Mike Richards (ice hockey)

Mike Richards
Richards with the Washington Capitals in April 2016
Born (1985-02-11) February 11, 1985
Kenora, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Los Angeles Kings
Washington Capitals
National team  Canada
NHL draft 24th overall, 2003
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 20052016

Michael Richards (born February 11, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Richards played 11 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons, spending time with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals.

Richards was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Flyers, 24th overall, and made his NHL debut in 2005. He was named captain of the Flyers in 2008 at just 23 years old, leading Philadelphia to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2010. In 2011, the Flyers traded Richards to the Los Angeles Kings, where he was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014. The Kings terminated his contract in 2015 after Richards was arrested for possession of oxycodone, a controlled substance, without a prescription.

In addition to his two Stanley Cup titles, Richards won an Olympic gold medal with Canada senior team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Richards' career also included championships in the Memorial Cup (2003), World Junior Championship (2005), and Calder Cup (2005).