Blackhawks: Trading For Milan Lucic

Milan Lucic has always been one of my favourite players. When he joined the Oilers on a massive contract, I watched almost every single game and was always intrigued by how electric he was as far as throwing hits and scoring goals alongside a star studded roster. Now though, he has taken a step back. 

Lucic is in the final year of that contract he signed with the Oilers back in 2016. The deal has a full no movement clause and a modified no trade clause for this year. The deal sees him making $6M AAV. The Oilers will pay $750k of said contract leaving $5.25M to the Flames. 

As the Flames would likely want to go for a Stanley Cup, I can see them moving picks away in order to get rid of his contract and if that’s the case, I’d be all over that as the Blackhawks. Acquiring Lucic and a 1st/2nd Round Pick, or even a prospect, for future considerations would add to the teams draft capital while adding a leader that knows how to win and is well respected off the ice. 

Lucic still has his grinder side to him that everyone fell in love with in Boston. Last season with the Flames, he totalled 84 penalty minutes alongside his 10 goals and 11 assists in a full 82 game season. His 209 hits put him at 26th in the NHL last season in that stat, but was the reason he was able to find a home in Calgary’s bottom 6 all year. 

His skating ability might not be as good as it once was and his production may be getting worse as years go on, but taking Lucic’s contract with all the positives for a year, adding draft capital and then losing his deal when the season is over should be a no brainer for the Blackhawks.