Mike Richards: Skating with former junior team

Richards is back on the ice, skating with his former junior squad in Kitchener, and looking to get back to the NHL, reports Josh Brown of the Waterloo Region Record. He is an unrestricted free agent after coming to a settlement with the Kings after they terminated him following his arrest for possession of a controlled substance.

He indicated that several teams have asked about him, but wouldn't reveal which ones. "I don't think it's about having anything to prove but more that burning desire to continue to have success," he said. Richards also avoided conversation about his brush with the law this past summer and instead focused on the future. "You can't do anything about it now but push forward and look toward the future and try to learn from your mistakes," he added. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has lost a big chunk of his game, but could still provide spot-start value should he claw his way back to a middle-six role with an NHL team.