oilers they should ask for Nikitin or Ference in return and retain some of Richards’ salary. Now THAT is an offer you chew on for days.

Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy

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