Mike Richards Dropped, Who Will Pick Him Up?

The Los Angeles Kings have placed center Mike Richards on waivers.

Richards has been a question the entire season because of plummeting performance numbers, and a major cap-hit that’s stayed at a stagnant $5.75 million dollars. The cap-hit is left over from a massive 12-year/$69 million contract the Philadelphia Flyers gave Richards in 2007.

To start this season the Kings were very close to salary cap limit. After the Slava Voynov situation unfolded the Kings were down a top defensemen, with no cap-relief on the books.

Rumors around the NHL involved Richards name in a potential trade. After that all fell through the Kings put Richards out to pasture this morning.

Now it’s a 24-hour waiting game for Richards and the Kings.

Who’s in the running to give Richards a pick-me-up?

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The first option is the Kings American Hockey League affiliate the Manchester Monarchs. If Richards clears waivers he will go down to Manchester.

As much as the Kings might like to keep the two-time Stanley Cup winner in the system, moving Richards to the AHL would only give the Kings $925,000 in cap relief. In all reality this is the last we’re likely to see of Richards in the coveted Silver and Black jersey.

Let’s look at a few options of other NHL teams that might pick up Richards.

According to Sportrac.com only six teams in the NHL have enough available cap-space to add Richards to their roster. Listed in order of most available cap-space to least, the six teams are: the Calgary Flames, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators.

The Buffalo Sabres come to mind. Buffalo is a young team that’s struggling through a rebuilding season. The Sabres lack depth down the center of the ice. Richards would bring veteran leadership, and skill to the Sabres.

Richards lack of point production would fit right in with Buffalo’s style of hockey. In 47 games this season the Sabres have 89 goals for, the worst in the NHL. In 47 games Richards has 5 goals and 15 points, as well as a -7 plus/minus.

As a small, physical forward, Richards has had better seasons when he was in the Eastern Conference. It may be due to the East’s wide open, offense and scoring focused style of play.

According to Sportrac.com the Sabres have $9.33 million in available cap-space, so they can afford to bring Richards on board.