The center was signed to a prorated 1-year, $1 million, a fraction of his prior contract with the Los Angeles Kings. It all came to a crashing halt last June when Richards was charged for possession of a controlled substance while trying to cross the Emerson-Manitoba border.
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Selected by the Flyers with the 24th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, Richards made his NHL debut in 2005 and spent the first six seasons of his career in Philadelphia before being traded to Los Angeles in 2011.
It was the 2015 season where life became a little more complicated for Richards.
“We’re going to be open-minded [about his role]”, said MacLellan.
Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said that having a strong organization in place and people around Richards who know his situation will help the 30-year-old.
Richards had five years and $22 million left on his massive 12-year, $69 million contract he signed while with the Flyers. According to the Capitals, Richards was “given clearance to immediately resume his National Hockey League career”. “He has a pending court case coming up. He’s pleading not guilty going forward, and we think it’ll work out in his favor”.
Richards won two Stanley Cups with the Kings, and he also played with Capitals forward Justin Williams during those two cup runs.
“Last season, the 6’3” 215-pound American defenseman put up 12 goals and 43 points and 28 penalty minutes in 82 games, earning a plus 11 rating.
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Richards began skating with his former OHL team, the Kitchener Rangers, and reports in recent days had suggested that the San Jose Sharks, where former Rangers assistant coach Pete DeBoer is now the bench boss, could be a potential landing spot. MacLellan called it a “low risk move” from an organizational perspective. “We’ll see where he’s at mentally and physically, and see where he goes”.
