Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Los Angeles Kings have waived former
All-Star center Mike Richards, according to multiple reports Monday.
Richards will be on waivers until noon on Tuesday. If he is not claimed by
another team, he will be assigned to the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester.
Richards, who turns 30 in February, has seen his production decline in recent
seasons with just five goals and 15 points in 47 games for Los Angeles this
season. He was an All-Star in two consecutive seasons from 2009-10 with the
Philadelphia Flyers and had a career-high 80 points in the 2008-09 season.
The Kings acquired Richards from the Flyers before the 2011-12 season for
forwards Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn as well as a second-round draft
pick.
He is owed $23 million over the final four years of his contract and counts
for $5.75 million against the salary cap, the apparent reason he was waived.
In his 10-year career, Richards has 179 goals and 481 points in 704 games. He
has won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles, won an Olympic gold medal with Team
Canada in 2010 and served as the Flyers’ captain.
