LOS ANGELES—The Royal Canadian Mountain Police have officially charged former LA Kings forward Mike Richards, 30, with possession of a controlled substance while attempting to enter into Canada earlier this summer.
The controlled substance has been revealed to be OxyContin, a legally prescribed painkilling substance high in content with oxycodone.
If Richards is convicted he could face fines or prison time. At this time, he has not entered a plea.
Richards’ 12-year contract with the Kings was already previously terminated after the organization decided that the player had made “a material breach of the requirements of his Standard Player’s Contract.”
It is believed that Richards originally neglected to inform the team about the incident when it allegedly happened on June 17. The Kings claim they first heard of the incident during the NHL Draft Weekend in Florida back in late June.
While a number of other teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, were interested in trading for Richards, the Kings ceased all possible negotiations and made the move to terminate the contract instead. This action prompted the NHLPA to file a grievance on behalf of Richards.
Richards was first temporarily removed from the team back in February after he was sent to play with the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ AHL affiliate team.
As the NHL season was winding down, the Kings management decided to call Richards back up to the team in late March to aid in the team’s ultimately unsuccessful push of the playoffs. After returning, Richards tallied no points and became a healthy scratch for the last several games of the season.
In the 53 total games he appeared with the team during the 2014-2015 regular season, he only scored 16 points.
Richards is scheduled to appear in Emerson Provincial Court on September 10.
