Mike Richards playing injured ? [All Posts re: the Mike Richards Debate Go in Here]
 

Mike has not recorded a single point in the last Seven games(Longest slump all year). He also has not looked very good.

So is he playing injured ? or is something else going on ?

My diagnosis: He's got a severely torn right winger. Amputation is the only solution. No second opinions necessary.

I hope that is the case, he's been one of many players putting on an uninspiring effort of late.

He's banged up and has the cheeseburglar on his rw.

You guys are just evil ********. :laugh: No mention of pancakes?

i wouldn't try either if i had moron a and b on my wing.

I think there is something more to it than just his wingers. I mean he can't get off a shot or pass without it being blocked! I mean the puck doesn't even travel 1 feet off his stick! He has zero aggression and tenacity he displayed earlier in the year before the injury. The old Mike Richards would of still excelled despite of whoever is on his wings, or at least be effective. If he's not hurt, then I guess he's playing to not re-aggravate the concussion like symptoms he experienced.

Or maybe he's just not that good?

Seriously...?

Still feelin' the effects from that concussion one can assume.

I'm of the notion that having Pennercakes coupled with Old Man Stoll on the wings is making his head spin.

You can tell hes frustrated. I hope he can overcome it quickly.

So he goes from being a top player for several seasons to not very good?

Playing for the Kings can rapidly change that.

There' s something going on with Richards....his breakdown the left wing the other night. He'd usually get a better shot off if not scored. It's too bad....with all of our non-scoring players we need someone to come through. We can't leave it to hunter, richardson, lewis, fraser, penner, stoll....add to the list.

Penner has actually been the most tolerable player on that line honestly. He is doing what we all though he should. *at least I do*

Using his size, getting in front of the net, winning battles in the corner.

Hard for Penner to get rewarded for being in front of the net when Stoll hits nothing but glass and Richards isn't throwing much on net either.


That whole line is just a mess really. No one, stylistically is on the same page. No identity.

I think right here might be the issue.


It's tough to come back from a concussion and not be worried about re-aggrivation

Come to Los Angeles and your career dies. :cry:

I do think Richards uninspired play of late may be because of his frustration with his line mates. Im sure it isnt fun not being able to contribute like you know you could.

however I've also noticed that Richards the past few years breaks down in the middle of the year and his production slows down considerably. I think he needs a more intense conditioning program than he is currently accustomed to.

Thanks troll. Richards is a warrior and it hurts to watch him play the way he has of late. With any luck, he'll be back to his bad-ass self soon.

Ok that is just great. Just what we need. I can already hear posters *****ing... Kopi and MR both start hot. Then Kopitar goes into a slump. MR still hot. Kopitar comes back, MR goes slumpin' again, juuuuust like every season. Kopi traditionally ends season well, so now we need to know if MR joins him or not.

Since pretty much all NHL players get into a slump sometimes, DL needs to carefully examine their slumping patterns and take care that at each point of the season 85% of the players are hot.

:sarcasm:

Edit: term "slumping pattern" is © when it describes scientifically proven seasonal patterns of NHL players' scoring fluctuations.

Hopefully it's not some lingering problems from the concussion. He really hasn't been nearly as effective since returning though. If it is in fact a injury, I hope it's something else and that he is able to play through it, and that it will get better shortly. And the Richards line really isn't working. Wasn't he playing with Lewis at some point? Lewis has really improved his game the last few weeks, I wouldn't mind seeing him playing with Richards.

Maybe misses Philly? Maybe the 80 deg weather? Maybe Concussion issues? Crappy Wingers?
I think it's a combination of all of these.

its stoll, he's a g*d damn plague

Would be interesting to revisit that "Who is the best LA King forward" poll right about now. Richards won it handily a few months back...

The way Simmonds has been playing and Schenn is starting to play is making Lombardi look like the complete failure that he is. Of course, the fact that Richards is playing horribly doesn't help.