Report: Rival GMs 'screaming bloody murder' over Richards' settlement with Kings

Mike Richards' settlement with the Los Angeles Kings apparently has other executives feeling, well, unsettled.

Rival general managers are "screaming bloody murder," privately, about the relief Los Angeles gained in slipping out from underneath the weighty contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Friedman adds that some are threatening to bring up what they believe is a clear circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement at the Board of Governors' meetings in December.

Kings general manager Dean Lombardi will save more than $4 million against his cap for the next five seasons with Richards no longer under contract. That figure will exceed $5 million in the seasons leading up to 2031, when the recapture payment is discontinued.

Friedman spoke to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who continued to defend the settlement reached.

"In our view, the Kings had a 'Bona Fide' opportunity to win this grievance. In that case, they would have no cap hit at all. This way, there's some penalty."