Kings' Richards: "This summer, I put in the work"

These are exactly the words fans of the Los Angeles Kings wanted to hear from Mike Richards headed into training camp:

"This summer, I put in the work."

ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun details the relationship between Richards and GM Dean Lombardi with some stellar quotes from Richards on just how much he appreciates Lombardi’s faith in him. Lombardi could have bought out the center, but didn't.

The bottom line here is the Richards seemingly did what he needed to do during the offseason.

"I worked out with trainers for the first time in a long time," he said. "I never felt that I needed to be pushed off the ice to work out but I think it’s good to have somebody there, first to make sure that you’re going every day, and secondly to help me with different things; even just having a guy there to spot you so you can do that extra round, or having a guy there to make sure you’re doing the right technique and you don’t hurt yourself. You can push yourself harder in different areas. It was nice to have someone there that if there’s a day you don’t feel like going, he’s there to push you, so you don’t take the easy way out. 

"I think before, not that I didn’t work hard, but I think I just took it for granted, where stuff was going on and you could skip a workout a day or two and not think it would be problem ... and then at the end of the summer, you’re probably not in the best shape you need to be in going into a season." 

Source: Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com