Another of the Kings’ restricted free agents rejoined the fold today, as Brad Richardson signed a two-year contract for a total of $2.35 million. Richardson gets a salary bump from his $900,000 last season. His new salary-cap hit is $1,175,000, and in terms of cash, Richardson will make $1 million in 2011-12 and $1.35 million in 2012-13. Richardson’s signing means the Kings will not have any arbitration cases this summer. The remaining restricted free agents are Drew Doughty, Andrew Campbell, Marc-Andre Cliche, Rich Clune, Corey Elkins, Bud Holloway, Trevor Lewis, David Meckler, Patrick Mullen and Jeff Zatkoff. Johan Fransson and Oscar Moller are also restricted free agents but are expected to play in Europe next season.
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Wooo! Great news!
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luc20rules Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
@Bluecoconuts, Agreed, Brad is one of those guys that plays well on the lower lines and seems to have that burst of energy when needed to step up to a top 6 role. He probably will never project in the top 6, but he has enough skill and speed to perform well there on a short term basis. Great signing. Have a great year Brad, and I hope we resign him to another extention he has been a team first guy.
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HawKings Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
@luc20rules, Well said!
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Well deserved.
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Good to have that out of the way.
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glad that one is done – Richie is well worth that contract as he plays up and down the lineup. he’s great on the PK as well.
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Great news, glad it got done.
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All right Richie!! Hard working player, very pleased.
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Glad to have him for the next two years! If Richardson making this kind money, Lewis should make less than this because of his age.
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great signing. I really hope there isnt a lockout again next summer!
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vplaza Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
@tornado12,
Same here. If the league or the players think that hockey can recover quickly from another lockout, they need to think again.
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tornado12 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@tornado12, doe anyone know what happens to contract years during the lockout?
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@tornado12,
Last time, one year expired off all contracts. This helped the Kings because it made Roman Cechmanek’s contract expire.
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vplaza Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
@tornado12,
I believe (and someone will correct me if I’m wrong) that the contract year is lost. That’s why I think they were front loading a lot of the contracts that were signed this year, as a hedge against a lockout season so players get the bulk of their money before one happens.
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tornado12 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@vplaza, @FKA, thx guys
PRMan Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@vplaza, And in the ones where the Kings have the leverage (such as this Richardson contract), the Kings are backloading the deals so that they pay less.
How much space do we have left for all of those rfa’s?
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Who Knows? Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@stollcannon, Enough. They probably won’t play in the NHL this season so they don’t count against the cap.
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vplaza Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@stollcannon,
Capgeek hasn’t updated their page with Richardson’s contract yet, but it looks like the Kings are about $10.3M under the cap right now with all their signed players.
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gene Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
@vplaza, How come awhile back Rich said we only had about 2.3 million left under the cap?
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CB14 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@gene, Because Drew is going to take up about 6 million of that space, give or take a mil. Also Trevor Lewis will likely get close to 1 million. Plus Martinez and Richardson both signed for less than expected.
Andrew Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@stollcannon, Lewis, Doughty and maybe Holloway are the only ones for the big club most likey
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RobSD Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@Andrew,
Didn’t Lewis sign last week?
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LBlocal Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
$10,668,690 OPEN w/20 signed..
gKg!
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Cricket Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@LBlocal,
so 6.5 for DD and to be generous a mil for Lewis. almost 3 mil of wiggle room for trades later in the season. not bad.
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Cricket Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@Cricket,
or at least that was the going theory on what dd would pull in on average
Rudedogg Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Cricket, good call we may have no wiggle room if doughty pulls in more than the 6.5$ that has been estimated as his annual salary… its possible we may have to shave a little…
Deke'r Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
@Cricket, That’s obsene….even the 7 time Norris winner doesn’t pull that.
Token Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@LBlocal, 19. Fraser is broken and on the roster.
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tornado12 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@Token, cant he go on injured/reserve? does that count against the cap?
PRMan Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Token, Trust me, we’ll send him back to Edmonton and get a higher draft pick instead.
2 down 11 to go
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Good signing. Looks like he’ll fill in for the vacancy left by Simmonds…
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Richardson’s play has been getting much better and I’m a bit surprised that he did not get more cash. I figured he’d get about 1.5M per. I’m glad it’s done and GO KINGS!
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Duckhunter Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
@Tortfesor, especially with his playoffs I agree…got this done with a little discount…definitely like this!!!
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what great news
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AWESOME!! Way to get it done DL & Richie!
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Great news. Good player with a great work ethic. Good team player. Also penner getting in shape is good to hear. If he can score 25 goals out of shape how many can he score as a true power forward?
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Outside of DD, Lewis and Richie were the biggys to lock up. Nicely done DL. Wish the Weber arbitration/deal would get done so we could stop reading silly “trade DD for … (fill in the blank)” and “DD is so greedy … (despite no terms have ever been publicly relased) BS.
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jonsey Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@KC23, +10
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Joemv8 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@KC23,
Agreed. The agents for DD and stamkos were hoping for offer sheets to come in for these guys. The only team that would sink that low would be the Oilers. Can`t trust them.
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Richardson is a bargain. Doughty will no doubt be overpaid. We don’t have a choice.
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Time to stop worrying about when Doughty will sign. The only really top drawer free RFAs that were out there this year have not as yet signed.
Stamkos, Weber, Parise, Doughty.
When the first one signs, the dominoes will fall.
Team looks much improved for this coming season…although I have been saying that for about 40 years. SERIOUSLY
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number 6 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@40 year fan,
I do agree that they ‘on paper’ seem to be a better team. How they will perform? Well, we’ll see. Paper is one thing, but if the ‘Kings Score’!!!,…… oh, Team X ‘Scores’ within 75 seconds again and they don’t clean that up… big time…. and also get a very stagnant power play sorted out, then….. you may be saying next year that they look better but you’ve been saying it for 41 years.
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Matthew Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@number 6, Ugh, why did you have to bring those awful memories of getting scored on immediately after scoring back up?! I had done such a wonderful job blocking them from my memory rather than dealing with them.
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That does it…. we are set! I realize DD hasnt been signed YET but that in no way worries me. DD will get taken care of and so will we. I predict we fight it out for best in the West this upcoming season and for sure take down at least a top 4 playoff spot. Thats a heavy prediction but Im confident we got what it takes in every aspect. Things are starting to fit “like a glove” and im happy Im a Kings fan who has seen the other side of things and can really appreciate what DL has done.
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PRMan Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Not really much of a prediction, as Dallas and Phoenix got way worse and Anaheim will if Selanne quits or has trouble recovering.
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glad to see richardson back! can’t wait till the season starts.
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Fair deal for both sides
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The punch in the nose from Salami cost him some cash. A bloody nose from a 40 year old has to cost you something. Richie pick on someone your size in the future.
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Stuart Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@OldKingsFan, LMAO!!! But it was a good docie-doe while it lasted…
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Kenny44 Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
@OldKingsFan, Teemu has 20 pounds on him, though
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Good to see that both arbitration cases were avoided!!!! I thought he might get a bit more $$$, but a good signing!
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Another great bargain by Lombardi.
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This seems quite equitable. Richie’s worth the cash and adds flexibilityl; his price equates well with his value.
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Alright Richie!! I’m so glad this deal is done. I love the energy this guy brings to the club.
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Gtreat to have him back
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Brad, you da man. Absolutely no way you were getting traded. Your work ethic is/should be a beacon for others on this team. Rock-n-Roll in 2011/2012 and beyond.
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Great! now let’s sign D. Doughty and T. Lewis!
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Solid bottom six guy but not really a guy I want in the top six. If he had a bit more size and point production I’d say different but he should still be able to help out the third or fourth lines for sure!
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VERY HAPPY with this news! Good on you Richie & DL for working this out! Well deserved raise and a fair price for the cap hit for 2 years.
Congratz guys!
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Yes!!! I love this guy’s hustle, grit and energy. Cmon October already!
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Alright DL and Richie, i was hoping for more than 1 year…… now yes Doughty,Trev,Holloway. How many of you want Stoll to come back in 2012,if he has a decent year at being the 3rd line center?…I do….
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TYLER Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@kfan, i second that…dude is solid on faceoffs, pk, shootout, and OK on PP but we wont need him there now
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Great news. Hardest working player on the team!
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Another piece for the cup run done.. Next? Get some Doughnuts.
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Player-X Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 5:10 am
@SaveByCechmanek, Lombardi made an offer but Drew’s eyes glazed over. He dozen’t like the offer. Lombardi wishes he’d eclair an amount. If the team would jelly would, but if Lombardi doesn’t sprinkle more cash into a serious offer it could be the sinking of the bismarck. If this deal doesn’t get done before the season stats, they should both be fried in oil.
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Irish lak Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@Player-X, lmao,
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I don’t understand the censorship on this site. I made a positive, well thought out post about the Richardson signing and it wasn’t posted. Please tell me what is the issue.
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Rich Hammond Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
The rule, clearly posted to the right, about posting under multiple names applies equally to everyone and is not, in fact, censorship. If you’re seeking to change the name you post under, let me know and I will ban the other one.
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Not Rich Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@Rich Hammond, I’ve posted under the name Masked Man before about a year ago. Changing my name once in the span of a year is a violation of your rule?
Go ahead and ban that name as long as I can post. I promise to try not to break your rules (on purpose anyways).
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Rich Hammond Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
You posted under a different name much more recently than that, unless someone else is using your computer and email address on this site. Please pick one name going forward, and it will be acceptable.
Ex-goalie Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
@Rich Hammond, Could you possibly email me the name that I posted under previously. I don’t recall posting under different names. I’ve had issues with hackers in the past, hopefully this isn’t the case.
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Ok, here is my new name
I fear I have upset the Hammer and I offer my full apologies. Delete my old accounts Mr. Hammond, I am now known as Ex-goalie.
Thumbs up for the Richardson signing! Great player! hopefully he gets his chances on the top two lines. I see a lot of similarities in his game to Max Talbot. That was the gist of my old post.
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