Los Angeles Kings send Mike Richards to AHL

Mike Richards' run with the Los Angeles Kings has come to an end.

The 29-year-old center was sent to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. That will enable the salary cap-strapped team to save $925,000 off his $5.75 million cap hit.

The feisty-two player was acquired by the Kings from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011 and won two Stanley Cups in Los Angeles.

But his goal totals and ice time have diminished over the years.

He scored 18 goals and averaged nearly 19 minutes in 2011-12. This season, he has five goals in 47 games and is averaging less than 14 minutes a night.

He has five-plus years left on a 12-year, $69 million contract that he signed with the Flyers.

The Kings placed him on waivers on Monday, but other team had claimed him.

Richards hasn't played in the AHL since the 2005 playoffs with the Philadelphia Phantoms, after his Ontario Hockey League season ended and the NHL season was canceled.

PHOTOS: NHL player power rankings