from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

Mike Richards is back with the Los Angeles Kings, and you have to wonder just what kind of player we're going to see after Richards' late-January assignment to the AHL.

Richards had 14 points in 16 AHL games, with the organization on him to improve his conditioning. Kings GM Dean Lombardi always told me there was a chance Richards would be a late-season recall, and now here we are.

There are a few factors in it the decision, including the fact that veteran center Jarret Stoll remains out with an injury and the team doesn't know how long he will be out. Stoll still isn't skating yet. So that's left the Kings a little young down the middle, with Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff as part of the group of centers on the big club. But as a team source told me Sunday, this is also about the team needing some energy.

The Kings are two points out of a playoff spot and need a spark as they begin a critical five-game road trip Monday in New Jersey. It's do or die for Los Angeles.

read on for Burnside and McDonald on the Bruins, Strang on the Rangers and Powers on Detroit/St. Louis...