Update on Mike Richards

Mike Richards, who has been out of the Kings’ lineup since Dec. 1, when he took a hit to the head from Florida’s Sean Bergenheim, remains in Los Angeles, where he is working out. There’s a chance that Richards might join the team in Detroit or Toronto, to get on the ice for a practice or two, but the Kings aren’t expecting Richards to play in either game, Dean Lombardi said. By all indications, the Kings desperately miss Richards, who has a team-high 11 goals and was a key cog on the power play.

Lombardi said of Richards’ status, “There’s a chance he’s going to join us on this trip, not to play, but everything is going good, in a positive way.’’

Interim coach John Stevens, whose ties with Richards go back to Philadelphia, where Stevens coached him for three-plus seasons, echoed Lombardi in terms of Richards’ status.

STEVENS: “I touched base with Richie yesterday, just to see how he was feeling and how he’s coming along. I thought it was important. Obviously I’ve got a good relationship with him, and I wanted to keep him informed of the mood of the team and what’s going on. … I’m not sure (whether Richards will join the team on the road). I think they’re going to decide that today, with Kinger [trainer Chris Kingsley] talking to him, touch base with him and then make that decision. … That’s a decision that hasn’t been made, but it’s something they’re entertaining now.’’