Mike Richards feels like the move to Los Angeles will be good for his career. The fact that he can maintain a lower profile in L.A. than he had in Philadelphia is appealing to the center. "It's tough sometimes seeing these articles or hearing some things that are said when you know that they aren't true," he said. "It's almost mentally draining when you keep having to back your story up off the ice, defending yourself when people say things that aren't really correct." Rid of distractions, look for a productive season out of Richards this year.

Mike Richards said his decision not to participate in the Flyers' Dry Island program "wasn't a big deal." The Dry Island was a voluntary program where Flyers players were asked to go a month without drinking and write their number on a locker room board to signify their pledge. After Richards and Jeff Carter were traded, two unnamed players said that Richards and Carter decided against taking part in the program. "It was just something that happened for a handful of guys, just more of a playful thing that half the team took part in and the other half didn't," Richards said. "It wasn't a big deal. . . . Someone's trying to make a mountain out of it."

Mike Richards will have a familiar face coaching him in Los Angeles with Terry Murray behind the bench. Murray coached Richards in Philadelphia and the two got along well. "He was great with me," Richards said on Thursday after the trade that sent him to the Kings. "He worked with me in Philly but I also had John Stevens as well in Philadelphia. They were both coaches that I got along extremely well with and who played me a lot of minutes and in positions to have success, on the power play and penalty kill. Those are two guys that I got along extremely well with, and I'm looking forward to working with them again." Richards will be the Kings second line center and provide them with excellent leadership. A 70-75 point season is not out of the question if the talented and chippy Richards manages to stay healthy.

On the heels of Jeff Carter's exodus from the Philadelphia Flyers, Mike Richards has been traded to Los Angeles for Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. What is going on in Philadelphia and how much money are they paying goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov?! The Flyers changed the makeup of their roster by dealing two great centers out of town. Richards notched 23 goals and 66 points in 81 games in 2010-11. The Kings will have a great one-two-punch of Richards and Anze Kopitar for next season.