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

[Kavvy]

My gut feel is (which mean zilch) they Kings have a real rational legal and arguably on the level reason to do this, and they are protecting the player by not announcing it to the world.

Rational -

-NHL has took their side with little explanation
-NHLPA - little words from them other then "looking into"
-GM Dean implied Mike didn't come through for him as promised, like he dropped the ball
-Mike hasn't said squat

My pure speculation (Brian Burke has scared me, so again, pure speculation!!!!!!!!):

This all adds up to drugs to me and the Kings are taking the high road by just taking some hate and not discussing a players personal issues. When the first conversation between Dean and Mike occurred, Mike agreed to get help, and get off his addiction, and he didn't. I know pass players didn't have their contract thrown away from drugs, but it is a better reason for this then just being overweight by your GM standards.

2 strikes your out?

I dont know.. hopefully I am wrong and the guy isn't on drugs, just did something dumb.

[CalgaryKid]

I was at the draft and was lucky enough to be close to both the Kings and Flames tables. While the Flames were very quiet the first half of the first night, they got busier in the second half of the first round. There was lots of discussion between the Kings and Flames tables. At the time I assumed it was a player for player deal due to LA not having a first rounder. Treliving did have a lengthy chat with Lombardi near the boards in the middle of the first round. Burke also went to the Kings table and took a knee a couple times and talked with their staff. I also saw Lombardi talk to Chiarelli near the front by the stage. Now it makes sense it is related to this. For those interested, Treliving was working hard trying to get back into the first round. He was very active near the end of the round talking to Vancouver, Chicago, and Toronto (face to face, not over the phone). It will be interesting to see the details when they come out.

[Huntingwhale]

Damnit, now I'm F5'ing a freakin' Mike Richards buyout thread. Let the dam burst already!!

[Wedge]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh man, what did he do?

It could be as simple as being out of shape or failing to report.

Or it could be considerably more serious, but if they cant void Voynov's or Stoll's contracts I dont know what circumstances allow this.

Terminating a contract. When was the last time that happened?

As a fan of the Kings, I agree this is pretty weak and phoney sounding. Richards has had of ice issues for years, so the timing of this is pretty suspect. However, Stoll is a UFA, and the Voynov situation was a total bending over of the Kings last year ... complete BS which screwed the Kings last season.

[Deelow]

Maybe he said the N word at a comedy show?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Deelow

Maybe he said the N word at a comedy show?

Haha, okay guys, we've repeated this same joke five times now in this thread. The attempted jokes are great, but this is a very juicy, interesting situation, could we leave the thread for updates at this point?

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Deelow

Maybe he said the N word at a comedy show?

Just as hilarious the 6th time around.

[14]

Lombardi is a Lawyer specializing in Labour Law and the NHL would not want to start a frivolous precedent with the NHLPA. I am sure it will come out that this situation will be a federal charge that would meet the criteria for termination of contract.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Richards has been rumoured to be a party guy, but that's all hearsay. Have fun arguing that in court.

This sets a HORRIBLE precedent if it happens. No way should GM's be given this as an option for signing guys to bad contracts.

That shouldn't be hard at all to prove. I remember an interview with Doug MacLean saying when he was the GM of Columbus that he personally hired a private investigator without anyone else's knowledge in the organization, to follow Zherdev around to find out what he was up to. I imagine if LA had the intention of claiming breach of contract they could easily hire someone to document what he's been doing.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Robbob

off ice incident at boarder...I would hesitate to say drugs. Enough that he could probably be dinged with trafficking. or tried to bring a kinder surprise into the states.

If it is a border control issue, I think it most likely rules out drugs. That tends to lead to very public criminal charges, not nebulous speculation on why he was suddenly terminated.

[jar_e]

Weird if he is under investigation/being charged, there have been no leaks yet. The Kings can keep things under wrap pretty easily but you'd think if he was under investigation it would be leaked by now.

[sureLoss]

LeBrun says Lombardi went to Treliving and Chiarelli at the draft because he wanted to make it clear that he had just learned about the incident and didn't want his fellow GMs to have the impression that he tried to trade them a player with an off-ice incident.

Seemed to imply that by that time, the trade talks were already dead and plan was to buy out Richards.

[tvp2003]

Highly paid NHL forward + law enforcement = Claude Giroux 2.0

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=138243

I mean, what else could it possibly be?

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If it is a border control issue, I think it most likely rules out drugs. That tends to lead to very public criminal charges, not nebulous speculation on why he was suddenly terminated.

Something found on a laptop?

[bluejays]

I'm reading reddit to find some info on this but somebody quoted something to the effect of that talks were underway to deal Richards to Calgary or Edmonton, but then something was possibly discovered and LA stopped the talks themselves when this came to light. Interesting...

edit: Surelossed

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Something found on a laptop?

Don't even go there.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Something found on a laptop?

That was my first thought if this "shock" is legitimate.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Don't even go there.

Don't speculate? The Kings obviously felt letting the masses speculate is better than knowing what it is considering they didn't give any information.

It's an internet message board. Speculation is going to be rampant, especially if this "shock" is legitimate from reporters, etc.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Don't even go there.

No need to try and be the knight in shining armor. Honestly it would be very surprising to me if that was the case because I would never view Mike Richards in that type of way but its far from off base speculation given the limited information that we actually do know.

[PrettyBoyFlizzy]

If it was something that serious I'm sure he would have been charged by now or in jail and everyone would know about it.

It was probably a p90x dvd and border officials and management got shocked he might actually workout.