Edmonton Oilers Rumor: Interested in Mike Richards
By Kris Hansen
It’s been a big day for Edmonton Oilers news. I got some news from Lowetide’s blog: Connor McDavid‘s skating (yay!) Oscar Klefbom out longer term (NO!). But, another interesting rumor has been going around all over. And it involves Mike Richards.
A tweet just doesn’t suffice what I think of Mike Richards.
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Mike Richards/h]
This was the main tweet that has made its way around the Internet.
Interesting tidbit... Hearing at least three NHL teams watching Mike Richards court situation closely - including #Oilers and #Caps
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2015
The third team is the San Jose Sharks.
Mike Richards, I have a weird soft spot for. You see, I like the Los Angeles Kings. They are a team I like to follow and when the Kings acquired Richards back on June 23rd, 2011 for Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn it was a blockbuster. Simmonds was well liked in LA and Schenn was back then, the Kings top prospect. However, The Kings got the best player in the deal in Mike Richards who was only one calendar year removed from a Stanley Cup appearance in 2010 with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Richards and his former/soon to be reunited teammate Jeff Carter had some partying issues, dating back from 2009. Some Flyer teammates believed the Dry Island Partying Incidents involving Richards, Carter and then winger Joffrey Lupul were the cause for the stunning Carter and Richards trades, where they were signed to long term contracts just a short while before the deals.
The trade seemed to pay dividends as the Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. However, statistically, Richard’s game fell apart. His first season in Los Angeles he would produce 44 points, 22 less than his previous season in Philadelphia. That 44 points would prove to be a high point for Richards (although he did have a 50+ pace in the lockout shortened season). Last season, after Dean Lombardi refused to use a compliance buyout on Richards, he was put on waivers. Nobody claimed him.
Then during the summer, Richards’ contract was terminated due to an arrest at the border (drug possession). Since then, Richards has not been signed, given a PTO.
A big reason is probably due to his court date being pushed back twice, this time for January 28th.
Would I take him?
I think so. Like I said earlier, I like Mike Richards the player. Has he had some issues? No doubt about it. His game completely vanished while in Los Angeles and maybe the location of Los Angeles was not a good fit for him. I’m just speculating that part.
However, Richards is five years removed from that 66 point season. It’s not reasonable to expect him to score at that rate. Yet, Mike Richards as a bottom six forward is something I could make time for. Especially with the lack of skill and offences in that bottom six.
Put this way: I would rather have Mike Richards over Anton Lander. It’s not like size is an issue here between the two: according to Hockeydb, Lander has the size advantage over Richards by a single inch, while Richards is heavier at 199 pounds over 184. Right now, Lander has a career high of 20 points, but his game has fallen off a cliff offensively where he has a pathetic two points in 38 games.
One advantage Lander has over Richards is face-off percentage: last season Richards was sitting at a 48.7% win rate, while Lander is sitting at a 55.2% rate.
I can see why people wouldn’t want Richards in the locker room: he’s a bad influence! He’s a party goer!
Yet, I see it being exactly like Zack Kassian: Worth a low risk and easy to walk away from.
Next: McDavid Skating With Team
Then again, I must state that this is not a sure thing to happen. It’s a lot of speculation. That said, I’d take the minimal risk and add some bottom six skill. It also has a lot to hinge how that January 28th court date goes: I doubt any team would commit to Richards without knowing how his legal process ends.