Mike Richards’ legal battle will go on longer than expected.
Richards, who signed with the Caps earlier this month and has appeared in three games, had his trial for possession of a controlled substance adjourned to Feb. 25 -- after it had already been adjourned to Jan. 28.
Toronto-based lawyer David M. Humphrey said in an email to The Associated Press that government officials asked to push back Richards’ court date because it is awaiting the results of an investigation that was requested by the defense.
Richards is facing charges from an incident last June at a Manitoba border crossing, in which he was alleged to have brought oxycodone from the U.S. into Canada.
That incident led his former team, Los Angeles, to terminate his contract for a “material breach.” The Kings announced in late October they’d reached a settlement with Richards, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Richards, 30, inked a one-year, $1 million deal with the Caps on Jan. 6.