For the better part of two years, the Kings have been waiting patiently for Mike Richards to find his game. On Monday, they finally wavered.
The Kings put Richards on waivers, meaning that any NHL team can claim him during the next 24 hours. If Richards clears waivers — and based on the length and terms of his contract, there is every indication that he will — then the Kings could assign him to their minor-league affiliate in Manchester, N.H., and gain some salary-cap relief.
The Kings confirmed the waiver move to The Times.
Richards has a $5.75-million cap hit for five more years beyond this one, on a 12-year, $69-million contract the Kings inherited when they acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers in the trade for Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn.
Richards was an integral part of the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup championship win, and although his role was diminished last spring when they won the Cup again, he did manage 10 points in 26 playoff games. This year, Richards has five goals and 15 points in 47 games and is a minus-7; since Nov. 22, he has managed to score just once.
The Kings considered issuing Richards a compliance buyout last summer, which would have eradicated his cap hit from their payroll, but in the end team officials decided to bring him back in the hopes that he would regain his scoring touch.
It didn’t happen. Coach Darryl Sutter has used Richards mostly in a fourth-line role this season — which makes him an expensive luxury the team can no longer realistically afford.
Forward Justin Williams, the reigning playoff MVP, has a contract that expires this summer and the Kings are working on signing him to an extension — something they’ll need to clear cap room to do.
The Kings have been exploring trade options for Richards but so far have been unable to find a taker for his contract. There appears to be some interest in his future: In Canada, he was trending at No. 2 on Twitter.
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