Shame on you LA Kings

Back in June, the Los Angeles Kings terminated the contract of Mike Richards, this came after Canadian border guards found "some pills in a single bottle" during a routine check while he was crossing the border; Richards was arrested by the RCMP. According to (ugh) TMZ, the pills in question were Oxycodone. The CBA states a team may terminate a player's contract if: "a player shall at any time: fail, refuse, or neglect to obey the Club’s rules governing training and conduct of Players, if such failure, refusal or neglect should constitute a material breach of this SPC." 

This move frees up a lot of cap space for the Kings, Richards cap hit was just north of $4 million. The Kings had a chance to buy out the contract with a compliance buyout, but curiously, opted not to. Last season saw Richards' production drop completely, to the point where the Kings placed him on waivers; he cleared and played with their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs. With Richards' numbers dwindling, no team willing to pick up his contract (even on waivers), and the chance to use a compliance buyout on him gone, the Kings licked their lips at this opportunity to terminate his contract. Fair enough, given that Richards broke the law right?

Well, the LA Kings also currently have Slava Voynov under contract. Back in October, Voynov was arrested on domestic violence charges, a month later he was charged with one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury. Following the arrest, Voynov was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, and is currently still suspended. Even though he only played 6 games last season, Voynov was still paid his salary during the league's (still ongoing) investigation. In fact, despite the suspension by the league, the Kings allowed Voynov to skate with the team during a practice, the league fined them $100,000 for that. In June, the Kings suspended Voynov because he was injured "outside of normal hockey training," again, freeing up more cap room, but he is still under contract to the team. 

So, to recap: Richards was caught with a bottle of pills at the border, has his contract immediately terminated before being formerly charged. Voynov, on the other hand, is arrested for domestic violence, suspended (with pay) by the NHL, eventually suspended by the Kings, conveniently before Free Agent Frenzy, for suffering an injury, but is still under contract to the team. 

I'm not defending what Richards did, at the end of the day, he broke the law. But the Kings are setting a precedent here, if you're a versatile player and break the law, they'll have your back, otherwise, don't let the door hit you on the way out. I don't know what's going on in Richards' personal life, I don't know if he's addicted to these pills, or legitimately needs them. Either way, the Kings are turning their back on a man who needs help because they don't want to pay him that much money anymore. Shame on you LA Kings.