Photo credit: Robyn Pennington
Justin Williams is trading the sunny, seaside shores of Southern California for the history and grandeur of Washington, D.C.
Late into the opening day of free agency, the Capitals announced that they had signed Williams to a two year, $7.5 million ($3.25 AAV) contract.
Instantly, hearts were broken as hopes were dashed that he would re-sign with the LA Kings.
Initial reaction across the fan base:
Williams is known throughout the NHL for his “clutch” scoring abilities, especially in Game 7’s. However, he was so much than that. He’s one of the league’s best play drivers and has been throughout most of his career. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Williams has helped his team generate more shots than anyone else. He is bested only by his teammate Jake Muzzin, who is mostly just a corsi god of defenseman.
Long term, Williams didn’t fit with the Kings’ plans. He’ll be 34 at the start of the season and, despite being a good play driver, doesn’t score a lot of goals and will not likely score a lot of goals, especially playing in the bottom six. The trade for Milan Lucic was designed to help shore up some of the lack of offense, but unfortunately comes at the expense of being able to re-sign Williams as well as extend Anze Kopitar.
It’s a somewhat curious decision as having Williams gives the Kings extraordinary depth in their bottom six where they’ve often struggled. And as noted earlier, he’s an elite play driver, something that Milan Lucic is not.
Though you won’t find quite as many Williams jerseys as, say, Kopitar jerseys, he was still a fan favorite. He did a lot of little things right on the ice, was always thoughtful and honest in his responses to reporters and always seemed the most chill out of all the players, not to mention his famous speech before Game 6 during the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.
Williams’ popularity has come a long way since he was acquired in 2008 from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Patrick O’Sullivan. It was a highly criticized move at the time; fans were puzzled as to why General Manager Dean Lombardi would move out a future core piece in O’Sullivan for an older, slower, oft-injured player. At the time, many thought that Lombardi was just getting his ex-Flyers fix in. However, Lombardi saw something in Williams that no one else did and it paid off — twice.
Now, almost eight years later, Williams has become a dearly beloved member of the Los Angeles Kings and will be greatly missed.
Stick taps to Stick. Thank you for everything and good luck in Washington. We hope you find success with the Capitals and get your name on that big, shiny trophy many more times!
(Photo: SNYRangersblog.com)
After a career spanning 16 seasons and including 391 goals, 642 assists, 1,033 points, 1,134 regular season games, a Stanley Cup in 2004, a Hart trophy, two Art Ross trophies, three Lady Byng trophies, and an Olympic gold medal, Martin St. Louis is hanging up his skates.
The 40-year-old veteran announced his retirement on Thursday amidst all the chaos of the Free Agent Frenzy. The Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers sent out the same press release regarding St. Louis’s retirement; St. Louis spent 13 years with Tampa and his final season-plus with New York.
“I have been blessed to play for 16 years in the NHL; it has been an amazing ride,” said St. Louis in a statement. “I would like to thank the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers organizations and owners for providing me with the opportunity to play the sport I love for so many years. I could never have played for so long or accomplished all that I have without the unwavering love and support from my wife, Heather, our three sons, Ryan, Lucas, and Mason, and my parents.
“I have had the good fortune of working with some incredible players and trainers throughout my career who I am grateful to also call good friends. I am also thankful to all of the fans who have supported me through the years; it has meant so much to me. I have dedicated my life to being the best player I could be and now want to turn more of my focus to my three boys. I look forward to this next chapter of my life and the time I will have with my family.”
St. Louis entered the offseason as a UFA. The New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins both reportedly expressed some interest in signing him, but St. Louis chose instead to end his career as a Blueshirt.
He hoisted the cup in 2004 with the Lightning and helped put Tampa Bay on the map. He had a career season with the Lightning in 2006-7 with a career-high 43 goals and 102 total points. St. Louis was eventually named captain prior to the 2013-14 season, but he was sent to New York at the trade deadline in a rare captain-for-captain trade.
In New York, St. Louis helped the Rangers make a run for the 2014 Stanley Cup. The tragic death of his mother in May 2014 sparked St. Louis’s play in the second-round series against Pittsburgh, and the rest of the Rangers team rallied around him as they overcame a 3-1 series deficit en route to the Stanley Cup Final.
St. Louis then wore the ‘A’ for the 2014-15 season but struggled offensively, putting up 21 goals and 31 assists in 74 games; the 52 points were his lowest total in nine years.
At 5’8″, St Louis was never the biggest guy on the ice, but his heart and passion for the game helped silence any doubters throughout his career. And despite the fact that he was never drafted, St. Louis stands a strong chance of ending up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“He’s the best teammate I’ve ever played with, without a doubt,” Rangers teammate Dominic Moore told SportsNet 590 after hearing of St. Louis’s retirement. “Not taking anything away from all of the amazing players and people that I’ve been fortunate enough to play with in my career, but Marty is one of a kind.”
Photo Credit: NHL.com
Slava Voynov pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a spouse on Thursday in a Redondo Beach courtroom, as the ongoing saga of the domestic violence allegations from last October continues.
In doing so, Voynov gave up his right to a trial and could face deportation charges (which is pretty unlikely).
As part of the deal, Voynov will face up to 90 days in jail, do a 52-week domestic violence course, eights hours of community service and pay fines of approximately $700. He will also be on probation for three years and if violated, could serve up to 364 days in jail.
It was noted somewhere on twitter that the district attorney or judge has taken the day of arrest into consideration as time served.
Per Rich Hammond, Voynov is eligible for a reduced sentence based on good behavior and may face only 45 days in jail. The judge ordered Voynov to surrender no later than July 14 to start his sentence, which can be served in a city or county jail.
According to Larry Altman, if Voynov chooses to serve time in a city jail, he would have to pay and may end up serving more time than he would in a county jail. If he chooses a county jail, he “must serve half his sentence before his release, but his ultimate service time would be up to the Sheriff’s Department because of overcrowding issues.”
Altman also noted that the misdemeanor conviction means Voynov will not automatically face deportation as he may have with a guilty verdict in a trial by his peers. However, federal officials ultimately would control his status in the US. Since a no contest plea is treated the same a guilty conviction, he could still face deportation as all state convictions can result in deportation. Decisions on visas and travel are up to the Department of Homeland Security, so there would have to be a separate federal investigation in order for Voynov’s visa to be revoked. Given that this is a misdemeanor and it is a first time offense, it seems unlikely that will happen.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Hammond that Voynov remains suspended.
“Nothing changes with regard to his status vis-a-vis the NHL. No timetables for next steps. I imagine we will hear from the player’s camp and the (players’ association) when they are ready to engage,” he wrote in an email.
Voynov and his wife, Marta Varlamova, declined to comment while leaving the courthouse, but his reps later released a statement.
“Voynov and his family are grateful that this matter is nearly at an end. Mr. Voynov accepts responsibility for his actions the night of the incident and will complete his sentence as required by the court. Mr. Voynov and his wife believe that ending domestic violence both inside and outside of professional sports must be a high priority. They fully support that goal and from the time of the incident Mr. Voynov has been and remains fully committed to long-term therapy and counseling, individually and with his family.”
The Kings also released a statement of their own.
“We believe the legal system has effectively resolved this matter and the punishment is fair and just. Any act of domestic violence is unacceptable. As an organization, the prevention of domestic violence and the education of our players and employees is of paramount importance. We will continue to actively develop and implement a strategy to deliver this message. We remain steadfast in our support of the National Hockey League as they now begin their own investigative process. Until that is complete we will withhold further comment.”
It’s important to remember that the organization’s statement was probably going to be pretty much the same no matter what occurred. With such circumstantial evidence and lack of a complaining witness, it would’ve been difficult for the DA to get a conviction.
Voynov also remains suspended indefinitely by the club due to a non-hockey related injury.
All eyes will be on the Kings in the coming days to see what they do with Voynov’s contract, especially in light of how they treated Mike Richards.
Richards was not arrested nor was he even accused of trying to cross the border with oxycontin. At the moment, he was merely alleged to have been stopped at a border crossing in Manitoba, but no further details have come to light.
On Sunday, June 29 the Kings put Richards on unconditional waivers. The following morning, they announced that they were terminating his contract, citing a “material breach.”
They’re already walking a fine line with morality and ethics, should they choose not to terminate Voynov’s contract, they will be look like the biggest hypocrites in the league. They seemed to have a difficult time attracting free agents this summer and should this play out like many suspect it will, it won’t get any easier.
For your consideration, if you want to rage donate or support a local domestic violence organization, it’s easy to do so and you’ll not only be supporting #hockeyfightsDV, but you’ll be helping out thousands of women and children who wind up shelters across the country (same concept applies in Canada) because they were displaced. Often these women show up in the middle with nothing but the clothes on their backs; many families have literally left everything they know behind in order to escape an abusive situation.
It’s easy to complain about how a wealthy athlete got a slap on the wrist and that his employers are basically endorsing it. But if you want to do something about it, there are ways to help.
Also, instead of focusing your anger on sentence/LAK, focus it on what needs to change with US judicial system & speak up to our government.
— Ashley Lynn (@AshonIce) July 2, 2015
Good, local DV orgs that could use donations: @Victory4Victims, @Friends_Helpers, @OPCCLA among others and then @ndvh, which is national
— *~*~*~*~* (@jollywhiskey) July 2, 2015
San Jose Sharks’ defenseman Brent Burns’ personality is as charismatic as his suit choice for the 2015 NHL Awards. “I’m wearing Giovanni,” Burns declares, of his tailored navy blue and black trim suit. “He makes custom suits for a lot of guys in the NHL. He’s done my suits since I was eighteen. He sent this to me, we’ve got weird bodies (hockey players) and he’s done a great job for a lot of guys.”
Burns received the NHL Foundation Player Award for Outstanding Charitable and Community Work at the 2015 NHL Awards and it’s easy to see why. This award recognizes the NHL player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community. NHL Clubs submitted their nominations for this award and the finalists were selected by a judging panel.
With this award the NHL Foundation also donates $25,000 to the winner’s chosen charitable organization. Burns has selected two beneficiaries. Folds of Honor, which provides educational scholarships for family members of injured and/or deceased military men and women is the first. The second is Defending the Blue Line, affording children of military members the opportunity to participate in the game of hockey by providing hockey equipment, game tickets and unique experiences with professional athletes.
Brent Burns post-NHL Foundation Player Award win at the 2015 NHL Awards (photo credit: A. Gallagher)
“I’ve met a family in San Jose – who her and her husband have three kids and they love hockey. Which is cool to hear about in San Jose, that they have grown to love hockey. Her husband is on a ship for several months out of the year and they don’t see each other. Her and the kids come to the practices all the time and hockey is just a way for them to keep their family happy and going on every day. I think of the stresses that they go through and I know how hard it is for us, with our two kids and for me to go on the road for 2-weeks. Our kids are crying when I’m leaving and to think about doing that for several months is just unheard of. It’s just amazing to meet those families.”
Known as a fun-loving individual both on and off the ice, Burns is heralded for his passion for giving back to the game and fans who have treated him so well. Over the past nine years, he and has family have supported several military organizations and other fundraisers. Most recently Burns and his family traveled to Australia to participate with the not-for-profit Stop Concussions Foundation, an organization that was established to educate and raise awareness on the cause, effects, and consequences of concussions and neurotrauma injuries, specializing in concussions, by Keith Primeau and Kerry Goulet.
Brent Burns at a zoo while in Australia (photo credit: J. Potter)
“I think everybody in hockey has been effected with concussions in some form or another. Growing the game in Australia, it was unbelievable to go over there and play in a full building with people just loving the game. Some of the people were just seeing the game for the first time. I have always wanted to go to Australia, so it was on the bucket list for me. To get to go there with my family and to support not only a good cause, but to go to a place I have always wanted to go to and see the other side of the world – amazing cities and the people were awesome.”
“Brent with kids is just unreal. He took the time to talk to every single person who wanted to speak with him – about anything, even his love of snakes. That’s just the kind of guy he is”, Equipment and Social Media Manager of the 2015 Ice Hockey Classic (USA vs. Canada) tour, Jeff Potter, recently shared.
Burns two passions are the military and animals. Down the road when it is time for Burns to hang up the skates, he hopes to venture into the military world somehow. “I don’t know if I’ll be working in the zoo or maybe be able to get into the National Guard of some sort, however I’m Canadian so I don’t know how that would work out. I’ve been lucky to be able to live out my second dream through meeting these people (military men and women) and hearing their stories. I find it’s very similar to the people who serve in the military to the dressing room the way the people are, the way they interact, the brotherhood. You always hear about guys the hardest thing about when they leave the game is the (loss of) interaction with each other, so it’s very similar.”
Burns face lights up when he is asked to talk about animals. When asked what his favorite animal is, “it’s usually the last animal I see. We went to the Sharks Reef here in Vegas. They had a sea turtle that was over 50-60-years-old. I wanted to jump in with the sharks but we weren’t at the right place to do it. I wanted to do it.” Soon enough he will be back on the ice with his very own shiver of sharks.
Women’s hockey is changing. Within the last few months, fans of the sport have seen the professional arena grow. With the creation of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) set to skate into rinks around the Northeast this coming season; it’s the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) that has made a name for itself among avid fans. With teams in Canada, one US team, and a possible expansion on the horizon, the CWHL is aiming to keep the league front and center.
The reigning Clarkson Cup champion, Boston Blades, will see some changes this season. One change that fans of the team should be excited about comes in the form of newly appointed GM Krista Patronick.
“Patronick’s most recent role was in marketing and operations with the New England Stars and Maine Wild of the NA3EHL,” via a CWHL release naming Patronick to the position. “Prior to this she held roles in marketing and communications in junior and collegiate hockey. Patronick holds a masters in sports management from Southern New Hampshire University.”
In addition to a decorated resume, Patronick possesses a passion for hockey both on and off the ice. Those passions include time defending the crease as a goaltender. Patronick has also been a key contributor and photographer for The Pink Puck.
The Pink Puck had the opportunity to go one-on-one with Patronick to discuss the state of women’s hockey and where she hopes to take the Blades this coming season.
The Pink Puck: Where do you plan on taking this team, and what key pieces are you looking for in a player?
GM Patronick: I really look forward to building on the legacy that the previous coaching and management staff has created – one of success on and off the ice. I’m confident we can continue that legacy but also that I can take the team to the next level in terms of finding a top-notch coach, stepping up our marketing/communications, and securing important sponsorships that the team has been missing in the past.
In terms of what I’m looking for in a player, I’m looking for both compete level and character…a commitment to growing women’s hockey in a sustainable way. Someone who seeks the best competition, and rises to the occasion in tough game situations. I’m looking for a player who is combination of inspiration for her peers in the locker room as well as talent on the ice.
GM Krista Patronick
The Pink Puck: What challenges do you think you’ll face with the NWHL being active this season? Has that changed your mindset going in?
GM Patronick: It hasn’t really changed my mindset going in, because no matter what I am committed to bringing in the best team possible to play in this league. I think the NWHL’s presence is an opportunity for us in the CWHL to rise to the occasion, much like I will see our players doing on the ice every single weekend. We are going to work hard to build up our draft so we can bring in talented NCAA players who are looking to play with the best of the best in women’s hockey. We have seen a 30% increase in players entering our draft compared to this time last year, which is a clear sign that players look to our league for the highest level of competition.
It’s both an exciting and challenging undertaking, what are you most looking forward to this season?
I’m looking forward to being creative in our marketing and just having a lot of fun with that this season. I’m also looking forward to our first home game and what that experience will be like for me from a GM perspective as opposed to a team volunteer or a member of the press. It’s going to be really exciting.
The Pink Puck: Hockey is obviously a huge part of your life. But it’s difficult for women to have a place to go after college. How do you prepare a young girl for the absolute passion and devotion she will need to commit when there is currently little monetary gains for all that effort?
GM Patronick: I think you just have to tell that young girl what the reality currently is but that it doesn’t always have to be this way, and she can be part of building the sport’s future. Women’s sports in general have only made huge gains relatively recently. Women were banned from running the Olympic marathon until 1984, if you can believe it. That’s just insane to me because that’s within my lifetime. If we continue to build women’s hockey in a sustainable way, she will get a living wage for playing the game…but it starts with us now, spreading the message that women’s hockey is worth the investment.
The Pink Puck: Could you share your feelings when you found out you were being appointed as the General Manager of the Boston Blades? What was that first reaction?
GM Patronick: I was really happy and excited! I have such a passion for this sport, so for me to be that go-to person for the team, I obviously wanted to jump at that opportunity.
The Pink Puck: Women’s hockey has been getting a little more publicity, especially with the announcement of the NWHL. What do you see as the pros and cons of this attention?
GM Patronick: As for advantages, I hope it inspires women of all ages who love the game, to support the professional women’s game and also start playing the game themselves. Hockey really is a sport that you can pick up at any age and enjoy it. I play hockey with so many women who started playing just because their kids did. The more women who play, the better it is for the sport, no matter what level they’re playing at.
As for cons, the sexualization and objectification of women in sports is something that concerns me. The more the sport spreads, unfortunately those negative things can also come with it. I was a gender studies minor in college and took a course in graduate school called the Sociology of Sport, which really fascinated me. Playing the sport or enjoying the sport sometimes comes with judgements from people. It’s part of the landscape unfortunately and the issue isn’t unique to hockey.
Patronick in goal
The Pink Puck: What is the biggest misconception of women’s hockey that fans of the sport have? How would you help change that?
GM Patronick: I think the biggest misconception is that because there’s no hitting, it’s not a physical game or it’s not an exciting game. I think the only way to change that is to keep spreading the game, because once people really see it, they’ll see those misconceptions are just that – misconceptions.
The Pink Puck: How did your involvement with The Pink Puck expose you to the business side of hockey and to the plight of women’s hockey?
GM Patronick: Seeing the inner workings of professional hockey organizations from a press perspective definitely helped me as I transitioned to the management side of the business. Because I’ve come from the press side, I really prize our relationship with the press, and I recognize how important it is. Press is how we spread the game. It’s how we draw attention to issues that need to be talked about. It’s tough work, and it’s thankless work sometimes, but it’s vital to growing women’s hockey. You guys are dedicated to that, so thank you for your hard work.
(Photo: EricModelsBlog.wordpress.com)
In 1979 the Winnipeg Jets became part of the NHL. This meant that the local arena got a make-over and the Manitoba Governor at that time commissioned a portrait of the Queen. When finished the portrait stood between the Canadian and U.S. flags. It was 15 feet by 22. Built on oak panels, it took over 200 hours to paint! This portrait of Queen Elizabeth was once the biggest anywhere. It became a part of hockey lore and some might add it gave the Jets a home-ice advantage. One habit the players did in their practices was to aim the puck at the portrait and shoot. Most tried to get the Queen’s lips. As a result the portrait was in bad condition when the Jets moved.
In 1996 the Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona.
In 1999 the portrait of the Queen was put away.
After 1999 the portrait moved all over Canada for 15 years. Who wanted such a big picture and where would it fit? Who would want to buy it? Finally it was kept at the Historical Society in Ontario, Canada. The person in charge of it was Ms. Anya Wilson. As it always goes, she knew a friend who knew a friend, who knew a local artist name Amanda Von Riesen. Amanda is renovating the portrait. The picture is being kept in a secret location near or in Winnipeg. Once again, a friend knew a friend and along came a man name Jamie Boychuk. Mr. Jamie Boychuk bought the portrait of the Queen. The aim is to finish renovating the portrait and place it in the MTS Centre, the new home of the Winnipeg Jets.
It is kind of funny cause the Jets are not showing any interest in the portrait. Jets communication director Scott Brown indicates that there is no thoughts in putting the Queen in the MTS Centre. The picture is to big and will affect some of the level’s vantage points. Other sites that can hold the portrait can be the new rail terminal or the airport?
Now that the portrait is almost ready, where or what will happen to it? Where will it finally rest? Right now who knows. Me personally I would really like to see it sit where it was before, between the two flags. What about you?
My next stop on my week of hockey related travels took me to Sunrise, Florida to attend the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft – from the desert to the coast! The Draft, which can give teams (and their fans) looking for a fresh start, possibly just that and thus ending the anonymity of some of hockey’s fresh faces, was hosted by the Florida Panthers in the BB&T Center.
This years first pick was the property of the Edmonton Oilers and to no one’s surprise they selected Connor McDavid – who many hail the next Sidney Crosby, not to mention the unveiling of the team’s new third throwback style sweaters. Round one of the Draft was full of seeing teenager’s dreams come true, trades, and rumors with all the NHL decision-makers strategically placed and present on a single arena floor – all set to music meticulously chosen to play off of each team’s name.
NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman drops the puck to start the 2015 NHL Draft
As a continued effort on the part of the League’s commitment to preserve and support the local environments of host cities for NHL events, NHL Green announced a legacy tree project in cooperation with the Florida Panthers Foundation. The NHL is donating 30 trees to represent each Club’s commitment to sustainability. This years project will plant mature hardwoods and sabal palms, reminiscent of those featured on the Florida Panthers jersey shoulder patch.
Other auxiliary events at the 2015 NHL Draft included a Fan Fest with family-friendly activities, a NHL Draft Trading Card Show with special presentations and player appearances and an appearance by the most famous trophy in all of professional sports, the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup had as busy a travel schedule as I did over this past week.
Prior to attending the first round of the NHL Draft, I attended a hockey career conference that featured notable speakers such as Ken Holland, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings and EJ Hradek from NHL Live, to name a couple. Since this was a networking conference in Florida with a dress code of business casual and I was trying to streamline my packing for the week, I again went with the color orange to keep accessories at bay.
NHL Draft fashion
I chose a vintage structured linen dress with a belt that was from a former women’s clothing company, Gantos. I kept the rest of my look simple. The footwear I chose were tan, leather sandals from Talbots and in my work bag I carried my wicker clutch purse from Kate Spade. For jewelry I went with my gold Nixon watch, a vintage gold bangle and a woven gold link and orange silk bracelet from BCBG Max Azria. My gold chain necklace was also from Anthropologie and I finished the look with a staple – simple diamond stud earrings from a local jewelry store.
Friday was not only the first day of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but it was a day full of trades, especially for the Boston Bruins. Dougie Hamilton, the 22-year old defenseman, was part of that, being involved in a trade to the Calgary Flames for the 15th, 45th, and 52nd draft picks.
“I’m excited to get to Calgary and meet the guys and start playing and enjoying playing in front of the fans and everything,” said Hamilton on a conference call Friday. “It’s going to be really exciting. Unfortunately, it’s two months away, still.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the Flames announced that they had agreed on a six-year, $34.5 million contract with Hamilton.
Calgary GM Brad Treliving Hamilton per the Calgary Sun said:
“This type of player doesn’t come around very often at this age. You’re talking about a very intelligent kid. He’s a 98% student. He won the scholastic award (in the Ontario Hockey League in 2011). I like that he’s a very cerebral kid. Smart, Intelligent.”
“I’m not going to comment on any anonymous people out there, but we’ve done our homework — thorough homework — both on the player and the person, and we are over-the-moon excited about the player and the person that we’re getting,” Treliving said. “We think he’s going to fit like a glove — on and off the ice — with us.
The promising defenseman is coming off a career best season in points. He racked up 42 points throughout 72 games (10 G, 32 A).
Bringing in a young (and large) player like Hamilton is exactly what the Flames need to add to their already thriving team. With so many young and talented players, Calgary’s future is bright, and so is Hamilton’s.
You can read about (and hear) Dougie’s reaction to the trade, in this article from Friday.
(Photo: Alan Sullivan)
The Los Angeles Kings have terminated Mike Richards’ contract citing a “material breach of the requirements of his Standard Player’s Contract.”
After yet another disappointing season, the Kings were all set to buyout Mike Richards. Or so that seemed to be the plan.
According to Elliotte Friedman, General Manager Dean Lombardi was in discussions with GMs Brad Treliving of the Calgary Flames and Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers as a possible trade solution when he learned of the incident. A trade would, of course, be far more ideal than having to use a regular buyout after letting the window for the compliance buyout close last year.
Last month Lombardi told ESPN.com that not using the CBO “could be the worst decision I’ve ever made. But for all the right reasons.”
Lombardi’s loyalty to Richards made him pass on the get-out-of-jail-free card and give the center one more shot to raise his level of play. It never happened and Richards was eventually sent to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. He was recalled later in the season, though nothing appeared to have changed with his game and he ended up becoming a healthy scratch after only a few games back in the NHL.
As of right now, nothing official has been disclosed as to what led to management’s decision on the termination. Some speculation on Twitter suggested that the alleged incident had something to do with a border crossing, which has been mentioned by Howie Kussoy of the New York Post, indicating an incident that took place on June 17.
Katie Strang of ESPN reports that Richards is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for an off-ice incident, but has no further details to add.
For the moment, Richards’ $5.75 million cap hit comes off the books, though the Kings are on the hook for a $1.32 million cap recapture penalty for the next five years, per Bob McKenzie.
Jonathan Weatherdon, spokesman for the NHL Players Association, released a statement stating, “We are in the process of reviewing the facts and circumstances of this matter, and will discuss the situation with the player in order to determine the appropriate course of action.”
Richards, the NHLPA and his agent will have 60 days to appeal to a neutral arbitrator (which would end up being Gary Bettman). That is most likely the next course of action.
As Bob McKenzie noted on Twitter, grievances can take months or even years to be heard, although a request can be made for an expedited hearing that sometimes takes only days or weeks. However, he believes that the likelihood of a grievance being heard this week is virtually nonexistent (possibly due to the opening of free agency on July 1 and any impending trades that may happen after that).
(Photo: Alan Sullivan)
The day before the 2015 NHL Draft, rumors started swirling on social media that the LA Kings were heavily interested in acquiring Milan Lucic from the Boston Bruins.
Mere hours before the draft started, Elliotte Friedman confirmed the trade via Twitter. Los Angeles sent the 13th overall pick, backup goalie Martin Jones and defense prospect Colin Miller in exchange for Lucic. It was later revealed that Boston agreed to retain $2.75 million of Lucic’s $6 million cap hit.
At the time, the trade was not very well received by either fanbase. For Boston fans, this news came on the heels of the Dougie Hamilton trade and seeing the popular, rugged left winger go was a bit like rubbing salt in the wound.
For LA fans, there were concerns about where he would fit into the lineup and if his style of play as a power forward would help or hinder the notoriously low scoring club. Not to mention this would almost certainly spell the end for Justin Williams (an all but certainty at this point) and the fact that Lucic is an Unrestricted Free Agent next summer.
Dean Lombardi has repeatedly said he doesn’t do rentals and if Lucic turns out to be one, what the Kings gave up seems like a steep price to pay. Furthermore, should LA decide to retain Lucic’s services beyond next year, what would be the asking price? He could easily be looking for $7 million plus, and with Anze Kopitar due for an extension (along with Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson the year after that) and the possibility that the cap may not rise, there is some mild concern that the Kings may not be able to fit him in.
Following the trade, Lombardi praised Toffoli who had agreed to a new two year agreement worth $6.5 million that same morning.
“If Tyler Toffoli doesn’t step up and do this, we can’t do this deal,” Dean Lombardi said, referencing how smoothly and easily the young winger’s contract negotiations went.
Lombardi has visions of having Lucic skate on Kopitar’s left wing while allowing Marian Gaborik to move back to his more comfortable position on right wing. Gaborik is a left shot and was moved to left wing when the Kings traded for him at the deadline in 2014.
Initially it looked like with this trade, LA would not be able to retain the services of Andrej Sekera, even with a Mike Richards buyout. The concern was that Sekera wanted a long term contract but would not be able to afford it when the buyout penalty on the 30-year-old center’s “backdiving” contract reached $4.2 million.
However, with the news that the Kings were terminating Richards’ contract due to a breach, there remains the possibility that they could still sign the popular Slovakian defenseman. But that’s an entirely different situation that’s becoming as clear as mud.
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