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NHL Kings GM Calls Mike Richards Situation "A Tragedy" In Wake Of Contract Resolution

In an "emotional, poignant reaction" to the resolution of the contract saga involving former C Mike Richards, NHL Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Friday "called what happened to Richards 'a tragedy,'" according to Lisa Dillman of the L.A. TIMES. Richards in June was arrested at the Canada border and later charged with possession of Oxycodone. The Kings and the NHLPA "avoided going to arbitration" regarding Richards' contract, "reaching an agreement Friday." Lombardi addressed the issue in a statement, saying, "Without a doubt, the realization of what happened to Mike Richards is the most traumatic episode of my career." Lombardi: "At times, I think that I will never recover from it. It is difficult to trust anyone right now -- and you begin to question whether you can trust your own judgment. The only thing I can think of that would be worse would be suspecting your wife of cheating on you for five years and then finding out in fact it was true." He added, "Anyone close enough to me knows how much I loved Mike Richards" (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).

THE INTERN: In California, Rich Hammond reported the Kings have hired Jack Jablonski, a USC student who as a 16-year-old was "paralyzed from the chest down after he took a hit from behind during a hockey game," as a communications intern. Jablonski will "work in the press box this season, providing assistance to reporters and Kings staffers." Jablonski: "I definitely wanted to keep pursuing a career in hockey and that hockey lifestyle and I’m super interested in PR and communications so I hoped I could find an area that was a good fit." Hammond noted Jablonski "became part of the Kings' college-intern staff this month" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/11).

FROZEN TREATS: FOXSPORTSWEST.com's Pete Stella noted the Kings have created a line of team-themed popsicles, using "cartoon characters from their Kings emoji keyboard created by artist Mike Sofka" and creating "fun player flavors such as Pearson Pineapple, Carter Coconut, Toffoli Berry and Lucic Lime." The Kings Ice Crew and mascot Bailey "hit the streets to promote the return of the Kings to the rink (and to FOX Sports West) for another season." Kings Senior VP/Marketing Jonathan Lowe said that the effort was a "resounding success and had fans clamoring for more" (FOXSPORTSWEST.com, 10/9).

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