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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - The Los Angeles Kings decided they could wait no longer for Mike Richards to regain his championship form.The Kings put Richards on waivers Monday when they returned from the all-star break, finally acknowledging the veteran centres declining play.Richards has been a key part of the Kings two Stanley Cup championship teams in the past three seasons, playing a responsible two-way role and providing leadership. But his plummeting offensive production hasnt matched his exorbitant contract since shortly after he arrived in Los Angeles, which acquired him from Philadelphia in 2011.The Kings stuck by Richards, hoping he would reclaim his formidable offensive game. But when Los Angeles returned from the break in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, general manager Dean Lombardi made the move.I felt he deserved that chance for all that he had done for us, Lombardi said during practice at their training complex. I dont think theres any question we dont win that first Cup without what he did for this team, and obviously you dont win the second one. But youve still got to be at a certain level here that has to get done.Richards, who turns 30 next month, has only five goals and 10 assists in 47 games with Los Angeles this season. He has a minus-7 rating and has won only 48 per cent of his faceoffs while playing on a depth line with the Kings — not the contributions expected of a player with a 12-year, $69 million contract that has a $5.75 million annual salary cap hit for the next six seasons.If Richards clears waivers and the Kings dont work out a trade, he could be headed to their AHL affiliate in Manchester if he accepts the assignment. Lombardi sees no reason why he cant come back ... and be what he usually is in the playoffs if his game improves in the minors.The Kings clearly are in need of a spark after losing four straight and seven of eight heading into the break, falling out of the playoff picture. Los Angeles recalled rookie Nick Shore to take Richards roster spot.We understand its a business, but in here, youre a family, Kings captain Dustin Brown said. So thats why its really hard to see (Richards) go on waivers. ... As a group of guys who have won together, its even harder.Lombardi and Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter have ardently defended Richards in recent years, even declining the chance to do a money-saving buyout of his contract last summer.Lombardi, who values continuity and player loyalty in a league that has largely lost touch with the concepts, finally made the move long anticipated by Kings fans after trying to trade Richards in recent weeks.Its been a big part of the success of this team, Lombardi said. If youre going to expect loyalty from certain players, at times you have to show loyalty to them. The issue becomes, wheres that line? Im never going to lose my belief in those values being critical, but as we see in the cap era, the cap is actually designed ... to eliminate those type of emotions. Unfortunately, I still believe theyre a critical part of a good team.Richards scored 89 goals over three seasons with the Flyers from 2007-10, and the club made him its captain and signed him to that mammoth extension in December 2007.But the Kings gave up Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn when Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren decided to break up his core with separate trades of Richards and goal-scorer Jeff Carter, who ended up being reunited with Richards in Los Angeles several months later.Richards contract still runs through 2020. His scoring production has dropped every year since 2010, down to just 11 goals last season.The Kenora, Ont., native became the first hockey player to win Olympic gold, world-junior gold, the Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup. He was part of the 2010 Canadian Olympic team that won gold in Vancouver.In 704 career NHL games, Richards has 133 goals and 216 assists. His career high in points was 80, back in 2008-09 with the Flyers.— With files from The Canadian Press. Nashville Predators Jerseys . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. Roman Josi Predators Jersey .C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have activated defenceman Joni Pitkanen from injured reserve. http://www.authenticpredatorspro.com/Austin-watson-predators-jersey/ . To be fair, the celebrations are already anything but tame. Nerf ball tricks shots are just the tip of the iceberg for a group that has performed in zero gravity, faced pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and an assembled team on the MTV series "Fantasy Factory", and even hit a basketball trick shot from a passing blimp. Pekka Rinne Predators Jersey .J. -- While Martin Brodeur wasnt willing to say he stole one for the New Jersey Devils against the Columbus Blue Jackets, almost everyone else was. Ryan Johansen Jersey . The Henry Burris-led squad finished second in the East Division before advancing to the Grey Cup where they ultimately fell to the home field advantage wielding Saskatchewan Roughriders.TORONTO - For the second time in less than a month, Kyle Lowry heard MVP chants rain down at him as he stepped to the line nearing the conclusion of yet another remarkable performance. "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. The sound he heard as he missed that free throw was less about his candidacy for an award nobody actually expects him to win - though he has been the Raptors MVP - than it was a sentiment of appreciation. Often misunderstood, Lowry has finally found something in Toronto that had eluded him for seven seasons prior. Lowry has found a team that fits him like a glove, a locker room filled with players who hang on his every word and a city that is ready to embrace him as their own. Lowry has found a home. "Im just playing," said the Raptors point guard, after eclipsing 30 points for the second straight game - the first time hes accomplished that feat as a pro - carrying his team to 98-83 wire-to-wire win over the Magic on Wednesday. "My team, they expect me to do a certain thing every night and when you go out there and play for these guys that give you everything they got in this locker room, you dont want to disappoint them." Lowry had scored 31 in Mondays thrilling victory over the Nets. Two days later, it was a near triple-double, a season-best 33 points to go along with 11 assists and seven rebounds. All of this without Torontos leading scorer. DeMar DeRozan continues to sit out, nursing a sprained left ankle that is steadily improving, according to the Raptors guard. On Wednesday, he watched from the locker room because, as he insisted, he couldnt bare to be a well-dressed spectator on the Raptors bench. What he saw was a team that has come together in his absence and a player, in Lowry, who has taken his game to a whole new level. By the end of the first quarter, Lowry had 17 points, perfect on all five of his three-point attempts. The Raptors, as a team, connected on their first nine treys, making 11 of 14 in the opening half. When his team made their way to the locker room at intermission, Lowry had scored or assisted on 12 of the Raptors 17 field goals in his 18 first-half minutes. The lead was 15. "Hes stepped it up," coach Dwane Casey said of his point guard. "He set the tone in the first half with his threes, just his aggressive play means a lot." He seemed to brring out the best in everybody.dddddddddddd. Amir Johnson had his best game in well over a month, scoring 22 points and adding 11 boards. Jonas Valanciunas, who was named to the Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend earlier in the evening, recorded his 16th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Lowrys fingerprints were all over the teams effort. "You cant say enough," Casey continued. "I just hope, I keep my fingers crossed that the coaches voted him in [to the All-Star game] because he deserves it. Hes one of the best point guards in the league right now." Lowry has made his case loud and clear - though both 30-point performances have come after the coaches ballots for All-Star reserves were collected on Sunday - and his fate will be revealed on Thursday. The 27-year-old leads the East in assists in January, averaging 8.3, hitting more threes (49) than any player in the league, shooting them at a 46 per cent clip and leading his team to their second consecutive winning month. On Monday, he became the first player this season to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game, a feat that was only accomplished by LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant last year. You have to go deep into the franchises not-so-rich history to find a point guard that even comes close to the level that Lowry is playing at right now. Damon Stoudamire, perhaps? Its been a while. Casey has been pumping Lowrys tires around the league and hopes that will tip the scale in his favour when the All-Star subs are revealed. As it turns out, maybe they should have sent his backup on the campaign trail. "Kyle is an unbelievable player," said Greivis Vasquez, who started Wednesday in place of the injured DeRozan on Wednesday. "Hes doing great things, not just for the team but for the city and thats huge." "Ill tell you this, he should make it," he continued. "Its not because Im his teammate, the numbers dont lie. I mean, Im seeing it, watching it and Im enjoying it." As it happens, Lowrys not holding his breath. Although he would welcome the honour with open arms, hes acknowledged that, of the two, DeRozan will likely be the one to get the call. One way or another, Lowry has 14 teammates, a coach, and the bulk of a city that believes hes an All-Star. Regardless of the result Thursday evening - as the Raptors land in Denver to begin a five-game road swing - that is not likely to change. ' ' '