Mortgaging the future is exactly what the ask will be for the Canucks to take on that contract. I'm by no means saying "there's no other option so give us Bouchard/8th overall", but his contract is toxic to our team. Everyone on our team will be due for a new contract, hopefully raises, by the time Lucic's contract expires. We would be losing one of Gaudette, Virtanen, Pearson (might not be a huge loss, but he's looked good so far), Roussel, any free agent we sign, and any prospect that might miraculously start achieving their potential.
That's in addition to anyone we miss out on or are unable to sign due to having 6 million extra on the books.
We wouldn't be able to waive, expose or trade Lucic either. Boo hoo, get him to waive, I know, but if he really does want to play here, why wouldn't he stick to the NMC in any of those situations? I don't think he does, but people are putting a lot of stock into the interviews he's given.
I'm 100 percent on board with the Oilers toughing his contract out instead of buying the farm to be rid of him. But if he's coming here, there is no small piece that would be worth the risk we are taking on.