Veteran Interested In Signing With Canadian Team

Published June 12, 2023 at 9:41
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With just over two weeks until Free Agency opens, management is meeting to discuss their individual franchise needs.

This years' UFA class has some highly skilled but aging talent in Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly as well as depth options in Jordan Staal, Jason Zucker and Milan Lucic.

The year 34 year old Lucic just finished his 16th season in the NHL. While the points have slowed up over the years, Lucic can still provide plenty of physicality and veteran leadership as a depth option on a roster. In 77 games this season he scored 7 goals and 19 points while averaging 11:18 in ice time.

While joining Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill of the Leafs Take podcast, Lucic admitted that joining an Original 6 franchise could be too good to pass up.



"You can never rule anything out,"he said, "Obviously, it's an original six franchise, a storied franchise. I've had my fair share of rivalries with the team and now with Brad Treliving coming in, there's some familiarity there, with him being the GM. I became really good friends with Mark Giordano being teammates with him in Calgary, and he's told me how much he's enjoyed it and how much he's loved being in Toronto and being a Maple Leaf."

"I'm still good friends with Jake Muzzin and he had shared the same feelings and how great it is playing in Toronto and how great it is being a part of that organization. And me, having experienced being on an original six team, there really is nothing like it.. when you're on an original six team, it means something a little bit different and, you know what, if there is an opportunity, I would definitely listen to it. Like I said, you never want to rule anything out and I'm sure I'll be getting a few calls and talking to a few teams moving forward here in the next couple of weeks."

In 1,173 career NHL games spent with the Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Oilers and Flames, Lucic has tallied a total of 233 goals and 584 points.
POLL
June 12   |   214 answers
Veteran Interested In Signing With Canadian Team

Would you like to see Toronto pursue Milan Lucic?

Yes, good veteran presence on the bottom lines7032.7 %
No, too old, slow and lost offensive touch14467.3 %
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