NEW YORK -- Mike Richards is glad to be back in the NHL and believes his biggest adjustment after missing the first half of the season will be the speed of the game.
"Watching hockey at home and being away from it I think you just take for granted playing and being in the NHL," the 30-year-old center said Thursday, a day after agreeing to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Washington Capitals.
"I played for 10 years and you almost take it for granted going to the rink every day, but when you don't have that opportunity, it weighs on you. So, it's nice to be back."
Richards was a free agent after the Los Angeles Kings bought out the remaining five years of his contract last summer following his arrest at a Canadian border crossing in June on charges of possession of a controlled substance.
He met with the NHL on Wednesday and was cleared to resume his career immediately. His legal case in Canada will continue with a hearing scheduled for Jan. 28.
"It's a privilege to play in the NHL and not everyone gets to do it," Richards said. "It's no fun being 30 years old and sitting on the couch and not having much to do. It's exciting to be back here. Fortunate and thank the Capitals for taking a chance on me and hopefully I can do some good things."
Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian MacLellan said with his team looking for depth, he had been eyeing Richards' situation since the summer and kept in touch with his agent (see full story).
NHL
NHL: Devils' Farnham, Jets' Ehlers fined for diving
The NHL fined New Jersey Devils forward Bobby Farnham and Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers $2,000 each Thursday for diving earlier this season.
Farnham had been warned following an incident during a game at Vancouver on Nov. 22. He was fined after picking up a minor for embellishment in a Dec. 30 game at Ottawa.
Ehlers was fined after an incident during a game against Detroit on Dec. 29. He had earlier been warned following a Nov. 21 game against Arizona.
The money goes to the players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Ducks: Tokarski acquired from Canadiens
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks have traded left wing Max Friberg to the Montreal Canadiens for goalie Dustin Tokarski.
The clubs announced the swap Thursday.
Tokarski is 10-12-5 in 33 career NHL appearances with Montreal and Tampa Bay. He has also played in five Stanley Cup playoff games.
Tokarski played six games as a backup to MVP Carey Price in Montreal this season, but became expendable after the club acquired Ben Scrivens.
All-Star Ducks goalie John Gibson left Wednesday's game with a lower-body injury, but the trade doesn't appear to be related. Gibson practiced with Anaheim on Thursday.
Friberg has played six NHL games over two seasons with the Ducks, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2011. He spent most of this season with Anaheim's AHL affiliate in San Diego.