NHL Free Agents: Milan Lucic – Rumors, Best Fits
By Ryan Ritchie
NHL Free Agents Milan Lucic: Latest Rumors, FA Profile, 5 Best Fits
Among the big name NHL free agents this summer, 28-year-old Milan Lucic should be one of the more highly coveted players this summer.
Original hopes upon joining LA was a long-term deal could be hammered out, but there’s a chance Lucic hits the open market on July 1.
Rumors surfaced during the regular season which linked Milan Lucic to his hometown Vancouver Canucks.
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Given Jim Benning‘s message to fans following the Erik Gudbranson trade, it’s conceivable that VAN spends money in FA.
Taken 50th overall (2nd round) by Boston in 2006, Bruins GM Don Sweeney shocked the hockey world last summer when he traded Milan Lucic, Reilly Smith, and Dougie Hamilton.
Milan’s style of play is a rare commodity in the NHL – that mix of speed, size, skill, and physicality is a deadly combination.
Milan Lucic’s Resume:
– Nephew of Dan Kesa, a 5th round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks back in 1991. He only had 139 games (30 points) of NHL experience. Kesa spent the majority of his pro career in the AHL/IHL.
– Playing his junior career for WHL Vancouver Giants, Lucic appeared in back-to-back Memorial Cup’s in ’05-’06 and ’06-’07. Vancouver was the WHL Champion in ’05-’06, and won the Memorial Cup in ’06-’07 (Milan Lucic was named MC MVP).
– Represented NHL YoungStars Roster at the All-Star Game in ’07-’08
– Stanley Cup Champion in 2011
NHL Free Agents: Milan Lucic Rumors/Speculation
via Sportsnet,
“There’s been two or three little talks here and there,” Lucic said. “My plan is to remain a King and hopefully finish off my career here.
“If I could look eight, nine, 10 years down the road, hopefully I play that long. I hope it is right here in L.A. and that something can get done and conversations can get picked up in the near future because I really have enjoyed my time this season and love being a King and living here in L.A.”
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos says the Edmonton Oilers, a generally soft team, should target Lucic if he hits the open market. Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province figures Canucks fans should give up hope that the East Van native will sign with the Canucks.
If the Los Angeles Kings have any hope of re-signing NHL free agents Milan Lucic, Jamie McBain, or Trevor Lewis, they’ll need to rid themselves of Dustin Brown‘s contract (at the bare minimum).
GM Dean Lombardi will need to get even more creative in order to find cap space for that missing top four right-handed defenseman.
Related Story: NHL Weekly Roundup: Latest News and Rumors
Potential Contract for Milan Lucic
In order to determine how much Lucic might fetch on the open market, we gathered a handful of names that could be used in negotiations listed below.
No, it might be fair to use a short-term contract such as Plekanec, or an overpaid Paul Stastny, but expect Milan Lucic to fall somewhere within this group ($5.5 million/year to $7.5 million/year).
We also cannot discount the possibility of a max seven-year deal (maybe even eight if he sticks with Los Angeles).
Contracts That Can Used for Negotiating Leverage:
Paul Stastny – Signed 4yr/$7 million dollars
Ryan Kesler – Signed 6yr/$6.875 million dollars
Tomas Plekanec – Signed 2yrs/$6 million dollars
Ryan Callahan – Signed 6yrs/$5.8 million dollars
Blake Wheeler – Signed 6yrs/$5.6 million dollars
Next: NHL Mock Draft 6.0: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis
5 Best Fits
Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks