When the Edmonton Oilers signed Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42MM contract in the summer of 2016, he was expected to bring a big, tough presence to a team that had lacked it in the past. The power forward had been a 30-goal scorer in the past, and was still in his late-twenties and expected to be effective for several years. Today, as Lucic celebrates his 30th birthday, speculation has risen about his future in Edmonton.
On Edmonton radio today, Frank Seravalli of TSN reported that the Oilers are talking to other teams to try and trade Lucic and get rid of his contract:
My understanding, and the reason that Milan Lucic is on our [TSN Trade Bait] list, is from my understanding they’re trying and talking to teams about potentially taking another contract back—even if that means sweetening the pot with a pick or some other roster player in order to make it happen—they’re pushing, or at least doing their due diligence and working to move on from Milan Lucic if they can. I just don’t know if it’s going to happen with that much term left, it’s going to be a really tough one to do.
Lucic is coming off the worst full season of his career, with just 10 goals and 34 points in 82 games. Though still able to protect the puck and help his team out through the neutral zone, Lucic looked a step behind the play at times and unable to really assert himself in the offensive zone. His minutes were reduced in the latter part of the season, averaging just 13:41 in his final 15 games.
The Oilers could perhaps have an ace up their sleeve if they are truly trying to trade the big winger. On July 1st, Lucic is owed a $3.5MM signing bonus on what was a front-loaded contract, meaning any acquiring team will only need to pay him $22.5MM over the last five years of the contract. Though his cap hit of $6MM is still troublesome for several clubs in the league, a team with ample space might be more amenable to a player earning an average of just $4.5MM over the next several years. If the Oilers were to retain salary in the transaction, they could reduce that number even more.
There is of course the chance that Lucic bounces back from his terrible season. He hadn’t posted a full season without at least 42 points since his rookie year in 2007-08, and had scored 23 goals as recently as 2016-17. Though he may not be the high-end scoring player he once was, an effective third-line player for less than $4.5MM doesn’t seem so bad. If Edmonton can find a team that is willing to take on the money in exchange for that “sweetened pot,” perhaps there is a deal to be made. Otherwise, they’ll have to hope for that bounce back season on their own, and try to fit Lucic into a roster that desperately needs to get back to the playoffs in 2018-19.
If they attach their 1st round pick to him maybe they could work something out with NYR. Lucic and Edmonton’s 1st for like Zuccarello and a pick
So happy the Kings didn’t retain him. They should have never made that trade for him to begin with.
why? he had a great year with the kings….. kings couldn’t resign him…. i like the guy but not at that contract…too long/too ugly…
I didn’t like the trade because of what we gave up and knowing that they wouldn’t be able to retain him. trades for rentals are the worse.
They traded the #13 overall pick in a pretty solid draft for 1 season of Lucic. Plus that deal gave path to the Sharks getting their long term goalie. Kings should have traded Jones somewhere in the east where they knew he would be a starter
Plus I believe that pick became McAvoy or Debrusk.
Besides their first round pick and Jones (who got flipped back to the Sharks for another first round pick), they gave the Bruins Colin Miller.
Lucic has a no-movement clause. He has to approve any move. It isn’t as simple as finding a team willing to take Lucic’s contract (or part of it). The Oilers have to find a team that Lucic is willing to go to that is willing and/or has the cap room to take Lucic’s contract. That’s not going to be easy
Closer to impossible
I see it as a 2 year deal to deal with his salary , and then the new team offers Seattle a pick to select him in the expansion draft for the last 3 years.
Agreed. If Edmonton doesn’t find a sucker to take Lucic’s contract, then they’ll overpay Seattle in a trade to take Lucic. This of course assumes Lucic is willing to waive his NMC, which if he continues playing poorly he probably would be open to in order to avoid some trade rumors and additional criticism from fans.
Trade him back to Boston for Backes and McQuaid or Miller
why would Edmonton do that?
why would boston do that?
Montreal should trade petry and a 2nd for lucic and a first.
Absolutely they should not do that.
Lucic to the Hurricanes for Victor Rask. Bad contract for bad contract. Canes need a physical forward.
I’d rather Rask TBH
What about a team on the bubble needing a Power Forward. Something like Dallas, or Columbus trades Murray for him…
Chicago could swap him for Seabrook – they need some more scoring and are locked into Seabrooks contract and Edmonton needs D
Just throwing darts blindfolded
The Seabrook idea actually doesn’t sound that bad. Lucic could essentially serve in a more expensive Bryan Bickell-type of role. Edmonton probably balks first since Seabrook’s cap hit is higher and he has an extra year but the move makes some sense for both teams.
Perry lol
pick an equally bad contract or oilers offer someone of actual value like nurse. otherwise he is with oilers till they give seattle something to take him .
You know when Dean Lombardi didn’t want to give him a long term deal something was going to go wrong
Why not to Anaheim for Perry
Eat some contract and ship him to the Avs.
the gm’s still don’t understand cap. you only sign the great players ie Crosby ,mcdavid, kane to 7 or 8 contracts. even then last few years. you may pay for earlier production .mcdavid is young it may not apply. hopefully you are like kings/Chicago have Stanley cups to show for it. never sign a guy over 30 to a 6,7 8 contract.
Lucic was like 27-28 this wasn’t really supposed to be an albatross for a few more years, and then he’d only have 2-3 years left
You have to spend your money on somebody as well. Few teams have exceptional talents to dedicate salary to.
GMs understand the cap. But there are other teams trying to sign these guys so they have to give them more security to get them to sign