Kings Terminate Richards Contract - Update - Formally charged by RCMP

[sherbert1421]

I think this deserves it's own thread since it's never happened before in the cap era and could set a dangerous precedent going forward. Will be very interesting to see how this plays out

Los Angeles Kings terminate contract of Mike Richards

In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Kings terminated the lengthy contract of two-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Richards on Monday.

It was expected that Kings would buy out the remaining five years of the underperforming center's 12-year contract -- the team placed him on unconditional waivers on Sunday -- but they resorted to terminate him for being in violation of his contract.

The Kings did not say why Richards is in violation of the deal, though several sources told ESPN.com it involves an off-the-ice incident.

 

[sherbert1421]

 

[dash]

Thanks for doing this sherbert, it has been discussed in a couple of threads, but it is definitely worthy of its own thread as I don't see a resolution to this anytime soon. The other interesting thing is: Will the Kings be able to sign free agents thinking they have all this additional freed up cap space?

 

[dash]

A quick google search reveals that Mike Richards was doing stand up and called a black guy the N-word repeatedly. Not good if true

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[dash]

 

[dash]

Who hasn't had an incident at a border crossing? I've been pulled in for questioning on several occasions (lol)

 

[esls79]

Remember those border crossing scenes from The Untouchables? I'm guessing it went down something like that.

 

[dash]

Remember those border crossing scenes from The Untouchables? I'm guessing it went down something like that.

Fantastic movie with one of my favo(u)rite movie lines of all time:

Malone: "What's the matter - Can't you talk with a gun in your mouth?"

 

[dash]

In Tiger Williams book, he describes a border crossing experience with Leafs scout Turk Broda - I think they were crossing into Minnesota and Tiger saw a dead squirrel or sparrow on top of a trash can. He looked at the border guard and said, "I see you haven't had your breakfast yet"

Long story short, the border guard went nuts and pulled everything out of the car, kept them at the border crossing for over 3 hours.

 

[dash]

Bruins Gribble ‏@DeflectedOnNet
Mike Richards was caught with Don Sweeney's brain in his trunk.

 

[dash]

Of course, it could be milk and gas in garbage bags...

/My fellow Vancouverites will back me on this.

 

[thedddd]

Ehhh he was a Flyer at one time so who cares.....

Seriously this is a very slippery slope and I don't see how LA and the NHL can win this one.

 

[sherbert1421]

tsn legal analyst claims he knows the reason why he was terminated and said the reasons are insufficient for material breach of contract

link to radio interview
Macramalla: Termination of Richards will be tough for Kings - Audio - TSN

 

[dash]

Sounds like Lombardi was trying to work a deal at the draft with both Calgary and Edmonton when he learned of this incident:

The team was already in the process of trying to trade him -- discussions were in place with both the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames -- but Kings general manager Dean Lombardi immediately informed both teams upon learning about the situation that he had no prior knowledge of the incident and halted those talks, according to a source.

"He came right over to me," Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed to ESPN.com. "He pulled me aside and said, 'Hey, Pete, this is going to come out. I had no idea. This is important you know so that talks [don't go any] further.'"

 

[forty_three]

Well, if he's done something illegal with international consequences, then the Kings clearly can't tolerate that. No way you can stand behind a player who does something like that.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Remember those border crossing scenes from The Untouchables? I'm guessing it went down something like that.

There's even a hockey link there... the guy who finally agreed to decipher the ledgers was the guy who played Mo Wanchuk in "Slap Shot", Brad Sullivan.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

What NHLer has trouble at the border?! Don't these people have NEXUS? They barely glance at you when you use that thing.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I watched a few episodes of border security so im gonna say richards was bringing undeclared meat in from hong kong

 

[BGDave]

he probably was caught at the border with Stoll's next shipment of candy.

Or, recited the Koran when they found 50 kg of fertilizer in the trunk

All kidding aside, I hope for his sake the Kings are in the wrong and the incident was not serious

 

[pixburgher66]

Pretty much the only thing I can think of is cocaine...and if it's that, he'd be in jail, no? I mean, what else could it be if he's not in jail, but is big enough that he breached a contract? It has to be big, because they're still effing paying a wife beater.