June 24, 2011
by Gann Matsuda
BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: Los Angeles Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi and Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren got the drop on the rest in terms of draft day deals by completing a draft-eve, blockbuster trade that sent center Mike Richards to the Kings in exchange for right wing Wayne Simmonds, center prospect Brayden Schenn, and a second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Also includes details on Ryan Smyth requesting to be traded and about the Kings and the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Mike Richards
Photo: Los Angeles Kings
LOS ANGELES — With the Stanley Cup Finals and the
National Hockey League’s annual awards extravaganza behind us, at this time of year, attention turns to the annual NHL Entry Draft, which is often accompanied by a slew of draft day trades.
But this year, Los Angeles Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi decided not to wait until later today when the 2011 NHL Entry Draft begins in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rather, he got things off to an explosive start with a draft-eve, blockbuster deal that sent right wing Wayne Simmonds, center prospect Brayden Schenn, and a second round pick in the 2012 draft to the Philadelphia Flyers, in exchange for center Mike Richards and center prospect Rob Bordson. Read more of this post
