A few weeks ago, after the Los Angeles Kings demoted Mike Richards to the AHL, I spoke with a veteran NHL front-office person who had always been one of Richards' biggest advocates. What he said shocked me.

"I think he is finished as an NHL player," he said. "Doesn't skate or even compete as well as he used to and his skills are eroding."

I disagreed then, and I still do now.

If you recall, even at the point the Kings put Richards on waivers, I said that he could still help out a whole lot of NHL teams -- yes, even despite his untenable contract -- and I also wouldn't count him out in being able to return to the Kings to help their playoff push.

It would have been very easy for Richards to spend the rest of the season feeling sorry for himself in the AHL, putting in half-effort and just collecting his paycheck. Instead, after a slow start, he's buckled down and earned his way back up to the Kings.

I still hold with what I wrote before: Richards can be a difference-maker for the Kings now that the games count the most. He has a way of dialing up his own game when the season is on the line. Currently, LA is two points behind the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division -- and the guaranteed playoff spot that comes with it. If that fails, they are four back of the Winnipeg Jets for the lower wildcard spot in the Western Conference.

Richards can only help the Kings' push for the rest of this season if he gets the opportunity to do so. Going forward beyond this year, he could wind out being bought out, because he has five seasons left on his contract.

At this point, Richards is playing for an NHL job next season that won't be in LA. I, for one, think he still has value to a lot of teams so long as the contract is brought more in line with where he is now as a player rather than being paid on the basis of being a two-time 30-goal scorer who twice averaged more than of a point per game.

Watch Monday's BuzzCast with Eklund, Kevin Allen and Mike Augello: