Mike Richards Signs with Washington. What Does it Mean for Hershey?
CALGARY, AB – APRIL 9: Mike Richards #10 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 9, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Kings 3-1. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
The Washington Capitals announced Wednesday they have agreed to terms with centerman Mike Richards. Richards, 30, has had legal issues over the past year, but has now landed himself a job with the Capitals organization.
There could be many reasons that the Capitals made this signing, but one in particular sticks out: the lack of depth at center. The position has very little depth in Hershey currently as Chandler Stephenson is currently out and Zach Sill is on recall to Washington.
The Bears were working with two true centers since Saturday when it was announced Stephenson had an upperbody injury. Now with the signing of Richards, Hershey could regain Sill, or even the former Philadelphia Phantom in Richards.
What does Hershey’s current depth at center look like? At Bears practice on Wednesday, Travis Boyd was skating top line center with Chris Bourque and Chris Brown. Carter Camper was centering Paul Carey and Sean Collins. Nathan Walker has moved from his normal left wing position to center, skating with Liam O’Brien and Garrett Mitchell.
On Tuesday, Cam Reid was signed by Hershey on a PTO from Reading, giving the Bears a bit more depth at the middle forward spot. “We’re down to twelve forwards,” head coach Troy Mann said Wednesday. “Stephenson’s probably out for the weekend. [Jakub] Vrana’s not real close in terms of this weekend. We wanted, with [Reid] 40 miles away [in Reading], to get him in here for practice for three days.
“Most likely we won’t take him on the road Friday because the twelve forwards that played against Bridgeport really deserve that opportunity based on how we played Sunday. At the end of the day, we could have an injury Friday night and need someone Saturday.”
Per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, Richards met with NHL officials on Wednesday and was given clearance to resume play in the NHL immediately. He could join the Capitals and start playing right away, or as Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in an interview with Capitals senior writer Mike Vogel, “Maybe if we need to use a two-way conditioning period in the American League, we’ll use it, or use part of it.” The Capitals believe he is close to game shape, but will bring in Richards before deciding if he is at a level of conditioning comparable to centers in the NHL.
Richards spent 16 games in the AHL last season with Manchester between late January and early March. Hershey starts a 3-in-3 on Friday in Rochester.