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

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Just spitballing here, but how much power do customs officers have as far as "banning" some one from entering a country? Is it possible to get a 5 year ban at the border without charges being laid?

I can only assume an NHL player being denied entry into the US and/or Canada could certainly be an impasse when it comes to employment with the NHL.

That's what I was thinking too. He doesn't necessarily have to do something illegal, just really stupid enough for the border personnel to stop him from entry into the country. That would be enough to make him ineligible to fulfill his contract. Let's say you were a truck driver and got a DUI then had your license suspended - it would be enough, guilty or not, to lose your job.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by bob-loblaw

That's what I was thinking too. He doesn't necessarily have to do something illegal, just really stupid enough for the border personnel to stop him from entry into the country. That would be enough to make him ineligible to fulfill his contract. Let's say you were a truck driver and got a DUI then had your license suspended - it would be enough, guilty or not, to lose your job.

Certainly seems like a plausible situation. Richards was already on thin ice with management, then get's busted for/with something at the border, get's slapped with a 1 year ban and the Kings attempt to wash their hands on it.

"If you can't cross the border, you can't fulfill your contract."

[united]

The excellent Elliotte Friedman.

Sources: Kings found out about Richards at draft
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/s...ards-at-draft/
Midway through the opening round, the emotion changed at the team’s table. According to several sources, that was the moment the organization found out about something that occurred on or around June 17, further muddling Richards’ situation.

Lombardi was discussing possible trade scenarios with Calgary and Edmonton, so he got up to personally notify GMs Brad Treliving and Peter Chiarelli. From what I understand, no transaction was close, but this ended any chance of a move.
...
In a brief filed to the NHL and the NHLPA, the team referenced Section 2(e) of the SPC, which states a player agrees “to conduct himself on and off the rink according to the highest standards of honesty, morality, fair play and sportsmanship, and to refrain from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally.”

[VladtheImpaler]

This brings to mind Oggie Oglethorpe. ..

[FunkMasterFlame]

nm

[Mattman]

I've smelled alot of horse#### in my day and this has to be the nasty load I've ever smelt.

[bluejays]

Now if we go by what's been posted here, could it be something as simple as not declaring something legal while crossing the border, and him getting a ban? Seems plausible. If it's something as simple as that and the guy loses his contract I would feel pretty bad for him. Though I'm not a Mike Richards fan. That just sucks.

[nfotiu]

He must have been trying to bring back Kinder eggs for his whole team!

[Resolute 14]

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.

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.

[Erick Estrada]

I wonder if Richards will have any recourse here as there certainly seems to be some character defamation going on.

[Slava]

The weird thing is we haven't heard anything from Richards or his agent on this? Unless I missed that somewhere.

I know if I was being cost millions and thought I had a case I would fire back pretty fast. I am beginning to wonder about whether LA really did just get lucky here.

[FlamesAddiction]

It might be possible that he got a DUI and it just never hit the news.

A friend of mine had a DUI several years ago and had routinely crossed the border without issues until one day the US border agents decided to use it as a reason to not let him cross. It's kind of up to them if they want to be strict about it. It the Kings found out that something like that happened where he was refused entry for something that actually happened a long time ago, it could bring into question Richards being refused entry again at some point.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It might be possible that he got a DUI and it just never hit the news.

A friend of mine had a DUI several years ago and had routinely crossed the border without issues until one day the US border agents decided to use it as a reason to not let him cross. It's kind of up to them if they want to be strict about it. It the Kings found out that something like that happened where he was refused entry for something that actually happened a long time ago, it could bring into question Richards being refused entry again at some point.

I don't think a DUI is grounds for contract termination. The team would need to get help for Richards, and that failing, then they can terminate the contract.

[Jason14h]

he weird thing is we haven't heard anything from Richards or his agent on this? Unless I missed that somewhere.

DING DING DING.

People seriously think LA is moving to void a contact with 10's of millions left on it, the NHL has agreed, and Richard's nor his agent have not said a work because he is out of shape or another small reason?

The silence on his part sure lends to the theory something bad happened, and he knows full well he is screwed.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't think a DUI is grounds for contract termination. The team would need to get help for Richards, and that failing, then they can terminate the contract.

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

[JayP]

Originally Posted by bob-loblaw

That's what I was thinking too. He doesn't necessarily have to do something illegal, just really stupid enough for the border personnel to stop him from entry into the country. That would be enough to make him ineligible to fulfill his contract. Let's say you were a truck driver and got a DUI then had your license suspended - it would be enough, guilty or not, to lose your job.

This seems plausible, but TSN's legal expert posted an article about how he knew the rumored offense and that he didn't think it was enough grounds for the Kings to terminate the contract. A border crossing issue would easily be considered grounds for termination in this profession I would have to think.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Weitz

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

Exactly. Like it could have even happened years ago and never was an issue until recently.

[Mattman]

I think there was an issue a while back about Dustin Byfuglien was arrested for being drunk while operating a boat. So the Jets can terminated his contract then and all the way up till it ends becuase it happened at some point during his contract?

Mike Richards better have like organized a heist where he got away with trillions of dollars.

Originally Posted by Benched

1) the 'incident' occurred at the border
2) it was 'shocking'
3) it was not a felony
4) it was worse than being charged with domestic abuse or possession

They probably found a customised orange Oilers jersey with his name and number in his bag.

Shocking - Yes
Not a felony - As much as it should be a crime to own a ln oilers jersey, No

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

DING DING DING.

People seriously think LA is moving to void a contact with 10's of millions left on it, the NHL has agreed, and Richard's nor his agent have not said a work because he is out of shape or another small reason?

The silence on his part sure lends to the theory something bad happened, and he knows full well he is screwed.

This is utter nonsense.

[D as in David]

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.