Lucic and Kings begin extension talks

[kingskring]

Milan Lucic's dream of remaining with the Los Angeles Kings appears to be in the early stages of coming to fruition.

The 27-year-old forward, who's playing his first season with the club after being acquired from the Boston Bruins this past summer, says he and his camp have had at least some level of discussion with management in regards to a contract extension.

"There's been two or three little talks here and there," Lucic told Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times. "My plan is to remain a King and hopefully finish off my career here. Like I said, I go day by day and you never know what tomorrow is going to bring.

"If I could look eight, nine, 10 years down the road, hopefully I play that long. I hope it is right here in LA and that something can get done and conversations can get picked up in the near future because I really have enjoyed my time this season and love being a King and living here in LA"

Lucic is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and has recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 50 games with the Kings.

On Tuesday, he'll make his first appearance in Boston since the trade.

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/955340?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter



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Brough must have a crystal ball or something, because hours after he wrote how interesting a free agent Milan Lucic will be, there’s news about Lucic’s contract situation.

Per ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Kings are interested in re-signing Lucic and want to begin contract talks in the not-too-distant future.

“[Lucic] loves being there, and the Kings recently reached out to Lucic’s camp and said ‘listen, let’s get something going in the new year. We want to keep this guy around.’

“Obviously, they’ve got to get [Anze] Kopitar done first, but they’d like to retain Lucic.”

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2015/12/10/report-kings-want-to-start-lucic-extension-talks-soon/

Click to read more...

 

[Reclamation Project]

What exactly is the "allure" in Vancouver? Nothing alluring about that team.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I love it. It 'feels' necessary, but also difficult.

Tough decisions ahead for DL.

 

[Reaper45]

Assuming Brown is immovable, you move any combination of Gaborik, King, Clifford, Martinez to resign him and Kopitar. And if Lombardi is smart enough he gets cost controlled replacements for said guys, though looks like Mersch is the King of the future.

 

[kingsfan]

What exactly is the "allure" in Vancouver? Nothing alluring about that team.

It's basically the Canadian California.

 

[Basilisk]

Assuming Brown is immovable....

I wouldn't make that assumption. There was talk on the main board regarding the recent Byfuglien rumor, that Dustin Brown made sense going the other way. Yes, it DOES make sense. To extend Kopitar AND Lucic, and at the same time renting Buf for the playoffs while swapping Brown for off-season cap space.

 

[Omni Owl]

Lucic fits like a ****ing glove on this team.

 

[DocWest]

Get it done, Dean. I want more Looch and A-Mart chest bumps for years to come.


Lucic also strikes me as somebody who's hungry to win. Why he would go to a dumpster fire of an organization like Vancouver is nuts. I get he wants to be close to home, but I doubt it's at the expense of not being able to compete for the Cup. If we can pay him what he deserves, I would hope he stays here. Plus we're not that far from Vancouver anyway.

 

[redcard]

Sign him while we're winning. Once the midseason slump starts he may lose his enthusiasm to be here.

 

[KINGS17]

What exactly is the "allure" in Vancouver? Nothing alluring about that team.

I am in Seattle on business right now, nothing alluring about rain 9 days out of 11.

Not sure why Dean has to get Kopitar done first as LeBrun says. It would be very interesting if he got Lucic's deal done first. Brisson seems to not be budging on his crazy asking price, so Dean may as well get other important business done.

I wouldn't make that assumption. There was talk on the main board regarding the recent Byfuglien rumor, that Dustin Brown made sense going the other way. Yes, it DOES make sense. To extend Kopitar AND Lucic, and at the same time renting Buf for the playoffs while swapping Brown for off-season cap space.

Can't believe that the Winnipeg GM likes this idea unless he is also getting a young defenseman in return.

 

[lumbergh]

Assuming Brown is immovable, you move any combination of Gaborik, King, Clifford, Martinez to resign him and Kopitar. And if Lombardi is smart enough he gets cost controlled replacements for said guys, though looks like Mersch is the King of the future.

Stop it with the Marty trade talk. The guy is clutch and close to irreplaceable on this team. I'm all for signing Looch, but not at the expense of Martinez.

 

[Reclamation Project]

It's basically the Canadian California.

So not alluring at all?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Assuming Brown is immovable, you move any combination of Gaborik, King, Clifford, Martinez to resign him and Kopitar. And if Lombardi is smart enough he gets cost controlled replacements for said guys, though looks like Mersch is the King of the future.

Why would you want to move one of the top three dmen on the roster? And who would you replace him with? Can't believe people still suggest trading Martinez...

 

[KopitarFAN]

What exactly is the "allure" in Vancouver? Nothing alluring about that team.

Probably just the 7x7 they or a number of other teams could give him, while here it would be 5.5x8 or so.

 

[ziggyfan]

Stop it with the Marty trade talk. The guy is clutch and close to irreplaceable on this team. I'm all for signing Looch, but not at the expense of Martinez.

No kidding. Marty stays especially the way he plays this season.

 

[Jeff18]

Lucic has been amazing with this team. If we could somehow get the room, I absolutely want this guy to stay. Plays with intensity every game.

 

[Ron*]

What exactly is the "allure" in Vancouver? Nothing alluring about that team.

He's from Vancouver, but watching that team from afar, Lucic has to believe he would be going into a hornet's nest.

And Vancouver fans treated his parents like dog **** during the Final in 2011. Lucic hasn't forgotten that, nor has his family.

Then, there is this:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ed-and-outraged-with-vancouver-fans-1.2465347

What leaves me puzzled is his response to Vancouver radio that he basically didn't know what would happen in a year, thereby leaving that door open. He may have just been polite, but if I were him I would look askance at the interviewer and say, "are you ****ing kidding me?"

 

[KingCanadain1976]

i wouldn't sign him more then 4 years at maybe 6 million If he wants more sorry nice having you for one season, We have enough long term contracts imo

 

[Reclamation Project]

Ditto. I wouldn't be shocked if he goes down the #23 path.

 

[cali101]

lucic has been great so far. it makes sense to keep him.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Ditto. I wouldn't be shocked if he goes down the #23 path.

not sure if i read this right did you agree with me rp?

 

[damacles1156]

Wouldn't resign, enjoy the year you have Lucic, then move on.

He will want too much money, for too long a term.

 

[member 88115]

He's from Vancouver, but watching that team from afar, Lucic has to believe he would be going into a hornet's nest.

And Vancouver fans treated his parents like dog **** during the Final in 2011. Lucic hasn't forgotten that, nor has his family.

Then, there is this:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ed-and-outraged-with-vancouver-fans-1.2465347

What leaves me puzzled is his response to Vancouver radio that he basically didn't know what would happen in a year, thereby leaving that door open. He may have just been polite, but if I were him I would look askance at the interviewer and say, "are you ****ing kidding me?"

You can thank "El NiNo" for the extra rain. I live about two hours south of Seattle (with family in LA) and I can tell i miss the country (trees, rivers, huge land masses of nature, wild animals, ect) when i go to LA. And yes it rain a lot in the North West, but you learn to love (my kids love walks in rain, when its safe of course) it. And even miss it when in Summers last longer than 3 months with no rain in between.

BTW, I want Lucic to stay in LA cause he brings a lot of respect on the ice. Let alone the chemistry he has with Carter Toffoli line. The usual LA Bullies from Buff to Burns know they have someone to answer the bell if they act like jackasses.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Wouldn't resign, enjoy the year you have Lucic, then move on.

He will want too much money, for too long a term.

That's my view unfortunately.

Just too unique a player. Even if he wants to sign here for 5.5 x 5, his agent will advise him against it, and he'll cash in on his big year for a 6x7 or something...just too unique a player and a lot of teams are missing exactly what he brings...can you imagine Lucic on the Habs, Flames, Oilers?

 

[KopitarFAN]

i wouldn't sign him more then 4 years at maybe 6 million If he wants more sorry nice having you for one season, We have enough long term contracts imo

While I agree, we see what is apparently going on with the Kopitar deal and it's pretty clear that Dean is gonna do what he has to keep what he feels is a contending group together for a few more seasons. That may mean signing Kopitar and Lucic to what are egregious contracts when 2020 rolls around, and moving someone like Gaborik this summer, but if means winning another cup or two before then, it's probably worth it.