NHL:
Helsinki, Finland — Milan Lucic has already given much thought to the future.
The 34-year-old forward, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after winning the gold medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship on Sunday, however, didn’t want to talk about it.
“I discussed it a few days ago,” Lucic stated. The essential thing, in my opinion, is simply taking in the victory right now.
All I wanted to do was show up and help out however I could. Even though the month was lengthy, it was worthwhile in the end.
Doug Armstrong, who was appointed Canada’s general manager for the World Championship on March 23, was the guy Lucic had contacted.
Lucic was given a roster place despite completing the season with an NHL career-low 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 77 games with the Calgary Flames.
Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, who also won a gold medal with Canada, said of the player, “He brings a lot of value.” He is undoubtedly a fantastic leader, yet he has a lot of energy left. He is a player who can still make plays when he is on the ice, and when he is in the corners, people are still concerned about him. He offers plenty. He still possesses it.
If the Flames do decide to re-sign Lucic, it won’t be under the same conditions as the seven-year, $42 million deal ($6 million average yearly value) he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2016 (which was not re-signed by the Flames).
Lucic has 187 points (74 goals, 113 assists) and a minus-60 rating in 526 regular-season games with the Oilers and Flames since signing that contract. He played in 647 regular-season games with the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings in his first nine NHL seasons, scoring 397 points (159 goals, 238 assists) and posting a plus-120 rating. In 2011, the Bruins also won the Stanley Cup.
Lucic said in April that the output slump bothered him throughout the term of the deal.
The Flames acquired Lucic in a deal with the Oilers on July 19, 2019, for winger James Neal. “You want to live up to the expectations of what you’re getting paid and all that type of stuff,” stated Lucic. I very definitely merited it. But the fact that I couldn’t live up to it was something that bothered me every day. It was occasionally difficult to cope with from a personal perspective.
He also doesn’t have to consider whether he still wants to play.
In April, Lucic remarked, “I definitely still want to play.” “My head is there right now. I’m still in good physical and mental condition, and I still enjoy the game. My intention is to go on playing.
However, it’s still unclear if that will be with the Flames or another team.
There are several scenarios that have gone through Lucic’s mind.
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