One Year Later: The Lucic Contract

[X66]

What do people think of the contract now? I made a similar thread to this last year and there seemed to be a divide between fans.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/lucic-bad-deal.2130707/

IMHO this contract has all the potential to be bottom 5 in the league and unfortunately for oiler fans there is still 5 more years left on it after this year.

Did anyone change their opinion either way?

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[K Fleur]

Just as bad as it was a year ago.

 

[Brobust]

What's even more unfortunate for the Oilers and their fans is that he's destroying RNH's trade value too.

 

[Porn*]

Decent guy with great work ethic but his skill has diminished, his speed isn't at the level that he can keep up with mcdavid and company.

right now it isn't looking too bad, but give it a year or 2 and it'll be reminding us of a clarkson type contract.

 

[Selyanin]

He was decent last year? If so I would give him more time to turn it around since its only 10 games.

 

[613Leafer]

With these long-term contracts to guys who are really only expected to be good for another 2-3 years, you really better be contending in those first few years and make it deep into the playoffs (if not win a Cup) early in that contract to make it worth it.

Guys who aren't elite skaters or elite skilled guys especially, and who rely more on a combination of physical play + decent skill in order to put up points, seem to decline a bit earlier. I'd be very hesitant to give those types of players any kind of long-term contract that go into their mid/late 30s.

I expect Lucic to probably have a decent year this year (year 2/7 of the contract), but he's likely already past his actual peak as a player, and we will likely see a noticeable decline before he's made it through half of his contract.

 

[elmaco]

7 years was a mistake.

 

[X66]

Lucic is a really good play maker, unfortunately the Oilers can't score right now, but if that turns around I can see him getting back on track.

He just looks really slow out there, and isn't making the best decision with the puck.

 

[Dying Alive]

I honestly don't see him a lot but last night he looked awful. What was McLellan thinking having him on the ice 3-on-3 vs. Malkin and Kessel?

 

[Paris in Flames]

It's only going to get worse.

As for now I don't think it's the end of the world though.

 

[D Wakaluk]

Good deal if it was prime Lucic.

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Losing some weight and focusing on explosiveness, agility exercises in the off season might help in the long run.

 

[KlefDown]

Losing some weight and focusing on explosiveness, agility exercises in the off season might help in the long run.

he did that this year and still looks slow

 

[CupofOil]

It was always a bad contract because of the term, everybody outside of the biggest Lucic homers knows this.

However, I think he'll be fine this year. The guy starts slow every year and picks it up in crunch time although there might be no crunch time for the Oilers this year at this rate. It's in Year 4 or so and on that it will become a real problem but as of now, I think he's still effective enough over the course of a season to somewhat justify the $6M.

 

[bucks_oil]

Lucic is a really good play maker, unfortunately the Oilers can't score right now, but if that turns around I can see him getting back on track.

He just looks really slow out there, and isn't making the best decision with the puck.

I think this is fair. Right now we are seeing a Lucic who has lost a step and hasn't figured out that his awareness and positioning alone (which is pretty good) isn't enough to keep him within range to make a physical impact. He literally needs to move his feet a bit more and can't allow himself that half-second mental delay that many players make between offense and defense. (anyone who has played knows the one... that delay where you or your teammate lose the puck and you drop a mental F-bomb, or watch whether your teammate recovers the puck, before you decide to turn and skate)

If I were TMac, I'd run three offensive lines and pair him with a cycling center (Draisaitl) and an engine who needs physical protection (Yamamoto). That will bring out the best in him... there is a little Marchand in Yama and that might just re-ignite the big guy's passion on each shift.

Maroon McD Caggiula/Strome
Lucic Drai Yama
Caggiula/Strome RNH Kassian

 

[TheDoldrums]

I honestly don't see him a lot but last night he looked awful. What was McLellan thinking having him on the ice 3-on-3 vs. Malkin and Kessel?

That happened? He was supposed to cover one of them in a lot of open space? Todd...

 

[dubey]

Worst contract of all time (after Carey Price of course)

 

[Oberyn]

Sucked back then and still sucks now

 

[Dustin]

Not a fan of Lucic at all but even putting that aside the term was never good on this contract. Considering how he plays there is certainly going to be years where he is injured and unless it's LTiR you're still going to be hit with his cap hit.

I understand why Edmonton did this to an extent but I would have really worked harder on the length of that contract.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Really bad with not a lot of chance to get better. Seems most of the UFAs signed that summer are not going to be worth the money. Okposo might be but only if the Sabres turn it around.

 

[tucker3434]

If they win a cup, it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately for the oilers, they don’t look quite as close as I would have expected right now.

 

[ElysiumAB]

Terrible contract, but he's had a much better start to this season than he did last season.

I'm guessing the stats don't back up my comment at all, since he started last year with McDavid. But last year he was absolutely awful through 20 games or something (like, one of the worst NHL players I've ever seen), this year he's been engaged and played how I'd expect (still a big dummy with no hands or shot, but he can win some battles and get to the front of the net).

 

[ElysiumAB]

Considering how he plays there is certainly going to be years where he is injured and unless it's LTiR you're still going to be hit with his cap hit.

As he gets older, maybe. But he's only had 2 out of the last 9-10 seasons that he didn't play damn near every game (75-82). Injuries scare me less than a slow player with no hands and awful shot.

 

[Dustin]

As he gets older, maybe. But he's only had 2 out of the last 9-10 seasons that he didn't play damn near every game (75-82). Injuries scare me less than a slow player with no hands and awful shot.

Unless he's like a Marleau, players tend to get more injured in their 30's. They also tend to slow down as well. Perhaps he'll buck the trend and continue to be an effective player but as it stands right now my money would be on the opposite.

*Edit.

Here's the deal though, as a Leafs fan as long as win a cup, you're not going to care about years 5,6,7.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Oilers might never win a cup, and it will be due to the poor depth moves by Chia.

Russell
Lucic
Eberle for nothing
1st + 2nd for nothing
Not moving on from RNH before his value tanked to cap dump territory
Draisatl contract
etc etc