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

[T@T]

LA seems like a perfect destination for Kessel.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Wow talk about acting like a bunch of children in this thread.

How about waiting to see what exactly happened before going all crazy?

My first instinct was to suspect the Kings of attempting to circumvent the cap given the TSN article posted previously and the convenience of the whole unwinding situation. Even so, some of the lavish hyperbole being thrown around today based on nothing but pure speculation is, at the very least, highly entertaining.

I'm suspecting that there is a substantial history here between the player's issues and management, and it sounds as though it could have extended as far back as acquiring the player. I suspect, on nothing more than the bits and pieces of information and rumor floating about, that while this probably has something to do with Richards' conditioning, it is more likely associated with a longer-term issue of his habits and attitude.

Then again there's that tweet that suggests a significant issue, which may not have been known about prior to Friday, was brought forth to management and ownership and may have been the final nail in the proverbial coffin.

It makes for interesting message board fodder, but I really wish these things didn't have to be so veiled and we had solid reasoning and excuses come forth from the outset.

What the hell did he do?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah I was going to say when is the last time you heard of this happening in MLB or NBA where they have guaranteed deals?

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The Angels looked into voiding Josh Hamilton's deal this off-season. The Yankees desperately tried to get out from the 80+ million they owed A-Rod. I can't think of a situation where it worked.

MLB also has a far, far stronger union and it is quite probable that there are fewer loopholes a MLB team could utilize in their CBA.

[sureLoss]

Is it possible the actual reason is so embarrassing that Richards doesn't file a grievance?

[Fire]

Can the Flames terminate Raymond's contract?

Feels like total desperation on the Kings part. Hopefully they won't get away with it.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Is it possible the actual reason is so embarrassing that Richards doesn't file a grievance?

Someone found out he was an Oiler fan growing up?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Wow talk about acting like a bunch of children in this thread.

How about waiting to see what exactly happened before going all crazy?

I'm sick and tired of waiting. As internet armchair GMs, we demand immediate satisfaction to our morbid curiosities.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Is it possible the actual reason is so embarrassing that Richards doesn't file a grievance?

Imagine the speculation.

[Oil Stain]

I'm a little surprised at how many think the team should carry all the burden for this bad contract and absolve Richards from any personal responsibility.

If a player isn't even attempting to live up to his contract, which seems pretty likely in the case of Richards given the amount of smoke over the years, I'm ok with a team being able to free themselves of said player.

Bettman's suggest term cap of 3-5 years? Can't remember which, looks pretty wise in any case.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

MLB also has a far, far stronger union and it is quite probable that there are fewer loopholes a MLB team could utilize in their CBA.

There's also the whole no salary cap thing so a contract like this, which cripples the Kings from making any FA moves in a league with a cap, has no impact at all in terms of preventing MLB teams from going into FA. In fact the Yankees and Angels are 2 of the 4 highest spending teams in baseball, even with dishing out horrible contracts time and again.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I'm a little surprised at how many think the team should carry all the burden for this bad contract and absolve Richards from any personal responsibility.

If a player isn't even attempting to live up to his contract, which seems pretty likely in the case of Richards given the amount of smoke over the years, I'm ok with a team being able to free themselves of said player.

Bettman's suggest term cap of 3-5 years? Can't remember which, looks pretty wise in any case.

That's the risk teams take with long-term contracts.

You can bet no Hawks fans are complaining that Keith's cap hit is $3 million lower than it should be.

LA reaped the benefits of Richards' contract with two Stanley Cups. Now they want to avoid the drawbacks?

Sorry, that is absolute nonsense. You will see no sympathy from me or a general manager that has been smart with his money.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en/v3/ext/CBA...A_2013_CBA.pdf

Since it was a breach of the Player conditions within the standard players contract, I had a look (Exhibit 1, starting on page 310). There's a few options for the Kings and since they used the term "material" breach, I suspect they have a lot more on Richards than him just signing up for slo-pitch team without written consent. It will be very interesting to see what comes out, but the Kings would not have played this card without a tremendous amount of confidence in their case.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Fire

Someone found out he was an Oiler fan growing up?

worse?

[cannon7]

This is potentially the equivalent of a nuclear bomb as far as the NHL/NHLPA go. Guaranteed contracts are issue #1 as far as the PA is concerned.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

worse?

Blue pants and pink laces.

Disgraceful...

[Brewmaster]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I'm a little surprised at how many think the team should carry all the burden for this bad contract and absolve Richards from any personal responsibility.

If a player isn't even attempting to live up to his contract, which seems pretty likely in the case of Richards given the amount of smoke over the years, I'm ok with a team being able to free themselves of said player.

Bettman's suggest term cap of 3-5 years? Can't remember which, looks pretty wise in any case.

Is Richards really not attempting to live up to his contract? From the outside, I see a good hockey player that peaked early in his career. Maybe he's not the fittest guy but the suggestions that he is grossly out of shape or overweight don't seem to be based on specific evidence. I see him as more of a Cheechoo or Redden, but signed to a much longer contract when he was on top of his game.

[Resolute 14]

OTOH, if "not being very good" was a valid reason to terminate a contract, every Edmonton Oilers player was just handed a get out of jail free card.

There has to be a solid reason for this if LA expects to get it past an arbitrator.

[transplant99]

Certainly a myriad of "jumping to conclusions" going on here.

Im curious if anyone has any real idea what the claim is from the Kings?

[cannon7]

I heard Richards yelled racial epithets at the audience at an L.A. comedy club -- oh, wait, that was the other Michael Richards.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Certainly a myriad of "jumping to conclusions" going on here.

Im curious if anyone has any real idea what the claim is from the Kings?

Of course not. If we did there'd be no need for wild and baseless speculation.