Likely a factor. He has been a cog in the Cup teams, but now they're up poop creek a bit, cap wise, with the Voynov mess and he's giving them 4th line play for top 6 money
- Jsaquella

Look at the point totals for Kopitar, Williams, Brown, Stoll,and King. Richards is outscoring all of them. And Richards point totals aren't anything special. The team as a whole, other then the Carter line isn't scoring.

No question about it.
- PLindbergh31

Oh, there's always questions, because when I said this last year, you'd have thought I said Christmas was canceled.

He's trending in the wrong direction. It can't just be characteized as a slump or the Kings system. Things are bad now but they could get worse.
- PhillySportsGuy

If his skating flat-out goes -- and I think it will -- it will get worse.

True. But why pay a premium salary for Mike Richards, who has been outscored 136-124 by Bozak over the last 4 seasons, in 29 fewer games, when you can go out and target a guy who has a record of winning and recent production?

Hell, come July, Brad Richards is a UFA, Id rather pay him $5.75mm for 3 years than carry Mike Richards at $5.75mm for five.

EDIT: Now, if LA is willing to eat $2.5mm of Richards' cash for the next 6 years and trade him to me for a 4th rounder, great, I'd roll the dice on it.
- Jsaquella

Brad Richards wouldn't go to Toronto the first time the Leafs wanted him. Bozak isn't out scoring Mike Richards by a large margin. I agree the contract weighs heavily on the Kings but they had their chance to buy him out, so they've gotta try to move him now. They're not as smart as they thought...Toronto might be even dumber. Richards is still a defensively sound, physical player. Something Toronto could use in a bad defensive system. I think the Leafs really miss David Boulland.

McDavid will be out 5-6 weeks with a broken bone in his hand

Brad Richards wouldn't go to Toronto the first time the Leafs wanted him. Bozak isn't out scoring Mike Richards by a large margin. I agree the contract weighs heavily on the Kings but they had their chance to buy him out, so they've gotta try to move him now. They're not as smart as they thought...Toronto might be even dumber. Richards is still a defensively sound, physical player. Something Toronto could use in a bad defensive system. I think the Leafs really miss David Boulland.
- SuperSchennBros

No, Bozak isn't outscoring him by much, but he's doing it in fewer games and for $1.55mm less against the cap. You can get a gritty two way center for less than $5.75mm per year.

McDavid will be out 5-6 weeks with a broken bone in his hand
- Jsaquella

Just enough time to return for the World Juniors.

Brad Richards wouldn't go to Toronto the first time the Leafs wanted him. Bozak isn't out scoring Mike Richards by a large margin. I agree the contract weighs heavily on the Kings but they had their chance to buy him out, so they've gotta try to move him now. They're not as smart as they thought...Toronto might be even dumber. Richards is still a defensively sound, physical player. Something Toronto could use in a bad defensive system. I think the Leafs really miss David Boulland.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't think anyone is dumb enough to take on Mike Richards' contract. He still has some use but the contract length and cap hit is what hurts.

Kings might be able to move him but I think it will require eating a good portion of the money. Kind of similar to the Vinny situation in that regard.

I don't think anyone is dumb enough to take on Mike Richards' contract. He still has some use but the contract length and cap hit is what hurts.

Kings might be able to move him but I think it will require eating a good portion of the money. Kind of similar to the Vinny situation in that regard.
- hereticpride

There's 6.75M in cap savings in the deal after this year. That's a good thing. But there's also 22M left on the deal after this year. And cap recapture issues. That would make it very difficult. And there's also the question of whether the movement clause is still intact.

There's 6.75M in cap savings in the deal after this year. That's a good thing. But there's also 22M left on the deal after this year. And cap recapture issues. That would make it very difficult. And there's also the question of whether the movement clause is still intact.
- MJL

I don't think recapture is an issue on the Richards contract, looking into it now

EDIT: Ok, so according to capgeek:

At the time of retirement/defection, the net “cap advantage” will be “recaptured” — charged against the team’s cap in equal amounts each year until the contract expires. This applies to any team that received a net “cap advantage” from the contract — meaning trading the player won’t make the problem go away — except for teams that dealt the player on or prior to Sept. 15, 2012.

This means that Philadelphia is not responsible for the cap advantage they received with Mike Richards and Columbus is not responsible for the cap advantage they received with Jeff Carter.
http://www.capgeek.com/faq/how-does-cap-advantage-recapture-work

EDIT 2: On further research, there are recapture penalties. http://www.capgeek.com/recapture-grid

I don't think recapture is an issue on the Richards contract, looking into it now

EDIT: Ok, so according to capgeek:

At the time of retirement/defection, the net “cap advantage” will be “recaptured” — charged against the team’s cap in equal amounts each year until the contract expires. This applies to any team that received a net “cap advantage” from the contract — meaning trading the player won’t make the problem go away — except for teams that dealt the player on or prior to Sept. 15, 2012.

This means that Philadelphia is not responsible for the cap advantage they received with Mike Richards and Columbus is not responsible for the cap advantage they received with Jeff Carter.
http://www.capgeek.com/fa...-advantage-recapture-work
- BulliesPhan87

EDIT - Crap.

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?

EDIT 2: On further research, there are recapture penalties. http://www.capgeek.com/recapture-grid
- BulliesPhan87

It's a funky deal. It all depends on when he retires, when or if he is traded, etc, as to what team gets what penalty. It's the CBA, it can't by rule be simple and easy to figure out.

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?
- mydoglicks

No, and I'd love to have Richards back at the right price.

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?
- mydoglicks

Not at all.

Bloated cap hit aside I don't want an aging 3rd/4th line player under contract for that long. At least Vinny is still a viable 2nd line Center option to teams around the league, even if he isn't so much here.

It's a funky deal. It all depends on when he retires, when or if he is traded, etc, as to what team gets what penalty. It's the CBA, it can't by rule be simple and easy to figure out.
- MJL

On the bright side, I learned a thing today.

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?
- mydoglicks

I wouldn't. Richards is better, but VLs contact may be moveable after this season.

On the bright side, I learned a thing today.
- BulliesPhan87

Meh, you'll just forget about it tomorrow!

I wouldn't. Richards is better, but VLs contact may be moveable after this season.
- PhillySportsGuy

July 2nd, 2015

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?
- mydoglicks

No.

Vinny's deal is shorter, and after the next bonus payout on July 1st might be moveable. Richards has 5 years left after this year, at $5.75mm

Meh, you'll just forget about it tomorrow!
- MJL

forget what?

brloooo brloooo brloooo!

- MBFlyerfan

Nice work translating that to text

No.

Vinny's deal is shorter, and after the next payout on July 1st might be moveable. Richards has 5 years left after this year, at $5.75mm
- Jsaquella

Capgeek says both are under contract through the 19-20 season. Is Vinny's contract actually shorter?

Cough
VLC
cough, cough
- BiggE

thought the Doctor was grabbing your jewels

Capgeek says both are under contract through the 19-20 season. Is Vinny's contract actually shorter?
- hereticpride

Vinny singed a 5 year deal, ends after the 2017-18 season. Richards' deal ends after the 2019-20 season.

Edit: I see what you mean...the deal that ends in 2019-20 for Lecavalier is the deal he got bought out of in Tampa