Kings acquire Mike Richards from Philadelphia
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The Kings were at the center of the pre-draft posturing on Thursday, acquiring center Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Wayne Simmonds, prospect Brayden Schenn and a second-round draft pick.
Richards, who was the Flyers’ team captain, finished with 23 goals and 43 assists last season. The 26-year-old has nine years left on his contract at an annual cap hit of $5.75 million. He has averaged 70 points over the past four seasons and is a two-time 30-goal scorer. In addition, he helped lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010.
“We felt at this stage of the franchise it was time to make a significant move for an impact player,” Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said in a statement. “Mike Richards is not only one of the top players in the league, he’s also universally recognized as one of the finer leaders in the game and one of its elite competitors.”
Simmonds, considered by many to be a fan favorite in Los Angeles, had 14 goals and 30 points last season. Schenn saw limited time with the Kings and spent most of last season with his junior team in the Western Hockey League.
The trade was first reported by TSN.
We’ll have more on the trade soon at latimes.com/sports.
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