And that was my challenge to Y2Kanucks. Show me examples of PWF's that sharply declined once they hit 30-32.
The only guys that really fit this description are Brendan Morrow and Todd Bertuzzi.
Owen Nolan went into decline at age 34 (the age where I would want Lucic's contract to expire with the Canucks if he signed here).
Mike Richards and Ryan Malone's off-ice habits likely played more of a role in their decline, as opposed to their style of play. Vincent Lecavlier suffered a major concussion.
Darcy Tucker was more a "grinder" than a top flight PWF and so listing Tucker is an inappropriate example.
Rick Nash would be considered a PWF by many, and he's style thriving at the age of 32.
My point is this - If Lucic has a solid year, I'd absolutely be comfortable in signing him to a 6 year deal.
well keith tkachuk fell off at 31, though that may have been because of the lockout and too much krispy creme.
rick tocchet: body and skills started to deteriorate in his late 20s.
kevin stevens: ^ ditto.
kevin dineen: scored 35 goals at 29, never hit 20 again after.
john leclair: 40 goals, 77 points, 3rd team all-star at 29. never scored more than 25 again.
mike foligno: peaked at 27, still good until 30, body and abilities fell off a cliff after.
cam neely: did not play a game after 30.
keith primeau: played 9 games after the age of 32.
eric lindros: barely NHL calibre between 29-33.
how many more do you want? wendel clark, tim kerr, dave andreychuk, adam graves, gary roberts, al secord, charlie simmer, clark gillies, rick vaive... all of them either had their bodies or their skills drop significantly in their late 20s or early 30s. that's just what happens when you play that kind of game, especially the chronic injuries part.
these guys are real power forwards, the kind who play in the trenches. even andreychuk, who was not a rough player, took a lot of abuse. in contrast, rick nash is just a big winger. gordie howe, brendan shanahan, and iginla, those guys are the one-in-a-generation outliers, not the rule.