Mike Richards IV: Started From The Bottom, Still Here *MOD WARNING Post #194*

[Minor Boarding]

The Kings could of still retained 60%.

A team would have moved on Richards at 60% retention.

That's still better than a buyout. Lombardi could have offered that.

The maximum for retention is 50% per CBA.

 

[KINGS17]

I am interested to see how Kopitar play's next season, He is exiting his prime production years. We may have gotten a glimpse of it this season (erratic play). Still on pace for 70 points, but boy did Kopitar take the hard road to his career average.

Brown is already there, passed his prime.

Quick is also getting older.

Doughty is the only guy right in the middle of his prime production years.

Jeff Carter is just in phenomenal shape. He is seriously fit, and it shows.

This is the kind of commitment it will take from Kopitar for the Kings to continue to be a Stanley Cup contender. It may be prudent for Lombardi to not negotiate a new contract with Kopitar over the summer.

 

[Winger23]

Some of you need to stop *****ing and start enjoying themselves on the best run the Kings have ever had. I don't give a flying **** about who and what handicaps this team for the next x amount of years.

3 years, 2 cups. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Nizar]

So Mike Richards IV: A New Hope
Mike Richards V: Darryl strikes back
Mike Richards VI: Return of Mike Richards or Arrival to Toronto

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Some of you need to stop *****ing and start enjoying themselves on the best run the Kings have ever had. I don't give a flying **** about who and what handicaps this team for the next x amount of years.

3 years, 2 cups. Couldn't be happier.

I couldn't have said it better. We are the defending cup champs. Every other team in the league would love to say that. Will we win this year? Don't know, but sit back and enjoy the ride. It might never come again.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

It's funny. Richards' long contract is considered a terrible one because of his decline in play. Carter's long contract is great because we have this phenomenal player locked up long-term. His current cap hit of $5,272,727 doesn't look too bad for what he contributes.

 

[KINGS17]

Some of you need to stop *****ing and start enjoying themselves on the best run the Kings have ever had. I don't give a flying **** about who and what handicaps this team for the next x amount of years.

3 years, 2 cups. Couldn't be happier.

You're right. From here on out we should be happy with 1st round exits, or maybe just making the playoffs every other year.

Drew Doughty is a generational talent. The Kings should not waste his time if they aren't going to do everything they can to win cups while he is at the top of his game.

 

[damacles1156]

Yup.

Doughty is right smack in the middle of his prime. Also we probably won't see another defender like him in the league for at least another decade.

All we can do is hope and pray, that Doughty doesn't drop off tremendously, after 28 years of age. Like a lot of current NHL players are doing.

We need to understand that what players like Giordano was doing this year is (Rare), and truly special. Gio was having a career year at 31 years of age. That is special, it's a shame he got hurt.

Sadly with how physical and grueling the NHL has become. I think drop offs like Brown/Richards, are going to become more common.

 

[Bandit]

This guy threw a fit. I had to bit my tongue. I wanted to laugh so hard.

"It was on the table when we got here!"

You gotta admit though, it's pretty douchy to charge for the most abundant resource on the planet... Glad to see it hasn't been 24 hours and we're already on page 3 though!

 

[KINGS17]

Yup.

Doughty is right smack in the middle of his prime. Also we probably won't see another defender like him in the league for at least another decade.

All we can do is hope and pray, that Doughty doesn't drop off tremendously, after 28 years of age. Like a lot of current NHL players are doing.

We need to understand that what players like Giordano was doing this year is (Rare), and truly special. Gio was having a career year at 31 years of age. That is special, it's a shame he got hurt.

Sadly with how physical and grueling the NHL has become. I think drop offs like Brown/Richards, are going to become more common.

Could very well be. This is why Dean should hold off on negotiating a new deal with Kopitar until he sees what he brings to the table next season. If the current trend with Kopitar continues, an 8-year deal with him would not be good for the Kings.

Carter on the other hand seems to have figured out the kind of work it takes in the off season to continue to be a player performing at close to 100% of his potential. The impressive thing about that to me is that he did it in the summer after the Kings won their first cup.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I hope Mike Richards pulls a Jeffersons

 

[kingsfan]

How about this then:

"Boss, remember that horse I picked up a few years ago that won us our first Stanley Cup, which led to another Stanley Cup? Yeah, it's broken down now and the best for all concerned is to take it out behind the barn and shoot it. Sure it was expensive, but it has already paid for itself."

Bosses reply: "So if you add in a kid like Toffoli, we could trade Richards to Toronto/Calgary/whoever and we'd only have to eat $5 million/$8 million? Let's do that instead."

Uncle Phil gets to say what happens with his money, he doesn't owe DL/the fans/his own mom anything, if he wants to turn into the next Harold Ballard tomorrow he can. The man made billions by not just tossing away money, I don't get why you think he'll just do DL a solid and hand him a $20 million cheque when there is options to lower that figure greatly.

You're right. From here on out we should be happy with 1st round exits, or maybe just making the playoffs every other year.

That's not what he said. Again, just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean you need to be snarky about it. He's absolutely right, we are sitting in the after glow of success that most teams would kill for, there's nothing wrong with enjoying that and ignoring what is coming in the future, especially since not one word on here ever makes one iota of difference in terms of what eventually happens with any situation the Kings face. You can write a thesis on what LA should do with Richards and you'll have as much impact doing that as you would pissing into the wind.

 

[Brodie562]

what would be the problem with keeping him in the ahl? if theyre willing to buy him out why not just stash him away in the ahl and let his contract run out? or would he have to go through waviers and risk having to still pay a % of the contract?

sorry if this has been answered already

 

[YP44]

what would be the problem with keeping him in the ahl? if theyre willing to buy him out why not just stash him away in the ahl and let his contract run out? or would he have to go through waviers and risk having to still pay a % of the contract?

sorry if this has been answered already

if he's claimed on waivers than no % would have to be paid.
Gone are the days where you can redden a players contract in the minors. LA is only saving $900K of his salary by having him in the AHL

 

[Brodie562]

Ah ok thanks. I gotta catch up on these details. A lot has changed.

seems like giving up a blue chipper along with eating some of contract will be the way to get another team to bite.

 

[funky]

I know the numbers are horrid for buying him out this year. 10 years with a year being 3.5 ish and another being 4.5ish against the cap.

Does anyone know the numbers if we buy him out in 2016 when we may need more money to keep Kopitar. I know it's 8 years but with the loss of cap geek I can't break down how bad it gets

 

[YP44]

Ah ok thanks. I gotta catch up on these details. A lot has changed.

seems like giving up a blue chipper along with eatting some of contract will be the way to get another team to bite.

I still am holding onto hope that if the kings withheld 1.5-2M on his contract there would be teams willing to take him on without LA having to include a prospect.
I use <$2M as that is about the cap hit they would take if they were buying him out

 

[Johnny Utah]

Someone will take him if Kings throw in picks or prospects and pick up 30-50 percent of the salary.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

. I know it's 8 years but with the loss of cap geek I can't break down how bad it gets

I tried to do the same thing a half hour ago, I think capgeek was the only site with the buyout calculator.

 

[KINGS17]

Bosses reply: "So if you add in a kid like Toffoli, we could trade Richards to Toronto/Calgary/whoever and we'd only have to eat $5 million/$8 million? Let's do that instead."

Uncle Phil gets to say what happens with his money, he doesn't owe DL/the fans/his own mom anything, if he wants to turn into the next Harold Ballard tomorrow he can. The man made billions by not just tossing away money, I don't get why you think he'll just do DL a solid and hand him a $20 million cheque when there is options to lower that figure greatly.



That's not what he said. Again, just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean you need to be snarky about it. He's absolutely right, we are sitting in the after glow of success that most teams would kill for, there's nothing wrong with enjoying that and ignoring what is coming in the future, especially since not one word on here ever makes one iota of difference in terms of what eventually happens with any situation the Kings face. You can write a thesis on what LA should do with Richards and you'll have as much impact doing that as you would pissing into the wind.

Here's an idea for you: put this thread on ignore, or since nothing you post on here matters, stop posting altogether.

Thanks for critiquing my posting style, but I really don't need your help. Once again the ignore button is your friend if you can't handle it.

Who is the previous poster to tell the folks that want to discuss the future to shutup and just bask in the "after glow" of the two cups? I want the Kings to win as many cups as possible while the window is open.

If the Kings are going to do that Dean needs AEG to be on board with the program.

 

[417th]

That is what gets to me about the Richards situation. I can understand that he is impossible to move straight up (that is made more difficult by sending him down, keep him with the team and then start negotiating how much of his contract you are willing to eat/retain in order to move him) but he should be easy enough to move if you retain the $1.8m per that we were supposedly willing to take. Sending him down was a bad idea that only further complicated things. I just don't get it. I wonder if his old vice has returned or something because why would you ever send him down gutting his value unless there was a very specific reason. His play wasn't so terrible that you couldn't have floated him around 9mins a game while trying to move him. Lombardi is too smart for it to be something as simply as poor play or at least it seems that way. I don't know. I hope it is resolved asap.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

That is what gets to me about the Richards situation. I can understand that he is impossible to move straight up (that is made more difficult by sending him down, keep him with the team and then start negotiating how much of his contract you are willing to eat/retain in order to move him) but he should be easy enough to move if you retain the $1.8m per that we were supposedly willing to take. Sending him down was a bad idea that only further complicated things. I just don't get it. I wonder if his old vice has returned or something because why would you ever send him down gutting his value unless there was a very specific reason. His play wasn't so terrible that you couldn't have floated him around 9mins a game while trying to move him. Lombardi is too smart for it to be something as simply as poor play or at least it seems that way. I don't know. I hope it is resolved asap.

I think they wanted to see if somebody would claim him. Once that came to pass, I think he is now in the process of reclamation. I think DL believes his stock has bottomed out and the only thing that will help is if he is able to regain some semblance of an NHL player.

I don't think it is likely but what happens if he is recalled and plays well down the stretch or in the playoffs? Someone might actually trade for him then.

BTW, Jon Rosen all but confirmed that Richards will be back with the Kings at some point on last nights telecast. So there is going to be a Mike Richards redux at some point.

 

[johnjm22]

It may be prudent for Lombardi to not negotiate a new contract with Kopitar over the summer.

Are you basing this on the idea that Kopitar could eventually decline like Richards?

Kopitar is of a completely different ilk than Mike.

I have no idea what his off ice training is like, but everyone's body is different, not everyone needs to be a gym rat and have 7% body fat in order to be successful.

Unless Kopitar is asking for something ridiculous, I'm of the opinion that he should be locked up ASAP. No fooling around.

 

[417th]

I think they wanted to see if somebody would claim him. Once that came to pass, I think he is now in the process of reclamation. I think DL believes his stock has bottomed out and the only thing that will help is if he is able to regain some semblance of an NHL player.

I don't think it is likely but what happens if he is recalled and plays well down the stretch or in the playoffs? Someone might actually trade for him then.

BTW, Jon Rosen all but confirmed that Richards will be back with the Kings at some point on last nights telecast. So there is going to be a Mike Richards redux at some point.

Thanks. I missed all of last nights game. The casino I was in wouldn't play anything but basketball. I have thought from the start that Lombardi would only send Richards down if he planned on bringing him back up (provided he wasn't claimed which seemed like an impossibility). Here is hoping that MR gets it back together and helps lead us to our 3rd cup.

 

[KINGS17]

Are you basing this on the idea that Kopitar could eventually decline like Richards?

Kopitar is of a completely different ilk than Mike.

I have no idea what his off ice training is like, but everyone's body is different, not everyone needs to be a gym rat and have 7% body fat in order to be successful.

Unless Kopitar is asking for something ridiculous, I'm of the opinion that he should be locked up ASAP. No fooling around.

No, I am concerned about where the salary cap is heading, as well as Kopitar's declining play. Kopitar isn't going to collapse next season, but his performance is not trending in a good direction. Kopitar in terms of the offense he produces is not going to be a player that is worth 8 years and $9M a season. He just isn't. It's been well documented how players' production declines after they hit their late 20's. I don't see anything in Kopitar's game this season that would cause me to think that he is an anomaly. Kopitar will still be a great two-way center for some time though.

If Kopitar came to Dean and said he would take 5 years at $8M a season, I would be inclined to do that deal this summer.