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

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Really? Even if Brad the Wizard Treliving took crazy pills one night and engaged in trade talk for Richards, we wouldn't have the cap space anyways.

Of all the wishes and concerns to possibly come out of this situation, this one is just baffling. Don't worry, this isn't happening because it simply can't.

Just saying that they were having trade talks before this went down and our situation hasn't changed that much.

[indes]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Just saying that they were having trade talks before this went down and our situation hasn't changed that much.

And here I was thinking getting a top pairing D and top 6 RW was a solid off season.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Locke

Why do people keep thinking that the risk to the Kings is low?

Resolute's post is a great example.

They filed to have the contract terminated and the League agreed. Theres likely going to be a grievance but if the Kings lose that grievance they've likely:

- Exceeded the cap illegally for the summer
- Missed the buyout window
- Missed the waiver window
- Missed opportunities to trade him

Those are some pretty serious consequences so I disagree that theres no risk for the Kings because it looks like if they lose their grievance they are likely stuck not only with Richards' cap hit and money but also a pretty disgruntled player on their main roster.

Please all of this...plus a draft pick. This is worse than what New Jersey tried to do with Kovalchuk.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Just saying that they were having trade talks before this went down and our situation hasn't changed that much.

Not much has changed? Dude, we acquired a franchise D-man and signed Frolik to a huge contract.

Check the updated cap thread, we're right up against it now, we literally can't fit Richards in.

[Jason14h]

Please all of this...plus a draft pick. This is worse than what New Jersey tried to do with Kovalchuk.

No it isn't. (Well maybe because NJ did nothing against the existing CBA at the time)

L.A. spoke to the league and they agreed they had a right to teriminate. The players association is debating that fact.

If an arbitrator, etc rules in the PA's favor, why would the Kings be punished a pick? They are all following due process.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Not much has changed? Dude, we acquired a franchise D-man and signed Frolik to a huge contract.

Check the updated cap thread, we're right up against it now, we literally can't fit Richards in.

I'm not exact on the timing but I think we got Hamilton before the trade talks about Richards went poof. The thing for me is I couldn't understand why we were considering Richards at any time under any conditions but we were.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Please all of this...plus a draft pick. This is worse than what New Jersey tried to do with Kovalchuk.

None of that will happen, even if the union wins the grievance. The league already approved the termination. In the NHL's eyes, the Kings are not attempting to circumvent the cap. I am not sure if the arbitrator has the power to place penalties though.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm not exact on the timing but I think we got Hamilton before the trade talks about Richards went poof. The thing for me is I couldn't understand why we were considering Richards at any time under any conditions but we were.

Prior to landing Hamilton, we were still a rebuilding team that overachieved. There was some logic to taking a bad contract to get a good asset - though Richards is not the kind of bad contract I wanted given the term and cost he had remaining.

Hamilton changed the scenario though. As soon as Don Sweeney lost his marbles, taking on Richards' contract was no longer a viable option for us as our situation change considerably.

[FlamesAddiction]

I imagine that this will get pretty complicated and Richards' medical history is going to play a big role. Who and when (or even if) he was prescribed Oxy will come into play. Did he get the proper medical guidance before and after taking the meds, and was it through the Kings organization....

I have sympathy for people that "accidentally" become addicts. It is very much a disease of the mind and addicts make terrible decisions and often suffer from issues of impulse and self-control.

IMO, if he is an addict (and I don't know if that was ever even established), and it comes out that the either of his old teams were enabling him or ignoring the dangers, then I really hope this gets treated as something that occurred as the result of an occupational hazard and he is not totally cut off from his employer.

I don't see how something complicated like this will be resolved quickly though.

[nik-]

It's not even really about impulse and self-control. Those painkillers are incredibly physiologically addictive.

The Kings actions here are shameful imo. It would be great if they were punished harshly, but this league has shown it won't do it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by nik-

It's not even really about impulse and self-control. Those painkillers are incredibly physiologically addictive.

The Kings actions here are shameful imo. It would be great if they were punished harshly, but this league has shown it won't do it.

Agreed. To me, the issues of "cap circumvention" are secondary to the health issues and the dangerous situation that Richards finds himself in now.

[sureLoss]

Richards has been formally charged

SportsCentre @SportsCentre
JUST IN: @rcmpmb announces Mike Richards charged for possession of controlled substance while entering Canada (1/2).

SportsCentre @SportsCentre
RCMP Manitoba adds that Richards will appear in court Sept. 10 (2/2).

Rick Westhead @rwesthead
Sources: Former LA Kings forward charged on Aug.25 with illegal possession of a controlled substance. Story shortly on @TSN_Sports


RCMP Manitoba @rcmpmb
Mike Richards charged for Possession of Controlled Substance while entering Canada. To appear in court Sep10/15. No further updates #rcmpmb

[sureLoss]

http://www.tsn.ca/richards-charged-w...tance-1.351639

Former Los Angles Kings forward Mike Richards has been charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance, the RCMP announced Thursday morning.

Richards was charged on Aug. 25, two sources told TSN. He has not yet entered a plea. Richards has a court hearing on Sept. 10.

Richards was arrested on June 17 in Emerson, MB at about 2pm, RCMP constable Paul Human told TSN.

Canadian border guards found “some pills in a single bottle” during a random search of Richards’ car and he was arrested by RCMP, a source told TSN. “It was clearly a small quantity intended for his personal use,” the source told TSN.

[EldrickOnIce]

'Some' pills in a single bottle, for personal use?

Edit: What Nik said above

The Kings actions here are shameful imo. It would be great if they were punished harshly, but this league has shown it won't do it.

[burn_this_city]

If we're talking about a dozen or so pills I can't even see this being prosecuted.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

If we're talking about a dozen or so pills I can't even see this being prosecuted.

If the Crown has laid charges, I wouldn't bet on that. Whether there is some sort of settlement, OTOH...

[East Coast Flame]

Still not grounds for the Kings to terminate his contract

[Poe969]

If these are for his own use and nothing comes of this criminally, I hope the PA bend the kings over a barrel and show them 50 states for this.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Still not grounds for the Kings to terminate his contract

Possession isn't the reason why the Kings terminated his contract. Failure to inform the team of his arrest is. So in that respect, the number of pills, type of drugs, etc., is not terribly relevant to the merits of the Kings' case. Though it could have some effect given the charges will alter the risk of being denied entry at the border, length of any potential prison sentence, etc.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If these are for his own use and nothing comes of this criminally, I hope the PA bend the kings over a barrel and show them 50 states for this.

I don't know what that means.