After last week’s charity hockey game at the Kings training facility, forward Jarret Stoll told us he was ‘depressed’ following a phone call earlier that day with the NHLPA. Today, his Stanley Cup winning teammate, Mike Richards used words like ‘frustrating’ and ‘confusing when talking with NHL Network Radio host Gord Stellick about Commissioner Gary Bettman’s request to halt CBA talks for the next two weeks…
“I was frustrated when I first heard that,” Richards began. “I’m on some of the conference calls and I talk to Kevin Westgarth regularly, who’s been in the meetings and has overseen a lot of it with the NHLPA and Don (Fehr). When I heard the two-week break that Gary wanted to take I was kind of confused by it and not really sure how you can get a deal done when you take two weeks off. It’s frustrating at times, as a player you obviously want to play. I know you hear that a lot, but it can’t be any closer to the truth. Everybody wants to play. For me, I think it’s frustrating to hear what’s going on in the meetings, the negotiations that are happening and somewhat closing in (towards a deal being reached) – and all the things that the players are giving up towards making a deal. Then, to have Gary take two weeks off, I think that’s the most frustrating part. But, obviously Don’s working hard at trying to get together with Gary and to get a deal done. So, hopefully we can get this done soon.”
Richards also explained why he’s decided to stay away from the game right now, rather than join a team in Europe…
“I’ve played a lot of hockey over the last number of years. I’ve had some good successes on the ice, but I’ve also had some bad luck with injuries. I’ve had a couple shoulder surgeries, my groins done, my hands done and a couple of concussions along the way too. So, I think it’s just time to sit back and let the body heal, especially after the run we had this year with LA. I thought it was time to give my body some rest and use it as much as possible to work out and try to enjoy some family time and some friend-time back home because it is a long season and you do get banged up. So, it’s always nice to spend time relaxing and to just let the body heal a bit.”
Wrapping things up, Richards shared a few of his favorite memories from the Kings’ Stanley Cup run…
“There were a lot, going through it with Jeff (Carter) again and getting the opportunity to do that because we did have a tough loss together in Philadelphia, in not winning it. So, there was sort of some unfinished business together. With Johnny (Stevens), obviously we had some (previous) success – we won the Calder Cup and we’ve been through a lot together…I think just the way that we came together (as a team) in the playoffs, with our back against the wall going down the stretch and finally figuring out a way to get it. That was kind of our mindset once we got in. I think everybody thought that we could really do some damage if we just played our game and played the way that we were capable of.”
If you missed Richards and Jets’ captain Andrew Ladd skating in an outdoor ball hockey game with some fans in Winnipeg a few days ago, click here to see pictures and watch the video highlights.
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So more totally pointless posturing… when does Bettman want to start his mystical clock? isn’t one of those weeks almost over?