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

[sureLoss]

Rick Westhead @rwesthead
LA Kings’ Mike Richards probably faces max $1,000 fine or up to 6 months in prison.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

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'll say this about opioid painkillers: they're crazy easy to get addicted to. I've used pretty much every other highly-addictive substance, from cigarettes on up to whatever you want to name and have never had issues with walking away from any of them.

Those painkillers though, got my hands on some a while back and realized after a few days that there was no way I was going to be able to not take them until they were gone. Simply wasn't going to be able to stop myself.

Other than alcohol I pretty much never use anything anymore, but those painkillers man, I stay the hell away from those. Those things will hook anyone.

[Beatle17]

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.

I read these comments a lot on these discussions. As an addict myself this is fluff. I am going to take the other side of things here. If the Kings or their doctors never prescribed medication and Richards decided to buy Oxy on his own (which nobody knows) then the Kings are free and clear. Too many addicts like to play the blame game, "somebody should know" "they never helped me". BS. You bought and used the illegal substance and it effected your job performance, suffer the consequences and ask for help.

None of us know if the Kings, or the Flyers before them, offered support for perceived addiction issues but if they did then Richards bit the hands that fed him. Where the hell is the NHLPA in the so called addiction issue? I like how everyone blames the team(s) but slides by the union in all this.

I am sorry but I have no sympathy for any athlete/entertainer that has addiction problem and the miens to get support but don't do it. I keep my sympathy for the poor/broke down people that have nowhere to turn.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Rick Westhead @rwesthead
LA Kings’ Mike Richards probably faces max $1,000 fine or up to 6 months in prison.

This isn't the issue though. If convicted he MAY be inadmissable into the US from Canada. Numerous people I know have DUI's and weed possession convictions and are refused entry for trips to Vegas all the time.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

I read these comments a lot on these discussions. As an addict myself this is fluff. I am going to take the other side of things here. If the Kings or their doctors never prescribed medication and Richards decided to buy Oxy on his own (which nobody knows) then the Kings are free and clear. Too many addicts like to play the blame game, "somebody should know" "they never helped me". BS. You bought and used the illegal substance and it effected your job performance, suffer the consequences and ask for help.

None of us know if the Kings, or the Flyers before them, offered support for perceived addiction issues but if they did then Richards bit the hands that fed him. Where the hell is the NHLPA in the so called addiction issue? I like how everyone blames the team(s) but slides by the union in all this.

I am sorry but I have no sympathy for any athlete/entertainer that has addiction problem and the miens to get support but don't do it. I keep my sympathy for the poor/broke down people that have nowhere to turn.

I'm guessing that 80+ physical hockey games a year contributes.

So, good you for, but you're not everyone.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

This isn't the issue though. If convicted he MAY be inadmissable into the US from Canada. Numerous people I know have DUI's and weed possession convictions and are refused entry for trips to Vegas all the time.

Numerous NHLers have possession convictions and DUI w/manslaughter charges and I believe all of them are able to cross the border freely.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

I read these comments a lot on these discussions. As an addict myself this is fluff. I am going to take the other side of things here. If the Kings or their doctors never prescribed medication and Richards decided to buy Oxy on his own (which nobody knows) then the Kings are free and clear. Too many addicts like to play the blame game, "somebody should know" "they never helped me". BS. You bought and used the illegal substance and it effected your job performance, suffer the consequences and ask for help.

None of us know if the Kings, or the Flyers before them, offered support for perceived addiction issues but if they did then Richards bit the hands that fed him. Where the hell is the NHLPA in the so called addiction issue? I like how everyone blames the team(s) but slides by the union in all this.

I am sorry but I have no sympathy for any athlete/entertainer that has addiction problem and the miens to get support but don't do it. I keep my sympathy for the poor/broke down people that have nowhere to turn.

No. The NHL and NHLPA have a collectively bargained rehab program for players with drug or alcohol problems, and under no scenario, including arrest, is contract termination an accepted action. That is why this is not the basis of the Kings' actions - even the league itself would have slapped them for trying because any arbitrator or court in the US or Canada would have hammered the Kings into the ground.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm guessing that 80+ physical hockey games a year contributes.

So, good you for, but you're not everyone.

I understand your point about the 80 games, thank you for the quality response. But the only issue I have is whether he had a prescription for the pills. IF the team prescribed them then it is different, as he probably had pain issues from the 80 games and it is perfectly legit. IF the team didn't prescribe the pills then why did he buy them outside of the teams knowledge.

That is the only real issue I have.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

^You seem to be confusing the issue here - it doesn't matter what you think about what Richards did or whether it was defensible. The question is whether it is grounds for termination of a contract. It seems extremely unlikely that the answer will ultimately be determined to be "yes".

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No. The NHL and NHLPA have a collectively bargained rehab program for players with drug or alcohol problems, and under no scenario, including arrest, is contract termination an accepted action. That is why this is not the basis of the Kings' actions - even the league itself would have slapped them for trying because any arbitrator or court in the US or Canada would have hammered the Kings into the ground.

You CAN NOT force anyone into a rehab program. The player can identify he has an issue and the program then kicks in. As an employer, at least in Canada, you are also not allowed to approach and employee and state you think that they have an addiction/abuse problem.

The attempt at termination probably also has to do with the inability of Richards to cross the border IF he is convicted, not to do with his "addiction".

From the Kings board on HF:
"As an immigration lawyer I can tell you that a drug conviction will make him inadmissible to the United States (so long as we aren't talking about less than 30g of MJ) without a waiver which is not a slam dunk. Without the waiver he can't enter the U.S. And if he can't enter the United States he can't fulfill his obligations under the contract. The real question is whether the contract should have been terminated before or after the conviction. As "they" say, timing is everything."

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I suppose it's the USA that needs to grant the waiver? I don't know, I just have difficulty believing that in the case of a pro athlete that it will be that big an obstacle.

[sureLoss]

Jarret Stoll has a drug conviction. In the USA. Didn't stop him from getting a contract from the NY Rangers.

And yes, you can't force a player into rehab. The NHL/NHLPA drug program says after a drug arrest a player is automatically entered into a rehab program and if a player refuses to go into rehab, the player will be suspended and will only be re-instated after completing a valid rehab program and the league decides to re-instate him.

[Locke]

He didnt even have a prescription? I think my grandma has a prescription for those.

[Serapth]

If the Kings weren't up against the cap, or Mike's numbers weren't awful, you would be seeing a much much much different spin on this from LA.


If it turns out the LA Kings cut a player for the possibility of a conviction over a single bottle of Oxy, frankly FARK them right in the ARSE. Low class.

I was holding off on commenting, as early rumours made it sound like he was smuggling... that it ended up being a single personal use bottle... of a substance someone of means could have gotten a prescription for with extreme ease... seriously, screw the Kings. I hope this bites them hard.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jarret Stoll has a drug conviction. In the USA. Didn't stop him from getting a contract from the NY Rangers.

And yes, you can't force a player into rehab. The NHL/NHLPA drug program says after a drug arrest a player is automatically entered into a rehab program and if a player refuses to go into rehab, the player will be suspended and will only be re-instated after completing a valid rehab program and the league decides to re-instate him.

Jarret Stoll plead guilty to misdemeanors, which isn't uncommon based on the amount of drugs he was caught with so crossing the border is not an issue. I doubt he would have been offered a contract with any NHL team prior to his plea because a felony conviction could have very likely prevented him from crossing the border.

With Richards, he's likely facing stronger charges than Stoll and therefore his ability to cross the border could be an issue.

[automaton 3]

Perhaps someone who is more recently versed can chime in, but I would think that Richards may qualify for the Alternative Measures program - which would lead to the charge being withdrawn if he completes the terms of the measures (eg community service).

If this is all there is...pretty weaksauce by the Kings.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Serapth

If the Kings weren't up against the cap, or Mike's numbers weren't awful, you would be seeing a much much much different spin on this from LA.


If it turns out the LA Kings cut a player for the possibility of a conviction over a single bottle of Oxy, frankly FARK them right in the ARSE. Low class.

I was holding off on commenting, as early rumours made it sound like he was smuggling... that it ended up being a single personal use bottle... of a substance someone of means could have gotten a prescription for with extreme ease... seriously, screw the Kings. I hope this bites them hard.

This line of thinking is getting tiresome.

The Kings were classy by having the General Manager go and visit Richards in his home, in Canada, and offer to not buy him out (throw him away) if he committed to to a conditioning regimen, which he said he would do.

Richards didnt keep up his end of the deal which kills me to say because hes one of my top 3 favourite players.

But unfortunately this one is all on him. Hes on the painkillers and that sucks, but there exists a paid-for drug/rehab program for him. Hes the one who tried bringing a controlled substance across a border and hes the one who failed to inform his employer.

I understand that we as Flames fans want the Kings to be hindered in order to improve our own standing, but as with the Flames its never given, always earned. We dont need the League to tie the Kings' hands on this one, the Flames will earn their place on their own regardless of what happens to the Kings.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Locke

I understand that we as Flames fans want the Kings to be hindered in order to improve our own standing, but as with the Flames its never given, always earned. We dont need the League to tie the Kings' hands on this one, the Flames will earn their place on their own regardless of what happens to the Kings.

Actually it's about not being able to weasel out of a contract feigning morality while another one of your players puts his wife in the hospital, but is good, so is welcome back. It's a bull#### move and I want them to pay for it.

If this was a team in the east who had these two situations play out, I'd feel no different.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Ice

Jarret Stoll plead guilty to misdemeanors, which isn't uncommon based on the amount of drugs he was caught with so crossing the border is not an issue. I doubt he would have been offered a contract with any NHL team prior to his plea because a felony conviction could have very likely prevented him from crossing the border.

With Richards, he's likely facing stronger charges than Stoll and therefore his ability to cross the border could be an issue.

COULD be. For all the Kings know he could plea to a lesser charge like Stoll. Not grounds to terminate his contract given that his ability to cross the border is still unknown.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Locke

This line of thinking is getting tiresome.

The Kings were classy by having the General Manager go and visit Richards in his home, in Canada, and offer to not buy him out (throw him away) if he committed to to a conditioning regimen, which he said he would do.

Richards didnt keep up his end of the deal which kills me to say because hes one of my top 3 favourite players.

But unfortunately this one is all on him. Hes on the painkillers and that sucks, but there exists a paid-for drug/rehab program for him. Hes the one who tried bringing a controlled substance across a border and hes the one who failed to inform his employer.

I understand that we as Flames fans want the Kings to be hindered in order to improve our own standing, but as with the Flames its never given, always earned. We dont need the League to tie the Kings' hands on this one, the Flames will earn their place on their own regardless of what happens to the Kings.

Maybe they were being classy or maybe they didn't want to pay the millions to buy him out and tried to convince him to get in better shape in hopes he would be more effective. Bottom line is the Kings made the mistake in not using a compliance buyout end of story. What they are doing now is simply trying skirt around their mistake. All they had to do was take a page out of the Rangers book and buy him out and don't look back but they didn't and they have to deal with the repercussions.