Bryanbryoil
Pray For Ukraine
- Sep 13, 2004
- 86,305
- 35,018
Lucic could hit 40 pts this season and still not be of contractual value albeit if all of it occurred in bottomsix (It won't) argument could be made that its a very helpful contribution.
Whatever he brings doesn't erase he wss one of the reasons this team struggled enormously throughout the season. Pulling the plug on the season at Xmas is inexcusable from somebody wearing an A, making 6M longterm, and expected to be a vet leader on this club. Really the absence of someone like Hendricks, Maroon and you wonder even if it impacts accountability. Both Kass and Lucic layed down this season perhaps feeling comfortable, or just not having anybody in the room they have to answer to at all.
Hendricks and Maroon are just the type of individuals who bring a level of effort and comments and interaction that it makes it harder for anybody to dog it on the team. Ironically Lucic was brought in to be one of those hard work mentors (which is a joke in itself as he's rarely that) but for him to be a dog ****er on the team is just incredibly disappointing. Its like he's giving Chia a one finger salute. He may as well be. Lucic has been so toxically bad it basically becomes a reason Chia has been on the hotseat not only for acquiring this player but signing him longterm and even defending his play this season and not being worried about it because "Lucic is a solid character guy" What does that even mean other than nothing considering what we see from Milan in actual on ice play?
Maroon took a step back last season as well at least from a physicality perspective. It sounds like he had back issues so I'll give him a pass there. Kassian was a downright embarrassment and Lucic played like crap from Christmas on.
I agree with you that he has really left Chia out to dry. If he keeps his nose to the grindstone and gets 20 goals, 45-55 points and adds physicality, his deal doesn't look too bad. If he plays like he did after Christmas this season I suspect that Chia will sour on Milan the person more than he does Milan the player. After year 1 he gave Milan aright marks, after year 2 you know that he would in all honesty give him failing marks. He needs a big year out of Milan and if Milan is a stand up guy, he will do just that.