Honestly I don’t remember many people being happy about the Lucic contract. Some were of course “yay! Our player can beat up your dads” kind of thing, but pretty much everybody was fully aware that the contract would be an absolute boat anchor before it was done. The only variable was how soon. Iirc my take on it was that we’d be a slightly better team for two or three years, then we’d deeply regret it the rest of the way.
Lucic has a good year in LA the year before he signed with us.
Lucic physically has had very few injuries. Is currently still actually physically fit.
The contract takes him to age 34, not 36 or 38 or 40.
There were many including myself that had no issues with Lucic's contract in terms or amount. His play historically. His conditioning historically. Plus his injury history suggested he would still be a somewhat effective nhler at age 34.
Lucic played approximately the first 40 games last year with decent production. His play literally fell off a cliff after that point and looks gone for good. Something no one could ever predict.
Something happened. I believe mentally. Since that "incident" his passing and shooting ability vanished. Like completely.
Lucic had a good shot. Could take and recieve high end passing plays. Was very easily a top 6 forward in terms of talent.
After the incident he no longer has top 6 talent. He has always been slow and in today's NHL that hurts as well. On top of that even his board work is terrible. He losses the vast majority of battles along the boards. He will finish a check but the puck always ends up on the opponents tape.
I can't express how shocked and disappointed I am with his play. I personally believe he either is playing this badly because he wants off the team or has had some kind of mental breakdown.
I'm a big fan of Lucic's. If by some miracle he can regain most of his game from 2015 he would be great for this team. It's been a full 82 games with his play being beyond terrible. I don't know what can be done. How long do you give him? He kills plays and makes the team worse right now. We can't afford to have a player like that on the team.
Obviously if we can trade him away without taking back an equally bad contract that would be best but that isn't likely. To say he has negative value is an understatement.
Try to trade over the summer? When that fails permanently bench him? Even laying big hits like he currently is I don't even like him on the fourth line.
For example Matt Hendricks was a much better fourth liner at age 35 when he played for us than Lucic is right now at age 30. If that doesn't put things into perspective I don't know what will. Heck, Hendricks is 37 now and may be the better hockey player.