Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi isn’t shy about making some big gambles, but the franchise still raised some eyebrows regarding Mike Richards’ contract.
Instead of announcing a buyout as expected, the team terminated his contract, as this statement reveals:
“The Los Angeles Kings today have exercised the team’s right to terminate the contract of Mike Richards for a material breach of the requirements of his Standard Player’s Contract. We are not prepared to provide any more detail or to discuss the underlying grounds for the contract termination at this time.”
This would appear to be the relevant part of CBA, in terms of contract breach/termination: pic.twitter.com/qEpgfvVlMl
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) June 29, 2015
Obviously, they’re not sharing any additional information, yet it implies that they’re attempting to circumvent the hefty buyout fee involved with getting rid of Richards.
Obviously to avoid the Richards buyout penalties. Will it work? $15-million on the line. pic.twitter.com/uGQuY5kLKB
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 29, 2015
We’ll see if additional details emerge, yet it’s especially interesting considering the loyalty-leaning comments from Lombardi regarding why he kept Richards in the first place.
Lombardi told me earlier this month: "It could be the worst decision I've ever made, but for all the right reasons." #LAK
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) June 28, 2015
And here we were, thinking that the most interesting part of this situation would involve Richards as a free agent ...
For more on the fallout and salary cap implications, click here.