Despite the growing number of forward injuries around the league and despite being an unrestricted free agent, former Philadelphia Flyers captain and two-time Stanley Cup-winner as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, Mike Richards, has garnered no interest from NHL teams. Richards' agent, Pat Morris, indicated to Frank Seravalli of TSN last week that the phones have been silent where Richards' NHL rights are concerned.
Richards, dropped to the Kings AHL affiliate last season after his play dipped to a concerning point, was considered a prime trade candidate this offseason and, per numerous reports, was nearly out the door in Los Angeles thanks to the wheeling and dealing of Kings GM Dean Lombardi on the floor of the 2015 NHL Draft - as Seravalli notes, Calgary and Edmonton were among the teams said to be close to acquiring the former Flyers captain. But a report made its way to Lombardi during the draft and Richards, instead of being dealt, was terminated by the team.
Further rumors and reports began to swirl in the media almost immediately as to why the Kings dumped him, but ultimately it was revealed that Richards had been arrested at a border crossing between Canada and the U.S. for possession of a controlled substance.
This, per Seravalli, is likely what's keeping teams like the St. Louis Blues - who have sustained a number of significant injuries to pieces like Jaden Schwartz, Paul Stastny and Patrik Berglund, along with Kevin Shattenkirk and Robby Fabbri - from calling on the strong two-way center. Of course, Richards and Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock don't have the most positive past, so St. Louis seems an unlikely destination for him anyway.
Still, as Seravalli notes, the "popular opinion" remains that Richards will find his way onto an NHL roster at some point this season. Teams could simply be waiting for the legal process to play itself out - his adjudication will resume on Dec. 8.
But with Richards' previous track record of success - he's only one year removed from an 11 goal, 41 point season - and the fact that he's potentially willing to sign on the cheap - he's already being paid approximately $1.8 million this season by the Kings - he could eventually be an important addition for a playoff-bound team.
