| Mike Richards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Richards with theWashington Capitals in April 2016 | |||
| Born | (1985-02-11)February 11, 1985 (age 40) Kenora, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Philadelphia Flyers Los Angeles Kings Washington Capitals | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 24th overall,2003 Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Playing career | 2005–2016 | ||
Michael Richards (born February 11, 1985) is a Canadian former professionalice hockey player. Richards played 11National Hockey League (NHL) seasons, spending time with thePhiladelphia Flyers,Los Angeles Kings, andWashington Capitals.
Richards was drafted in the first round of the2003 NHL entry draft by the Flyers, 24th overall, and made his NHL debut in 2005. He was named captain of the Flyers in 2008 at just 23 years old, leading Philadelphia to aStanley Cup Finals appearance in2010. In 2011, the Flyers traded Richards to the Los Angeles Kings, where he was a member of twoStanley Cup-winning teams with Los Angeles in2012 and2014. The Kings terminated his contract in 2015 after Richards was arrested for possession ofoxycodone, a controlled substance, without a prescription.[1]
In addition to his two Stanley Cup titles, Richards won anOlympic gold medal withCanada senior team at the2010 Winter Olympics. Richards' career also included championships in theMemorial Cup (2003),World Junior Championship (2005), andCalder Cup (2005).
Richards grew up playing minor league hockey in his hometown ofKenora,Ontario. He played level A rep hockey for the Kenora Thistles until being drafted fourth overall in the 2001OHL Priority Selection by theKitchener Rangers. Richards was not a noted prospect prior to the selection.[2] After receiving a tip from a friend in Kenora, Rangers general manager Jamie MacDonald traveled to see Richards play on two occasions.[2]
Richards began hismajor junior career with the Rangers in2001–02. He was a member of a dominant 2003 Kitchener team that captured theMemorial Cup and led the team in scoring during the regular season, with 87 points.[3] Following theCanadian Hockey League (CHL) championship victory, Richards was chosen as team captain.[2] That summer, thePhiladelphia Flyers selected him 24th overall in the2003 NHL entry draft with the second of the team's two first round picks that season.
Upon being drafted, Richards returned to the Rangers for two more seasons. In his last season of junior,2004–05, he embarked on another Memorial Cup run with Kitchener, but despite a remarkable 28-point performance from Richards in just 15 playoff games, the Rangers were eliminated by theLondon Knights in the OHL semifinals. As soon as Kitchener was eliminated, the Flyers assigned Richards to thePhiladelphia Phantoms, theirAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for their playoff run. Averaging over a point per game, he became a key part of the Phantoms'2005 Calder Cup championship.
Richards made his NHL debut with the Flyers the following season,2005–06, and scored a goal in his first game on October 5, 2005, against theNew York Rangers.[4] Later in the season, he scored his first career NHLhat-trick, which included two short-handed goals, against theNew York Islanders on February 8, 2006.[5] His hat-trick was the first by a Flyer rookie sinceMikael Renberg on February 15, 1994.[citation needed] Richards finished his NHL rookie season with 34 points in 79 games, third among Flyers rookies, behindJeff Carter (drafted the same year as Richards, 11th overall) andR. J. Umberger, respectively.[6]
Following an injury-shortened sophomore season – Richards was kept to 32 points in 59 games due to stomach surgery[7] – Richards emerged as a star with the Flyers in2007–08 and topped the team in scoring with 75 points. Recognizing his ascent as a leader on the team, Richards was named one of the Flyers' alternate captains at the outset of the season[8] and was signed to a lengthy 12-year contract extension worth $69 million on December 13, 2007.[9] Shortly after signing the deal, Richards was selected to represent theEastern Conference at the2008 NHL All-Star Game inAtlanta.[10] In the first NHL All-Star Game of his career, Richards registered an assist.
As the Flyers entered the2008 Stanley Cup playoffs against the third-seededWashington Capitals, Richards scored his first playoff goal on apenalty shot against Washington goaltenderCristobal Huet in game 3.[11] In doing so, he became just the second player in NHL history to score his first playoff goal on a penalty shot (the first wasWayne Connolly who did so with theMinnesota North Stars in1968).[12] The Flyers defeated the Capitals in seven games and then upset theMontreal Canadiens before falling to thePittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals. Richards finished his 2008 playoff run with 14 points in 17 games.
Before the start of the2008–09 season, on September 17, 2008, Richards was named the 17th captain in Flyers history, succeeding previous captainJason Smith, who had signed with theOttawa Senators in the off-season.[13] On February 15, 2009, Richards became the first player in NHL history to score three career three-on-fiveshort-handed goals when he beat New York Rangers goaltenderHenrik Lundqvist in a 5–2 win.[14] Six days later, on February 21, Richards became the first Flyer in team history[citation needed] to score a short-handed goal in three consecutive games and the first NHL player to do so sinceJoe Sakic in 1998.[15] He finished the season second in team scoring to Jeff Carter with 80 points to go with a League-leading seven shorthanded goals.[15]
Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second consecutive year in the2009 playoffs, Richards added five points in six games, but could not help the Flyers from being eliminated. After Richards' season ended, he was announced as a finalist for theFrank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defensive forward, along withPavel Datsyuk of theDetroit Red Wings andRyan Kesler of theVancouver Canucks.[15] The next day, on April 29, 2009, it was revealed that Richards required surgery on both shoulders. He had reportedly felt discomfort since training camp and was on anti-inflammatory medication throughout the season. Richards narrowly missed out on the Selke, which would have been Philadelphia's first individual player trophy sinceEric Lindros won theHart Memorial Trophy in1995. Datsyuk won the vote 945 to 942 in the closest Selke Trophy race since its inception.
The2009–10 season started successfully for Richards, who scored five goals in his first three games, including his second career hat-trick in the second period of the Flyers' home opener against the Washington Capitals on October 6, 2009.[16] Against theFlorida Panthers on October 24, Richards delivered a shoulderhit toDavid Booth's head. Knocked unconscious, Booth fell awkwardly on his head and neck and had to be carried of the ice on a stretcher. Richards was given agame misconduct, but was not suspended by the NHL.[17][18] From the outset of the season, Richards was involved in an ongoing feud with the Philadelphia media. He issued a verbal boycott against the media in October 2009 after he was asked if the trade of forwardJoffrey Lupul to theAnaheim Ducks was the result of a partying lifestyle that many players on the team were accused of sharing.[19] Accusations of team players drinking and partying excessively continued throughout the season, specifically with Richards and Jeff Carter.[19] As the team began to lose, Richards criticized the local media in an interview withThe Hockey News for "throwing the team under the bus."[19] He also told thePhiladelphia Daily News that the drinking accusations were fabricated.[19] Following a loss to the Washington Capitals on January 17, 2010, Richards reportedly engaged in a verbal exchange with reporters outside the Flyers' locker room, telling them he was unhappy with how the team was being covered in the media.[19] On February 1, 2010, Richards scored his 100th career NHL goal.[20] The Flyers barely scraped into the playoffs, winning in a shootout in their last game of the season to secure their place. However, they then embarked on aremarkable run to the2010 Stanley Cup Finals, a run in which Richards cemented his captaincy and scored some important goals, which led to renewed comparisons toBobby Clarke. The biggest highlight of Richards' performance in the playoffs was what Flyers fans call "The Shift"; during game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against theMontreal Canadiens, Richards scored a spectacular short-handed goal to tie the game at 1–1 seconds after throwing a big hit onMarc-André Bergeron.[21] The run eventually ended in the Stanley Cup Finals when the Flyers lost 4–3 in overtime of game 6 to theChicago Blackhawks.
Richards scored 23 goals to go along with 43 assists during the2010–11 season as the Flyers earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and played theBuffalo Sabres in the first round of the2011 playoffs. After eliminating the Sabres in seven games, Richards and the Flyers were eliminated by theBoston Bruins in a four-game sweep. Richards recorded one goal and six assists during the playoffs.
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Richards and Flyers prospectRob Bordson were traded to theLos Angeles Kings on June 23, 2011. In return, the Flyers receivedWayne Simmonds,Brayden Schenn, and Los Angeles'2012 second-round draft pick.[22][23] Richards reacted to the major deal by saying, "I was very shocked. At first I was shocked and then excited – I’m excited to move out to L.A. and be a part of a team that has a ton of great players. I’m just looking forward to helping them out."[24] ADan Gross article suggested that Richards' "hard-partying ways" influenced the Flyers' decision to trade Richards. However, Flyersgeneral managerPaul Holmgren stated that it was "preposterous" that partying had anything to do with the trade.[25] Jeff Carter was also traded, being sent to theColumbus Blue Jackets. Richards and Carter were reportedly traded due to their long contracts and to clear up cap space forIlya Bryzgalov.[26] On October 15, Richards returned to Philadelphia and received a standing ovation from the crowd. He would assist on the winning goal, as the Kings won the game 3–2. Richards suffered a concussion and missed eight games during the season. He was later reunited with Carter on February 23, 2012, upon Carter's trade to the Kings from the Columbus Blue Jackets. On May 3, 2012, during game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, Richards recorded his first careerGordie Howe hat trick when he got into a fight withJamie Langenbrunner of theSt. Louis Blues at 14:00 of the first period, scored a goal at 9:31 of the second, and recorded an assist at 11:48 of the third. On June 11, Richards won the Stanley Cup with the Kings, recording four goals and 11 assists in 20playoff games. The following campaign, he recorded 32 points in thelockout-shortened2012–13 season as the Kings would fail in their bid to repeat as Cup champions, losing to the eventual champion Chicago Blackhawks in the2013 playoffs.
On April 30, 2014, Richards, along with his teammateJeff Carter, became the first players to play on two teams that came back from a 3–0 deficit to win a playoff series in seven games when the Kings defeated the Sharks 5–1 in game 7 of their first-round playoff series. Both had been on the Flyers in 2010 when they came back against the Bruins.[27] On June 13, 2014, Richards became a Stanley Cup champion for the second time when the Kings defeated theNew York Rangers 3–2 in double overtime in game 5 of the2014 Stanley Cup Finals.
On January 26, 2015, Richards was placed on waivers by the Kings.[28][29] The next day, on January 27, Richards cleared waivers and joined the Kings' AHL affiliate, theManchester Monarchs,[30] and after tallying 14 points in 16 games with the Monarchs, he was recalled by the Kings on March 22.[31]
On June 29, 2015, Kings general managerDean Lombardi announced that the club had terminated Richards' contract, which had five years remaining, for "a material breach of his Standard Player's Contract."[32] The termination resulted from an incident at the US-Canada border in whichRoyal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Richards for possession ofoxycodone, a controlled substance, without a prescription.[1] Richards' 12-year, $69-million contract, which he had signed in 2008 while as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, had $22 million remaining on it when it was terminated.[33][34] On August 10, it was announced that theNational Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) had filed a grievance on behalf of Richards to contest the termination.[35] On October 9, 2015, the Kings announced a settlement with Richards, thus making him a free agent.[36] On February 24, 2016, the drug charges against Richards were stayed by a Manitoba court.[37]
On January 6, 2016, theWashington Capitals and Richards announced they had agreed to a one-year contract worth US$1 million. This came after Richards was cleared by the league to sign an NHL contract.[38]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| Representing Canada | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 | 2010 Vancouver | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| 2005 United States | |
 | 2004 Finland | |
Richards made his international debut withCanada junior team at the2004 World Junior Championships. Despite a third period lead in the gold medal game, Canada lost to theUnited States 4–3.
The following year, Richards returned to theWorld Juniors as team captain and led Canada to its first gold medal in the tournament since1997. Richards tallied five points in six games.
After Richards' rookie season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he was chosen to his first tournament withCanada senior team at the2006 World Championships. Richards recorded five points in nine games, but Canada was defeated byFinland in the bronze medal game.
On December 30, 2009, Richards was selected to play as a member of Canada at the2010 Winter Olympics.[39] Richards helped lead Canada to an 8–0 victory overNorway in the first game of the tournament by scoring a goal on February 17, 2010.[40] He would go on to record two goals and three assists in seven games, along with a +5 rating.[41] This included an important assist on the first goal by the Canadians in the gold medal game where he forced a turnover and fired a shot on goal; the rebound was scored byJonathan Toews. The Canadians ultimately won the game 3–2 in overtime, giving Richards an Olympic gold medal.[42]
Richards was born inKenora,Ontario, to parents Norm and Irene.[2] He has two brothers, Mark and Matt.[2]
Growing up, Mike Richards attendedBeaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora,[43] until being drafted to theKitchener Rangers, at which point he attendedEastwood Collegiate Institute inKitchener.[2]
In March of 2019, Richards became engaged to Cate Chant. The pair eventually married on July 4, 2020.[44]
Richards is an avid fisherman and began to compete in fishing tournaments after his retirement from professional hockey.[45]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2001–02 | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | 65 | 20 | 38 | 58 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2002–03 | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | 67 | 37 | 50 | 87 | 99 | 21 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 24 | ||
| 2003–04 | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | 58 | 36 | 53 | 89 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | 43 | 22 | 36 | 58 | 75 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 36 | ||
| 2004–05 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 28 | ||
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 59 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 73 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 76 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 30 | 50 | 80 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 79 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 18 | ||
| 2010–11 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 81 | 23 | 43 | 66 | 62 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 | ||
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 74 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 71 | 20 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 17 | ||
| 2012–13 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 48 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 42 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 28 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 17 | ||
| 2014–15 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 16 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 39 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 749 | 181 | 306 | 487 | 585 | 136 | 26 | 61 | 87 | 95 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Canada Ontario | U17 |  | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2004 | Canada | WJC |  | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2005 | Canada | WJC |  | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2006 | Canada | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2010 | Canada | OG | | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 18 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 4 | ||||
| Senior totals | 16 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | ||||
| Year | Location | G | A | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Atlanta | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| All-Star totals | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
Junior
Professional
International
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Philadelphia Flyers first round draft pick 2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theBobby Clarke Trophy 2008,2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Philadelphia Flyers captain 2008–2011 | Succeeded by |