On multiple occasions over the past couple of weeks, the Los Angeles Kings have been unable to ice a full lineup due to salary cap constraints.

The biggest issue for the Kings' books is that the salary of defenseman Slava Voynov has remained on the cap while he's suspended indefinitely by the league following his arrest for alleged domestic violence. Still, this latest stay in salary cap hell has the Kings thinking more creatively about their financial situation, and considering some more creative solutions - including potentially trading key contributors like centerman Mike Richards.

"The L.A. Kings need some cap relief, and they'd sooner rather than later - and by any means possible - like to get something on the Slava Voynov situation, but even if they get that, long-term, this is still a franchise that has some salary cap issues," TSN's Bob McKenzie reported during an Insider Trading segment on Tuesday night.

"They've got young players - Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli - coming up for long-term contracts at the end of this season," McKenzie continued, "so it's not surprising that we're hearing Mike Richards' name as a veteran player that is out there and potentially available in trade."

Richards, 29, is signed through the 2019-20 NHL season on a deal that carries a salary cap hit of $5.75 million per season. While McKenzie suggests that Richards' deal carries some cap recapture risk, Richards will only be 35 upon the expiry of his contract - so that risk seems minimal.

"At the end of the day the L.A. Kings have to start freeing up salary cap space," McKenzie concluded. "And one way they're exploring that, is to at least look at the possibility of moving Mike Richards."

