Mike Richards signs one-year, $1M deal with Capitals
The Washington Capitals have signed troubled forward Mike Richards to a one-year, $1 million pro-rated contract, the team announced Wednesday.
"I targeted him at the end of the summer," said GM Brian MacLellan. "We wanted to monitor his situation with the Kings organization, and whatever was happening off the ice."
The Los Angeles Kings terminated Richards’ prior contract over the summer for what the team called a “material breach” and then settled with the forward shortly after the start of the NHL season.
As per the terms of the settlement, the 30-year-old Richards became an unrestricted free agent. Last season, Richards had 16 points in 53 games with Los Angeles and averaged 13:22 of ice-time.
The decision to terminate the contract came shortly after Richards was reportedly stopped while crossing the border from the United States into Canada on June 17. He was questioned about the prescription painkiller Oxycodone and later the RCMP charged Richards for possession of a controlled substance.
The NHLPA filed a grievance on Richards' behalf to try to push the case to arbitration.
"As the possibility of him playing with the NHL [became clearer], we pursued him more aggressively," said MacLellan.
Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said Richards was caught in a “destructive spiral” in a long statement to the Los Angeles Times after the settlement was announced. Richards had five years remaining on a 12-year $69 million contract.
"I think given the breadth of what I learned after and what he was going through, like I’ve always said the frustrating thing was you weren’t allowed to know," Lombardi said Wednesday. "And I think that this is a great opportunity for him."
According to a release by Washington, Richards met with the NHL on Wednesday and was given clearance to resume his career.
"It's a pending court case that's coming up. There's a preliminary hearing at the end of January," said MacLellan. "We feel comfortable that it will not be an issue. He's pleading not guilty going forward, and we think it'll work out in his favor."
A former Philadelphia Flyers captain, Richards had seen a drop-off in production since the Kings acquired him in the summer of 2011. His best season came in 2011-12 when he had 44 points in 74 games played. He had career highs of 80 points and 31 goals in separate seasons with Philadelphia. Richards has recently been skating with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.
Richards won two Stanley Cups (2012 and 2014) with the Kings, both with Justin Williams, who is now with the Capitals and was consulted on the signing. MacLellan called it a "low risk move" from an organizational perspective.
"We're going to be open-minded [about his role]," said MacLellan. "We'll see where he's at mentally and physically, and see where he goes."
Additional reporting by Greg Wyshynski.
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