[News] Mike Richards on waivers - CLEARS

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Can't use compliance buyouts anymore otherwise L.A. would surely use one on him.

Thanks, didn't actually know that.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by The_Future

Sure, the league has taken Voynov’s AAV of just over $4.1 million off of L.A.’s cap. But what if GM Dean Lombardi were to go out and spend that money, and then Voynov returns after his March 2 court date?

“He’s a top-three defenceman. You’re not going to go out and find one of those anyhow,” GM Dean Lombardi said.

So, the league cap forgiveness allows L.A. to operate under the cap when dressing 20 players day by day, but the Kings are still without one of their top defencemen for an unknown amount of time. Not surprisingly, the Kings have struggled, with just five road wins all season.

Another issue? Voynov’s court date and the NHL trade deadline are both on March 2. That will be touch-and-go as far as Lombardi trying to make a move, should Voynov be found guilty and end up doing time.

Los Angeles could live with losing Willie Mitchell as a free agent off last season’s Cup-winning roster, knowing that they could ease Brayden McNabb into the lineup. Losing Voynov has tipped that balance, however. Now McNabb is playing more than planned, though he’s managed to hold his own.

“We were prepared for the one loss. Not both,” Lombardi admits.

Stole the above from this article: Click me

So guess who gets the axe to upgrade your defence? Probably the guy under performing the most.

And again, it is still a chicken vs the egg problem. If Lombardi had compliance bought out Richards in the summer he would have had the cap flexibility to deal with Voynov.

Regardless of the court issues a player on LTIR coming back from injury is an issue every team in the NHL has to deal with.

Putting Richards in the AHL only gives the Kings an additional $925k in cap space. Highly doubtful it solves their issue with Voynov.

Lombardi made a mistake in not buying out Richards. He was a bottom 6 forward the last few years making top 6 money.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

And the Flames have Bennett on the way, and Shore in the system. The centre position is not an immediate or long term need of this team.

I would actually do a Dion deal over a Richards one. At least Phaneuf fills a need (more defencemen). Although a $7 million 4th defenceman would be hard to swallow.

Again, just because we have young centers in the pipeline doesn't mean they should come into the NHL at a young age and be forced to play un-sheltered minutes.

Do people still not get what the Oilers are doing wrong? I love Monahan, but he should NOT be playing all those minutes against top-line opposition every single night. We need another center that can do that. Is it any surprise that Monahan has played so much better since Backlund came back?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by The_Future

It's not like can't use a compliance buy out on him this summer or next or whatever.

You do realize the window to use compliance buyouts is over for this CBA.

He either sticks to the NHL roster where his full cap hit counts.

He gets buried in the AHL where his cap hit to the NHL team will be $4.825 million.

You trade him with salary retained where you will have up to a $2.875 million in dead cap space for the next 6 years plus maybe the cost of sweetening the pot to trade him.

You use a normal buy out which will have a cap hit for the next 10 years. (Where art thou capgeek to give use the buyout numbers)

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Karl

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Lombardi doesn't expect Richards to be claimed on waivers. Says looked at trade route but no fit. Hopes Mike will re-discover game in AHL

I wouldn't read too much into that, he has to say that he is okay with sending Richards down long term or he loses any leverage he might have in a trade. It's not like he can tell a reporter that if a deal doesn't get done they will be screwed.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Azure

Again, just because we have young centers in the pipeline doesn't mean they should come into the NHL at a young age and be forced to play un-sheltered minutes.

Do people still not get what the Oilers are doing wrong? I love Monahan, but he should NOT be playing all those minutes against top-line opposition every single night. We need another center that can do that. Is it any surprise that Monahan has played so much better since Backlund came back?

Agreed you don't want an Oiler situation but you also don't want Mike Richards contract problem down the road either. If the contract wasn't so long I think most teams would be interested. In 3-4 years his contract could really handcuff us in the same way it is handcuffing the Kings. I suppose at that point he might be easier to move but if his play decreases as well you could get stuck with him. Just doesn't seem like a risk/reward situation we really need to take.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

You use a normal buy out which will have a cap hit for the next 10 years. (Where art thou capgeek to give use the buyout numbers)

If they use a regular buyout would they not also incur recapture penalties?

I miss capgeek too.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Jacks

If they use a regular buyout would they not also incur recapture penalties?

I miss capgeek too.

Nope from capgeek's old FAQ

The league has confirmed that both ordinary-course and compliance buyouts supersede cap benefit recapture. However, a player must clear unconditional waivers prior to any buyout — unless he chooses to block the waiver process with a no-move clause, should he have one — and thus could be claimed by another team if the player intends to remain active. In these cases, the buyout is pre-empted and the waiving team is still subject to the recapture penalties they were trying to avoid. Meanwhile, ordinary-course buyouts executed in “back-diving” years typically come with equally stiff cap charges.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Azure

Again, just because we have young centers in the pipeline doesn't mean they should come into the NHL at a young age and be forced to play un-sheltered minutes.

Do people still not get what the Oilers are doing wrong? I love Monahan, but he should NOT be playing all those minutes against top-line opposition every single night. We need another center that can do that. Is it any surprise that Monahan has played so much better since Backlund came back?

The Oilers problem is that they have players who demonstrate difficulty in handling that assignment and continually ask them to do it.

Chicago asked Jonathan Toews to handle tough assignments at a young age and he was able to do it.

Monahan in my opinion has handled it. If the player steps up to the challenge and meets it than great. Right now Monahan is handling this far better than Mike Richards would. So why stifle a guy like Monahan because you want to protect him. Protect the guys who need protecting, otherwise let the Eagle fly and don't tell him to run on the ground with the other Turkeys.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jacks

If they use a regular buyout would they not also incur recapture penalties?

I miss capgeek too.

I think recapture is only for retiring players. The buyout mechanism already has the punishment included.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Agreed you don't want an Oiler situation but you also don't want Mike Richards contract problem down the road either. If the contract wasn't so long I think most teams would be interested. In 3-4 years his contract could really handcuff us in the same way it is handcuffing the Kings. I suppose at that point he might be easier to move but if his play decreases as well you could get stuck with him. Just doesn't seem like a risk/reward situation we really need to take.

My guess is if the Flames do trade for him the deal will really favor them. This won't be a one for one trade.

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

And again, it is still a chicken vs the egg problem. If Lombardi had compliance bought out Richards in the summer he would have had the cap flexibility to deal with Voynov.

Regardless of the court issues a player on LTIR coming back from injury is an issue every team in the NHL has to deal with.

Putting Richards in the AHL only gives the Kings an additional $925k in cap space. Highly doubtful it solves their issue with Voynov.

Lombardi made a mistake in not buying out Richards. He was a bottom 6 forward the last few years making top 6 money.

It is the chicken vs. the egg problem. The Egg was Voynov and now Lombardi is dealing with a chicken named Richards. If I am Lombardi's boss I am not one bit upset with him at this point.

You just won a Cup and you were able to retain your line up. NO ONE could foresee Richards to fall off this much. NO ONE could foresee the Voynov dilemma.

Yes Richards was a bottom six player but, he still had played a valuable role until his current production drop off, and the LA Kings obviously felt that role was needed otherwise they would have bought him out. It's the old Bobby Holik saying "If I'm your number three center….you are probably going to win a Stanley Cup, If I am your number one center you probably are not going to make the playoffs, if I am your number two center we will be competitive, but not win a Stanley Cup." As mentioned on Hockey Central this afternoon.

If his production had not dropped off, and had Voynov not been suspended then this instance doesn't come up. Not being able to know that, Lombardi didn't "make a mistake" he is simply doing the right thing now.

[Geeoff]

I expect Mike Richards will end up traded for a roster player rather than picked up on waivers. This is probably to gauge interest.

[transplant99]

Something to consider that may or may not be a reason for his somewhat precipitous decline in production the last couple years is that he has played a LOT of hockey the last 5 years including Olympics and 4 really deep playoff runs.

he may or may not be done, but it wouldnt surprise me if he just needs a break and comes back more to form than what we have seen recently. That being said it makes it a gamble to take on 5 more years at this point so maybe just some time in Manchester will reboot things for him.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I expect Mike Richards will end up traded for a roster player rather than picked up on waivers. This is probably to gauge interest.

I thought so too but hearing the comments from Lombardi I get the impression he really tried moving Richards with no luck. The Kings will have to do something with that contract by the summer when they need to sea with the cap and extension for Toffoli

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

You do realize the window to use compliance buyouts is over for this CBA.

He either sticks to the NHL roster where his full cap hit counts.

He gets buried in the AHL where his cap hit to the NHL team will be $4.825 million.

You trade him with salary retained where you will have up to a $2.875 million in dead cap space for the next 6 years plus maybe the cost of sweetening the pot to trade him.

You use a normal buy out which will have a cap hit for the next 10 years. (Where art thou capgeek to give use the buyout numbers)

As mentioned previous when I was corrected by another poster that I did not know that.

Again I am not saying we SHOULD CLAIM HIM, or maybe we shouldn't even trade for him. What I AM SAYING is if the deal is right, maybe we should trade for him.

Neither you or I know the details of the trade that fell through, obviously isn't wasn't good enough for Brad.

If the trade favoured the Flames heavily be it cash/propects/picks/players or a combination that is beneficial to to the team, then I think we should take him. I think if the right pieces were in play he could upgrade this team. That being said I think it would take a fairly enticing trade to do so. That being said I would rather have him on the team than someone like Stajan, especially if we made the playoffs.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I can't believe "Yes" to a waiver claim is still in the lead. Did CP think Heatley was going to be picked up as well?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I wouldn't read too much into that, he has to say that he is okay with sending Richards down long term or he loses any leverage he might have in a trade. It's not like he can tell a reporter that if a deal doesn't get done they will be screwed.

No. I don't think Lombardi has to admit they'd be screwed if he couldn't get a trade done. He could've stopped short of saying that last part.

If anything, I'm thinking that last past of him saying 'Hopes Mike will rediscover game in AHL' will hurt Richards even further because although it's good he's admitting a mistake, he's also basically calling Richards a lame duck. Saying that Mike Richards is COMPLETELY worthless to other GMs. And I'd be really insulted if I were Richards and heard that last bit from Lombardi, even if it's the case.

He really should've just said it like this without the last part.

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Lombardi doesn't expect Richards to be claimed on waivers. Says looked at trade route but no fit.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by The_Future

You just won a Cup and you were able to retain your line up. NO ONE could foresee Richards to fall off this much. NO ONE could foresee the Voynov dilemma.

No one could forsee the Richards fall off? That was a major discussion point for the media and fans this past summer. A few examples

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/co...s-this-summer/

http://www.thescore.com/news/518948

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/20...-mike-richards

Again the Voynov situation is kind of moot. It is exactly the same situation as if any cap team had an injured player.

Again Richards could have provided the cap flexibility to deal with Voynov or even a hypotheical Kopitar injury. Lombardi had the opportunity to give his club that flexibility he didn't do it.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Azure

Again, just because we have young centers in the pipeline doesn't mean they should come into the NHL at a young age and be forced to play un-sheltered minutes.

Do people still not get what the Oilers are doing wrong? I love Monahan, but he should NOT be playing all those minutes against top-line opposition every single night. We need another center that can do that. Is it any surprise that Monahan has played so much better since Backlund came back?

Sure, but is Richards the guy? Based on his play lately (from the little I've seen and what I've heard) he couldn't hack it.