Mike Richards Granted Another Chance To Chase Lord Stanley

With all of the news pouring in of recent trades, there was another move that didn’t quite garner as much spotlight as the Flyers/Kings latest deal or the Ryan Johansen–Seth Jones swap, but it certainly may play a big role in the outcome of the season. Former L.A. King and Philadelphia Flyer’s captain  Mike Richards reached an agreement on Thursday with the Washington Capitals. The specifics of the contract are a 1 year/ 1 million dollar pro-rated deal, and it would also appear that the NHL has granted Richards the right to resume playing right away for his new team.

Much can be written about what happened to Richards in the offseason, which would lead to his immediate termination as an L.A. King. I could trash Richards all I wanted but that time has long gone. At the age of the 30, Richards could still have a lot of gas left in the tank, and definitely could provide a Stanley Cup contender, like the Capitals, with depth and championship experience. There is no doubt in my mind that before Richard’s offseason run-in with the law, he was considered to be a big part of the plan in Los Angeles. A few months won’t change that. Sure, he’ll have to get back into regular hockey shape, which really only comes with shifts in real games, but make no mistake, Richards is a competitor.

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The usually reliable Richards had an extremely disappointing 2014-2015 campaign, playing only 53 games and registering only 16 points. Typically, Richards can be relied on as a sturdy player, rarely missing games. Perhaps signing on with the Capitals at just about the halfway point in the season will be a blessing in disguise. Richards may be able to spare his body from the rigors of an 82 game regular season, further keeping him fresh for it really matters in late April and well into the summer.

During the 2013-2014 Stanley Cup run, Richards appeared in every game, netting 3 goals and adding 7 assists. Richards also logged a faceoff percentage of 53.9%. Richards currently ranks in the top-5 of playoff game appearances, among active skaters, further proving his worth as a valuable depth forward. With injuries always just a mystery away, having the leadership and past Stanley Cup experience will ease the mind of general manager Brian Maclellan in the nation’s capital. While the Kings won’t see Richards until a potential Stanley Cup final matchup, the Capitals have got to be everyone’s favorite team to come out of the Eastern Conference, a sentiment that was widely accepted even before Richards joined them.