Milan Lucic signed a 3 year 12.25 million dollar extension with Bruins last night.
Clear sign of where the team is heading, and the type of player they want to build around!
Later
Posted on 10/7 4:45 AM | IP: 169.244.143.114
The extension surprised me.
I DO believe that Lucic is a guy that is very much needed on this team. He IS a potential 30 goal 60 point legit tough guy power forward.
But, 4.25 per year is steep for a guy who hasnt yet attained that level.
I believe that "all" of the young kid contracts are too inflated. Lucic gets too much. Kessel is horribly overpaid for a guy who has 66 goals in his career. Penners contract is a joke. No way any of those 3 deserve the money that they received.
But teams are scared of losing these kids to soon. They are forced to overpay for potential. Its better than paying for past performance in an aging vet. But its still poor business practice.
Don't get me wrong....Lucic brings something that very team in the NHL wants. He IS a very, very good player. BUt he hasnt gotten to the point where he deserves that kind of money.
Thoughts?
Later
Posted on 10/7 6:23 AM | IP: 169.244.143.114
He didn't even score 20 goals yet. I won't like this contract until he deserves the money.
Posted on 10/7 7:08 AM | IP: 98.77.12.6
It really is sad to see come of these contracts that teams are forced into or risk losing the player. You speak of Kessel's 66 career goals, and Lucic's got all of 25 career markers and we see these guys get contracts that used to be reserved for players in their prime. These two are some of the safer bets to reach their potential, but if players that have gotten big contracts don't reach their potential then these contracts are going to be huge albatrosses.
People in the business talk about the disappearance of the second contract, but I'm starting to think the third one has gone as well. It's to the point that taking a long term rebuild of five or so years will only get you three years of contending before you have to decide which players you can't afford and have to let go.
Posted on 10/7 7:34 AM | IP: 69.196.186.199
I made my point about this contract.
However, peroni, if you look at Lucic in terms of just goals scored...you'll never see the true player.
He is much, much more than the goals. He is a physical presence, intimidator, budding offensive power forward.
If there is a player who I believe WILL end up earning his contract, it is Milan Lucic. This kid works as hard as anyone. He contributes in every zone and is the consumate team player.
The contract is a contract early, but I believe he will earn it.
Later
Posted on 10/7 8:28 AM | IP: 169.244.143.114
Before the contract maineblackbear described Lucic as really a Top 9 forward with upside IIRC. I notice too, you seem to be talking around the phrase "power forward" but using similar adjectives. Based on the few games I've seen of Milan Lucic I wouldn't be shy about using "Top 6 power forward" as career potential. Not sayin' yer shy lol, just more making sure I'm reading you right.
Maybe too a better description of Lucic is closer to Corey Perry or Top 6 agitator?
So why do they pay a Lucic and Krejci and not a Kessel? Easy, look no further than Cam Neely's influence and wanting more complete players than say specialists.
As to Willie's point about paying a guy big money before he's worth it. Is it really that much of a higher risk than paying a guy for past performance? Mulling it over, I'm not sure. Getzlaf and Perry, oh yeah no mistake they're worth it. Krejci? Seems to be. Lucic? maybe this is more a time will tell. Dustin Penner, who's deal seems to have set the bar? Duh@Lowe.
BTW, Penner was a couple weeks before he accepted the Oilers offer sheet. He went to Getzlaf for advice. He told Getzy he was really thinking of staying with the Ducks for about half the money and half the term. Ryan put his friend ahead of the company. He told Penner, "You could be out of hockey tomorrow. Take the money."
That's not some inside secret either. When Burkey was stomping his feet, breathing fire and declaring Penner wasn't worth that kind of money; Getzlaf went public and defended his former teammate.
This post was edited on 10/7 10:28 AM by Thrasher
Posted on 10/7 10:08 AM | IP: 24.205.180.38
too much too soon. gee i love the guy being he got his career going in our own backyard here in vancouver (duh, at Nonis), but damn, that's a lot of money not anywhere near earned. i guess this is the new norm. ( i felt a bit that way after Edler re-signed at over $3 mill too even tho i'm a big fan of the signing. i trust bruins fans feel the same way.)
Posted on 10/7 11:13 AM | IP: 96.49.79.153
B's fans are ecstatic. Many were hoping that he was going to receive a 10 year deal!
Later
Posted on 10/7 11:37 AM | IP: 169.244.143.114
As for paying for potential versus paying for the past, I think the big difference (beyond knowing one was capable of that level of play and the other may or may not be) is the length of the deals. 6 years used to be a ridiculously long contract, and 4 years was considered to be a long term deal. If you sign a 33 year old to a four year deal and he doesn't live up to expectations then that is one thing. If you sign a 23 year old to an 8 year deal and he doesn't live up to expectations in a salary cap world then you are up a certain creek without a paddle.
Posted on 10/7 11:45 AM | IP: 69.196.186.199
...at this point before I'd give it to Kessel. Lucic probably does more for the Bruins than Kessel, and will probably have a longer career than Kessel. Don't like the money at this point, but I can see why they did it....I think he'll be as close to the next Cam Neely as you can possibly get.
Posted on 10/7 2:36 PM | IP: 67.220.43.76
Lucic said yesterday that he loves everything about the city of Boston, the team and his teammates. Said he hopes to be a Bruin for "life" and that this is a good start, as the next 4 seasons of his career will be in Black and Gold. Said the fans were a big part of why he wants to stay. Said your idolized in Boston, but that while they give you respect when they see you in the city, the hold you accountable for your on-ice play. He loves those expectations.
He spoke especially glowing of Neely. Said Neely gets on the ice and helps him in 1 on 1 "tutoring" sessions. Said Neely has been a huge help in assimilating into NHL life.
Said Neely is his idol and the type of player he strives to be. Doesnt know if he will reach those heights, but he knows he has the ability to be a "much better" offensive player than he is at this point in time.
One thing I didnt realize, is that Lucic was the Bruins most accurate shooter. He said one of his goals is to shoot substantially more, nd be more aggressive offensively.
Also said that he doesnt have plans for any big purchases. He plans on doing "something" for management, the coaching staff, and his teammates. Said it may be a sort of "token" thing, but that "their are a lot of people who helped me earn this and I want to thank them."
This kid is everything you want in a hockey player, and more importantly, as a person!
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