Mike Richards played in beer league before signing with Capitals

Still without a point in five games since returning to the NHL in January, Washington Capitals forward Mike Richards has come a long way from where he was playing just weeks ago.

As a free agent for the first three-and-a-half months of the season, the 30-year-old headed home to Kenora, Ontario, and joined a local beer league with his brother, Mark.

"I think that's where (Capitals coach Barry Trotz) and (general manager Brian MacLellan) first saw me this year," Richards joked, per The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan. "Second in goals, but first in scoring."

His team, the Kenora Kings, went undefeated with the All-Star playing on the blue line. Though opposing teams certainly won't miss him dominating the league with seven-goal performances, his teammates were understandably upset to see him head to Washington.

"I got a couple text messages saying it's just not going to be the same," Richards said. "My D partner was a little rattled, but they'll get over it."

Now with his new team, Richards admitted the locker-room atmospheres aren't so different after all between Washington and Kenora.

"To be honest, it's a similar atmosphere, but with superstars," Richards said. "Minus the smoking in between periods and the beer."

The Capitals will take on the New York Islanders on Thursday.