Confirmed with Link: Mike Richards 1 Year 1$M [mod note: posts 55 & 140]

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Welp, they strengthened the center depth with a two-time Cup winner. Hopefully the Caps locker room environment keeps him on the straight and narrow.

 

[Roughing]

Welp, they strengthened the center depth with a two-time Cup winner. Hopefully the Caps locker room environment keeps him on the straight and narrow.

IMO, there's zero risk to the locker room. If he fouls up, he's gone. If/when he performs well, they'll embrace him. This is a team focused on the cup. Whatever it takes to get there. I stopped short of saying I love it - I love the possibilities he brings - but I don't know all the details. Like I said, if BT/BM (and probably Williams) are good with it, I'm good with it.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

IMO, there's zero risk to the locker room. If he fouls up, he's gone. If/when he performs well, they'll embrace him. This is a team focused on the cup. Whatever it takes to get there. I stopped short of saying I love it - I love the possibilities he brings - but I don't know all the details. Like I said, if BT/BM (and probably Williams) are good with it, I'm good with it.

There is zero doubt in my mind he will have a very short leash. Don't bite the hand that feeds comes to mind in this situation.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

When is Brooks Laich getting moved out is the only question I have. Kings, ya'll want him?

 

[g00n]

yes they did and it was obvious they would from the moment news broke about his contract termination. That's the main reason kings wouldn't do it if they were without a proof of his wrongdoing.

Also not guilty in the eyes of the court doesn't mean we can't presume him guilty. Bill Cosby is not guilty yet too, for example (and i don't mean Richards is a *******, just an over the top example).

Actually, on HF it does mean exactly that. Otherwise it's libel and against site rules.

Unless someone has official confirmation, it can't be stated or even speculated that a player did something if it's possibly libelous. That means we can't call him a "drug addict" or even say he's guilty of any charges unless he's actually found guilty, and there's a confirmed statement from a valid media source.

 

[strungout]

He doesnt have to be moved.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Kings just wasted all their cap space with that philly trade

 

[Turd Ferguson]

He doesnt have to be moved.

it would be nice to get him off the books, given this years UFA's looks pretty good.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Kings just wasted all their cap space with that philly trade

What?

 

[hockeykicker]

kings gm on richards signing

 

[third man in]

Man this is pretty bold. I like it and hopefully he still has some left in the tank and can behave himself. Minimal downside here and hoping he can fit in the locker room. Having Williams can only help get him acclimated.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

kings gm on richards signing

Lombardi: "I want to lose the lawsuit."

 

[hockeykicker]

Oh and he will be #10 per caps Twitter

 

[Melkor]

it would be nice to get him off the books, given this years UFA's looks pretty good.

Caps dont have anything to do with it. They have to re-sign plenty of people in a year or two.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Caps dont have anything to do with it. They have to re-sign plenty of people in a year or two.

This is true, but its nice to have some space and to do some window shopping. Never hurts. I just like Andrew Ladd. haha

 

[Raikkonen]

Wow! Just what we talked about.

Can anyone say if he's healthy by his newest photos?

@Laich. We should still trade him but retain about half his salary. Sweeten the deal with something minor and call it a day. This will let us have around 2M at deadline this year and 2+ additional millions next year. Plus it will save us valuable assets like Vrana and #1.

In turn, we can sign some UFA for 3-4M next year. Or just bank it right from the start of next season. Which will give us humongous amount of free cap in Feb 2017.

 

[usiel]

Dig the move. Lot of playoff/cup winner experience there. Will be curious to see how in shape he is. I hope someone asked Kelly Miller's permission using his number.

 

[sqw3r]

@Laich. We should still trade him but retain about half his salary. Sweeten the deal with something minor and call it a day. This will let us have around 2M at deadline this year and 2+ additional millions next year. Plus it will save us valuable assets like Vrana and #1.

I'm sure Laich can be dealt without losing any major prospects or first. Pack him with a 2nd and a 3rd and Toronto or some other rebuilding team with a lot of cap space would be happy to take him, i'm sure, it's not like his contract is till 2020.

 

[Melkor]

I'm sure Laich can be dealt without losing any major prospects or first. Pack him with a 2nd and a 3rd and Toronto or some other rebuilding team with a lot of cap space would be happy to take him, i'm sure, it's not like his contract is till 2020.

They dont have a 3rd. STL got it for Oshie.

 

[JenniferH]

I am actually thinking positively here. He played with Williams so there's that history there. Trotz has created a really nurturing environment and I think that Richards could really use that after he was treated pretty damn crappily by the Kings. And, finally, I think that Richards is going to do his best to come out hard and try and prove himself. So, yeah, I'm optimistic.

Plus, it's a pretty darn good deal. So, yeah, I'm down for it.

 

[EroCaps]

I like it as it gives them time to make more moves if he's totally ineffective.

Sill-Richards-Wilson just for *****.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Hard not to like this signing.

 

[theMajor]

I will officially be pulling for the Caps to come out of the east this season. Williams and Richards were loved in LA, hopefully MR comes around and finds his game again. Caps are lookin scary!!

 

[Fallschirmyager]

Hard not to like this signing.

I'm pretty sure he got the, "this is your chance to save your career. Screw this up and this will be the last year you play in the NHL."

That can server to motivate a player or make him too tentative. We shall see.

 

[Calicaps]

I'm pretty sure he got the, "this is your chance to save your career. Screw this up and this will be the last year you play in the NHL."

That can server to motivate a player or make him too tentative. We shall see.

I doubt anyone needed to tell him that. At 30 years old and with what went on this past year, he better know it all on his own.

I would think he'll be very motivated.

But as others have said, the beauty of the deal is, if it doesn't work out, he gone, no problem.