The Los Angeles Kings made a huge splash on Thursday, acquiring All-Star center Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers for Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, and a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL draft. The 26-year old Richards was an All-Star in the 2007-2008 season, and has averaged 30 goals and 43 assists in the last four seasons. Richards is signed for an astonishing nine more seasons, through 2019-2020.
"We felt at this stage of the franchise it was time to make a significant move for an impact player," said Kings President / General Manager Dean Lombardi. Mike Richards is not only one of the top players in the league, he’s also universally recognized as one of the finer leaders in the game and one of its elite competitors."
Quisp at Jewels From The Crown thinks Richards' salary -- a $5.75 million cap figure -- will cost the club Ryan Smyth:
That means that Smyth is gone, one way or another. Either he's traded or he's bought out. But the Kings can't afford to add Richards' cap hit, subtracting only Simmonds', and still keep enough room to be able to match any offer sheet that comes Doughty's way.
Simmonds, 22, was the Kings' second-round pick in the 2007 draft, scored 14 goals and had 16 assists last season in 80 games. Schenn, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, played nine total games with the Kings in the last two seasons.
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