[News] Kings terminate Richards contract. UPD: Kings and Richards reach settlement

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is utter nonsense.

OK, why? If you were out millions of dollars in this case, and free agency begins tomorrow why else do you sit back and say nothing? Maybe he is getting some terrible advice, but I would want to clear my name ASAP so that I could potentially sign a deal tomorrow, aside from the recouping of millions of dollars that I thought I was getting.

[Jason14h]

I find it interesting that the Kings put Richards on waivers on Sunday even though they already knew about this incident. Presumably, they are setting themselves up to still buyout Richards in case the termination doesn't hold up (which may not be determined prior to the end of the buyout period). In the event that the termination is disallowed, I would bet that the Kings would go to the league and say that they should be allowed to buy him out as they had already put him on waivers for the purpose of buying him out. Covering their bases, me thinks.

I believe it was posted earlier in order to terminate the contract the player must first pass through waivers.

[Weitz]

Not sure if posted yet.

While the NHL on NBC Sports analyst didn’t get into the hard details on TSN 690’s Melnick in the Afternoon show in Montreal, McGuire indicated the incident that led to the Kingss decision happened at a border crossing. Here is the link and we’ve displayed the transcript below. The segment starts at around the 9:17 mark.

Melnick: “Somebody in the know is telling me something happened with Mike Richards at a border crossing.”

Pierre: “Correct … I’m not going to talk about it until it’s made public. I have a pretty good idea of what’s happened.”

Melnick: “So the information I have, you can confirm that?”

Pierre: “Your information is probably pretty accurate.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...235356704.html

[Fighting Banana Slug]

While I agree that a DUI/barred entry from the US might be plausible, I think there have been a fair number of cases of that happening, without contract termination. Fairly certain Bob Probert had border issues, not sure with MacTavish, but one would think.
Lombardi doesn't seem like a guy that would dump Richards though, unless it really was bad. He stuck with him, even when they had a chance to use a compliance buy-out.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

While I agree that a DUI/barred entry from the US might be plausible, I think there have been a fair number of cases of that happening, without contract termination. Fairly certain Bob Probert had border issues, not sure with MacTavish, but one would think.
Lombardi doesn't seem like a guy that would dump Richards though, unless it really was bad. He stuck with him, even when they had a chance to use a compliance buy-out.

Dean Lombardi regrets not using a compliance buyout.

"I met with him. He promised that he'd do it. And when a guy looks you in the eye and promises, to me, that goes beyond loyalty," Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times before last season. "A guy's giving you his word. That's more important than a contract or anything else."

Lombardi was burned. He felt Richards' contribution was so middling that it was worth saddling all but $925,000 of Richards' $5.75 million cap hit just to have him play in the AHL.

"It could be the worst decision I ever made," Lombardi told ESPN.com last month. "But for all the right reasons. In a cap world, you can't have any heart and soul. I struggle with that."

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/kings-gm-lo...hance-1.320414

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

IANAL, but I believe the Kings would be free to terminate Voynov's contract at any time for the same reasons. The key difference from LA's perspective however is that Voynov still has value as a player, Richards does not. If you're looking for a principled stand by a sports team, don't hold your breath. The only two ways the Kings are likely to move to terminate Voynov's contract are if he is convicted or if public demands to do so reaches a tipping point.

Voynov is suspended without pay right now so he is essentially off the books for pay and cap. I believe he hurt his foot/leg during the incident that required surgery so the Kings were able to suspended him for a non hockey related injury. They're in no rush to deal with it basically.

No comment on Richards, don't really care actually.

[united]

Eric Macramalla @EricOnSportsLaw

No it would not be sufficient by itself
Q: If it's something that prevents him from crossing the border in the future would that be sufficient?

Fair point but not sufficient to terminate deal. Numerous players have had border issues.
Q: i was actually not being able to cross border would be a valid reason because he couldn't perform his duties as a player.

Unlikely to be sufficient
Q: without going into specifics, In 140 chars or less,in your legal opinion, are his actions sufficient cause for termination?

Good question. No. CBA provides for grievance process that must be respected.
Q: Eric any chance Richards files suit about Kings not acting in good faith? Not first player in this situation

Aaron Hernandez
Q: Can you give an example of what WOULD be sufficient?

I expect soon - yes
Q: The anticipation is killing me, how soon will we find out what happened? (please say today)

[Looch City]

Did he refuse the full body scanner and pat down?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Weitz

He is saying that he might have got a DUI which can preclude you from entering the USA.

Like Danny Heatley got kicked out of the USA for driving drunk and killing his passenger? Seriously a DUI isn't going to keep him out of the USA and as I said before if there is no criminal charges it's pretty obvious the Kings are simply throwing sh$t against the wall in hopes something sticks and a loophole gets them out of a bad contract.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Like Danny Heatley got kicked out of the USA for driving drunk and killing his passenger? Seriously a DUI isn't going to keep him out of the USA and as I said before if there is no criminal charges it's pretty obvious the Kings are simply throwing sh$t against the wall in hopes something sticks and a loophole gets them out of a bad contract.

Greatly never got a DUI I thought

[sureLoss]

ESPN reporting Richards is under investigation by the RCMP and Border services is also involved

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/s...ichards-source

Mike Richards, whose contract has been terminated by the Los Angeles Kings, is part of an ongoing investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for an off-ice incident, a source told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the RCMP in Manitoba told ESPN that, as of Tuesday, no charges have been brought against Richards but declined to comment further.

The source said that Canadian Border Services is also involved in the investigation, but a spokesperson declined comment, citing Canadian privacy laws.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Greatly never got a DUI I thought

Well I have and trust me it never kept me from crossing the border. When they put you into the system they see the DUI come up and they ask you if you have ever been arrested and you say "Yes sir I was once arrested on DUI". If you lie they may not let you through because you are not being honest but if you tell the truth it's not a problem.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Under investigation by the RCMP and Border services is also involved

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/s...ichards-source

I wonder if he tried to take some blow across the border. If so it's possible the Kings have more issues in that clubhouse than simply this contract as they have some pretty dumb dudes.

[bubbsy]

Likely a stupid question, but in this day and age of social media, etc, is it a bit shocking that there hasn't been any factual indication of what the hell happened?

[troutman]

Lance Armstrong dropped his defamation law suits when he could no longer hide the truth. The Sunday Times counter-sued him to recover a $500K settlement they agreed to.

[automaton 3]

Voynov was only recently suspended by the Kings - he apparently tore his achilles participating in "recreational activities".

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by codynw

Dean Lombardi regrets not using a compliance buyout

Understood, but his regret seems to be tied with the effort put forth by Richards, not the issues that he now faces.
Maybe it wasn't a huge deal, and the Kings are just trying to weasel out of that horrible contract. Wouldn't be shocked either way.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well I have and trust me it never kept me from crossing the border. When they put you into the system they see the DUI come up and they ask you if you have ever been arrested and you say "Yes sir I was once arrested on DUI". If you lie they may not let you through because you are not being honest but if you tell the truth it's not a problem.

I have 2 friends with DUI's who were honest and were not allowed through.

From what I know you don't get ran through the system every time. You can go years before you get ran through the system.

Case and point: A friend of mine went through for 10 years with no issues. Suddenly they ran him and he got flagged and couldn't go through until he got a pardon. Got his pardon and is now in the clear.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Slava

OK, why? If you were out millions of dollars in this case, and free agency begins tomorrow why else do you sit back and say nothing? Maybe he is getting some terrible advice, but I would want to clear my name ASAP so that I could potentially sign a deal tomorrow, aside from the recouping of millions of dollars that I thought I was getting.

Any number of legal reasons. Jesus, do you guys seriously think something that cost him $15M and involves border security has his agents and lawyers telling him, "It's important that the general public think you're innocent even though it has literally no bearing on the outcome of your situation?"

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Likely a stupid question, but in this day and age of social media, etc, is it a bit shocking that there hasn't been any factual indication of what the hell happened?

Seeing he never got arrested it would have been a non-story like any player crossing the border this time of year. It's obvious something may have happened but seeing there was no arrest or anything it's something that wouldn't come out unless Richards or in this case the Kings let it out.