Kings' Mike Richards was 'a little bit' worried he would be bought out

Forty-one points in 82 games wasn't the performance the Los Angeles Kings were looking for from forward Mike Richards last season. After a summer of rumors that the Kings would buy out his contract, the team decided to keep Richards, much to his relief.

"Whether I thought (a buyout) would happen or not, I don’t know if I ever did; but there’s always that possibility that makes you nervous," he told L.A. Kings Insider. 

"I like it here, my family likes it here ... and I want to be here," Richards said.

Richards admitted he was "a little bit" worried he'd become a free agent, and knew he had to change something in order to prepare for his uncertain future. But he wasn't about to try yoga or pilates. "No aerobics, I’m not like (Jarret Stoll), no yoga, none of that stuff."

Instead, Richards focused on fitness in a more traditional way. "I worked out with a trainer for the first time since I was in juniors, just to push me and make sure that I’m there every day, almost like a babysitter I guess," he said. "It was good. ... I think for the first time I saw the benefit of it."

Richards is focusing on defending the Stanley Cup, and his personal goals will take a backseat. "Obviously you'd like to have 100 points or 50 goals or whatever, but I’d rather be on a team that wins than do those things."