Can Mike Richards Continue His Good Start?
Expectations were low, but Mike Richards has had a good start as a Capital. He looks like he fits in. Does his good play continue?
Brad Davis: I think so, but it is going to depend on conditioning. He hadn’t played in over half of a year. But, this extended break from the blizzard could be beneficial to a guy like Richards. With Johansson injured, he could have a chance to make a case as the third line center moving forward.
Kevin Marland: I sure hope so, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Richards is a nice addition to the roster, but only up to a point. Kind of like how Alex Semin was either going to ‘fit’ with Montreal or he wasn’t. He’s expendable. The intricacies of learning Trotz’ system really looks like it takes some time to master and with the season now winding down, there may not be enough time left. It looks like Oshie only just got the hang of it and Curtis Glencross never looked like he ever did. Let Troy Mann have Richards and vice versa. If he comes back to the Caps’ bench, then he’s earned his spot – not inherited it by having his name on the Cup twice.
Scott Deming: I was a fan of the Richards signing from the moment I got the alert on my phone. He’s played well so far, but he’s only going to get better as he gets more and more comfortable. He lives for big moments, so just wait until he scores a big goal in the playoffs.
Alex Mandaro: I liked what I saw from Mike Richards in the dumpster fire of a game that took place in Buffalo, but I would be lying if I didn’t have tapered expectations. The issue isn’t with my faith in Richards’ ability. My concern is more about what will take place after his true identity within the Capitals’ roster becomes more clear. As it stands, I think he looked great for the entirety of the 3 minutes and 16 seconds he played while the Capitals were shorthanded and looked better than the majority of the team for the 13 minutes he played total. The issue is, once the team grows healthier, his presence could mean a decrease in value for other bottom six players I am fond of. We will see if this is the case, but I would hate to see us lose Michael Latta or Brooks Laich. I have a soft spot for Latta and I don’t think I could handle how sad it would be to see Tom Wilson lose his best buddy and roommate. I think that duo adds a ton of personality and grit to the Caps. In the meantime, I look forward to see Richards continue to do well and have him and Williams impart some Stanley Cup wisdom to the rest of the team.
Ben Eisenberg: I’ve been impressed so far and based on Trotz’s quotes lately I’m sure he is too. He is already winning faceoffs and contributing to the penalty kill, even creating some offense in flashes. I think he’s only going to get better and could fill in for an injured top-six forward if necessary in a pinch.
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