Kings confirm Mike Richards placed on waivers
Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi confirmed Monday that the club placed forward Mike Richards on waivers.
"We made a final decision on this, that we were going to one way or another deal with it after the All-Star break," Lombardi told Jon Rosen of LAKingsInsider.com.
He added that Richards played a vital role in both of the team's recent Stanley Cup championships.
"I don’t think there’s any question we don’t win that first Cup without what he did for this team," said the general manager. "And obviously, we don’t win the second one. But there’s still got to be a certain level here that has to get done."
Richards has five goals and 10 assists in 47 games just one year after posting 41 regular-season points and 10 more in the postseason to help the Kings win their second championship in three years.
The center is owed $5.75 million per season over the next five years, and the Kings would reportedly save nearly $1 million by sending him to the AHL if he clears waivers.
Teams have until noon Tuesday to place a claim.