After defeating the Montreal Canadiens in five games to become the Eastern Conference Champions, the Philadelphia Flyers were flying high, and nothing could get in their way. Once the series was over, the captain skated over to the Prince of Wales trophy, posed with it, and broke all superstitions by picking the trophy up and skating to the dressing room with it, a move that captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews, did not dare to pull off.
The year was 2010, and he, who we are referring to, is none other than Mike Richards.
By then, Richards was into year three of a 12-year contract, signed back in 2007, which paid him $5.75 AAV, a deal that Paul Holmgren inked down, paying his captain until the 2019-2020 season. By the time his contract ended, Richards would be 35, but after the playoffs, Holmgren surprised the hockey world when he traded Richards to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, and a 2011 2nd round pick.
Fast forward to four years later, and Mike Richards is now a member of the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.
At the age of 18, Richards became a Memorial Cup Champion and led his Kitchener Rangers team with 87 points. Two years later, he averaged over a point-per-game on the road to a Calder Cup Championship with the Philadelphia Phantoms. In the same year, Richards was part of the Canadian roster that won gold at the World Junior Championships. Five years later, at the age of 25, Mike added an Olympic Gold medal to his list of achievements. With his two Stanley Cup rings as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, there is one word to describe the feisty centre; Champion.
A champion at every level. A champion now serving his time in the AHL.
Some would say it’s his contract that is the main problem. Set to earn average of $5.75 million in the next five seasons following this one, the Kings currently have just over $2.6 million in cap space and are in need of some help on their blue-line, as they contend for the final wild card spot in the West. With Dean Lombardi possibly looking to add a defenseman after the Slava Voynov fiasco, and aging veterans in Robyn Regehr and Matt Greene, the Kings general manager needs some speed and puck moving ability in order to make a push for the playoffs, in an attempt to avoid missing the chance to defend their Cup win from the past post-season.
There also happens to be a slew of restricted free agents looking for new contracts at season’s end, most notably Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson. Jordan Nolan, Andy Andreoff, and Nick Shore round off the list of skaters, while back-up Martin Jones is also in need of a new deal. The Kings also have a few decisions to make when it comes to their unrestricted free agents. On top of the aforementioned Regehr, Jarret Stoll and playoff MVP Justin Williams are both without a contract after this season. Meanwhile, Anze Kopitar will be needing a new deal soon as well, with the final year on his current contract coming next season.
Another aspect that has played a big part in Richards demotion is his decline in play. If you’re making the money you make and not living up to the contract, it makes it even easier for the general manager to send you down and clear up a spot on the roster. At the age of 30, Mike’s career has gone from the heart and soul of Philadelphia to the shattered dreams of the Los Angeles Kings.
After playing just 59 games in his sophomore season (2006-07) due to requiring stomach surgery, Richards was forced to undergo surgery on both his shoulders in 2009. With two major surgeries in three years, especially the shoulders, being such a critical part of the body for the game of hockey, Richards was on a warpath to his body breaking down over time. While it wasn’t one of the reasons he was traded out of Philadelphia, Mike’s injuries did pay a gradual toll on him.
With each season passing by, it’s astounding how many games Richards has played. From the age of 16 to 20, his days in the Ontario Hockey League, Richards played 233 regular season games, plus an additional 41 playoff games. Following stomach surgery, the 5-foot-11 forward played another 152 regular season games and 29 post-season games. The kicker here is the wave of hockey Richards had to overcome after his two shoulders were operated on. In six seasons, Richards played 414 regular season games. Added on to that, three deep playoff runs (the first with the Flyers, the other two with the Kings) culminating in an extra 95 games.
As a smaller player in the newer era of hockey, playing over 500 games in the span of six years, with two shoulders that needed working on, Richards’ ability to continue at the pace Flyers fans remember him by has been hindered.
For now, Mike Richards will remain with the Monarchs and continue to draw attention from other general managers. A reported trade involving him going to Toronto in exchange for Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf was, according to several sources, turned down, but if there’s interest from one GM, there could be more that give Lombardi a call. Should Richards remain with the team post-draft deadline, expect him to get re-called if the Kings make the playoffs. With no salary cap in the post-season, Richards easily becomes a member of the Black Aces, and more than likely sees playoff action. His leadership and experience on the bigger stage are two hot commodities that the Kings should and will utilize, at the appropriate time.
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