It’s that time of year again – the NHL’s trade deadline is upon us. With the deadline set for noon Pacific on March 2, there is less than 24 hours until team’s have to finalize roster moves for their playoff pushes. While a plethora of players have swapped jerseys in the last week, one player remains with his current organization, unsure of his future.
After being waived at the end of January, the forward spent all of February with the Kings AHL affiliate in Manchester. Through 13 games, Richards has accumulated 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points. Despite his struggles, Richards is still coveted by NHL teams, most notably the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Although the odds aren’t high that Richards will move before tomorrow’s deadline, the possibility still exists. With that in mind, we sat down for a one-on-one interview with Richards after Sunday’s Monarchs game…
On beating Worcester:
“It was good to get the win. Three [games] in three [days] aren’t easy. It’s a grind, so it’s nice to see it. Just the way we played too – the defensive style, and once we had the lead in the third, they didn’t really get many chances. [Patrik Bartosak] made some big saves there.”
On his assist on Brian O’Neill’s goal:
“Five on three – there’s a lot more here. You don’t work on it, you don’t expect to get them, but when you do get them, they’re big momentum changers in the game. I actually wanted a shot, and then everything collapsed. I saw [O’Neill] there, and he made a good play to get it off.”
On the trade deadline:
“There’s always the possibility of any player getting traded, so everyone is going through the same process. Obviously, it depends who you are, [and] what you want, so it’s different feelings for different players.”
On his approach to this year’s deadline:
“I’m not a big fan of change. Obviously, I want to be a part of the LA organization. Whatever happens, happens. I understand that anybody can be moved. I got traded from Philly when I didn’t expect it. Who knows what happens if you do expect it, so you just go about your business, and whatever happens is going to happen.”
On if there has been any dialogue with the Kings:
“Not a lot. No.”
To see which teams are most interested in Richards – and other deals the Kings may be exploring – click here.
RELATED CONTENT:
Kings Trade Scenarios, Odds on Several Deals
AHL: Richards Records Two Points In Monarchs Comeback
INTERVIEW: Catching Up With Mike Richards
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If their contracts were more comparable I would rather have Richards than Stoll. I would pay a little more to have Richards, in fact, but he’s simply making way too much money.