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

[bluejays]

I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't see the light of day. Remember the big news on Carey Price years back? Just disappeared into thin air.

[browna]

Regardless of whatever it was, very interesting timing.

Wonder if the Kings employed some PI while in Vegas earlier in the week do dig for some dirt on Richards as a last gasp hope to get out of the contract?

Gotta think the various media outlets are having their legal departments working overtime tonight to clear themselves of the libel/defamation, while rushing to be able to be the first to report.

[Hackey]

Ya sure is convenient timing for the Kings.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Ya sure is convenient timing for the Kings.

I'm sure Kings will try to spin this as Richards planted the coke on Stoll and they both paid Voynov to beat up his wife! (from reddit)

[Dion]

Maybe the Kings should start a reality show.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by 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.

But-but-but favouritism! Bias! Conspiracy!

[JohnnyT]

Originally Posted by 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.

Would explain Lombardi's conversations with both Treliving and Chiarelli on the draft floor Friday night that were shown on SN

[browna]

So I wonder what the Flames offer would've been for Richards? And what would that of meant for the roster depth chart at C if they got him? Or I wonder if it would've been Jones (who the Oilers and Flames both wanted as backup) + Richards + a low pick for a Flames/Oilers higher pick, with the Flames buying out Richards. Oilers, who knows, who cares what they would've done.

Does Richards have an NTC though? Not that it matters I guess if it was planned to end in a buyout from the Flames.

[sureLoss]

If I had to guess, I would say both Edmonton and Calgary called about Martin Jones and Lombardi told them they would have to take Richards to get Jones.

Probably why it didn't get far.

[mhsyyc]

What is sad to me is that being charged with a felony because you beat your wife isn't a material breach of a contract. Don't know what Richards did but in my book beating women is one of the worst things a man can do.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by fleury

I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't see the light of day. Remember the big news on Carey Price years back? Just disappeared into thin air.

Refresh my memory, what happened with Price? I remember the Kostitsyn mob story but don't recall what happened with Price.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If I had to guess, I would say both Edmonton and Calgary called about Martin Jones and Lombardi told them they would have to take Richards to get Jones.

Probably why it didn't get far.

You'd think if the alternative was a 12 year buyout penalty, he'd be willing to give up more.

........unless....

[Ashasx]

So, we know that whatever Richards did, it had to have been bad enough for him to have his contract voided, but not enough for him to get arrested.

The only things I can think of would be PEDs or betting on NHL games.

But I didn't know PEDs, especially if it's the first instance, were grounds for contract termination. I thought the league dealt with this, and would suspended the player, but they didn't terminate the contract (depending on any prior incidences).

[PeteMoss]

Just can't see it getting far. I really doubt that Richards has done something that no other player has done before. Say what you will about the NHLPA... but while they aren't the MLB players union, they are a pretty strong group. They won't let a giant loophole open up like this.

Particularly if it is something that happened at the border. I mean... if that's the case its going to be drugs in all likelihood... and just can't see that being something that would let you terminate a contract.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

So, we know that whatever Richards did, it had to have been bad enough for him to have his contract voided, but not enough for him to get arrested.

The only things I can think of would be PEDs or betting on NHL games.

But I didn't know PEDs, especially if it's the first instance, were grounds for contract termination. I thought the league dealt with this, and would suspended the player, but they didn't terminate the contract (depending on any incidences).

From a speculation standpoint, it almost makes no sense. Like others have said, if he was arrested at the border it would be leaked by now. But yet some are calling it "shocking".

When you rule out anything that gets you arrested, and yet it happened at a border crossing, I'm at a complete loss. Really interested to hear what happened.

[browna]

Hypothetically only of course, gambling on NHL games would be the only thing that would not be illegal but be totally against team/league rules.

Unless Richards had some explicit, separate, personal conduct clause written into the deal which he clearly breached.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by mhsyyc

What is sad to me is that being charged with a felony because you beat your wife isn't a material breach of a contract. Don't know what Richards did but in my book beating women is one of the worst things a man can do.

This is why the team shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose which incident is contract-voidable or not. I totally agree, beating woman should 100% be a voidable offense, but Voynov is a useful player and not nearly the cap handcuff, so he's fine. You think if Mike Richards was still the 2008 version of himself, LA would still look to void his contract? Not a chance in hell. You traded for him and shouldn't be able to use a loophole to get rid of that boat anchor contract. Hypocrites.

[The Fonz]

They're going to call it shocking, because... Look at what we're all doing right now. We're desperately seeking more info, and eating up every last useless bit they feed us.

He hasn't been arrested, and therefore I highly doubt it's anything substantial. Like someone else said, I see this as the Kings throwing a Hail Mary trying to get out of his deal, before ultimately pulling the trigger on a buyout.

[Deelow]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Just as hilarious the 6th time around.

Maybe he Stoll something?
Better?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Refresh my memory, what happened with Price? I remember the Kostitsyn mob story but don't recall what happened with Price.

We don't know for sure, and one rumor that was speculated wasn't very pleasant (which I'd rather not get into for legal reasons). I think it was after his rookie or sophomore season, where the news was about to break, and you had Jacques Demers on a Montreal radio station literally crying saying it was among the saddest parts in Canadiens history. Then the next morning it was just like the story died. The hockey world can be weird.