Mike Richards is eager to prove he can still hang at the NHL level.
The veteran forward signed a one-year, $1-million prorated contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, giving him an opportunity to return to the game he loves after appearing in only 15 games for the Los Angeles Kings in 2015.
"I’m just really looking forward to getting back to having fun playing the game I love," Richards told Gary Lawless of TSN. "I’m excited and I’ve never felt better.
"When you’re having fun and (are) relaxed, hockey is easy. When it becomes a burden, a job, I guess, it’s difficult to play at the highest level. It was a forced vacation but the extended stay away from the game has been good for me. It’s given me a chance to see I took coming to the rink and playing hockey for a living for granted."
Richards, whose contract with the Kings was terminated amid possession of a controlled substance charges back in August, believes he's put in the work needed to keep up in a league that's trending younger and faster.
"Watching the game on TV, it got the competitive juices going again," he told Lawless. "I started working with a new trainer this summer. ... We focused on getting better at hockey in a few key areas. Getting quicker was the big thing for me.
"It’s kind of hard to tell when you’re skating by yourself ... (but) we’re going to find out. I was never the best skater. But I know how to get into position to be effective. We’ll see. I don’t know what role they have planned for me in Washington."
Richards' next court date is set for Jan. 28 in Emerson, Manitoba, while his debut with the Capitals likely depends on how quickly he can get up to speed with his new teammates.
The 30-year-old recorded five goals and 11 assists in 53 games for the Kings last season, and is averaging 0.68 points per game for his career.
