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Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

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Again, Lucic played last year with his primary line mates being Kassian and Brodziak.

You know why that is? Cause he wasnt and isnt good enough to play with anyone else.

Brodziak put up all of nine (9) points all year. That’s not so good. Certainly not comparable to Ryan and Bennett
Kassian put up 5 of his 26 points in the first half, then 21 in the second half when his primary line mates were the duo of McJesus and Draisaitl

I dont believe he is good enough to play with a very average Bennett and Ryan either. In fact, Im almost sure of it.

Yeah, Lucic’s results were horrendous. But he played on a really bad team where the offense runs through one guy. And he wasn’t playing with that guy. And he definitely didn’t have D the caliber of the Flames D helping to move the puck up ice.

All true, but irrelevant to his own abilities.

Lucic’s results actually became horrendous consistent with deployment. He was a 50 point guy his first year. He had 27 points the first half of 17-18 playing with the Nuge, then he dropped. Looked like the blender was out as he started playing sometimes with Cammalleri on his last legs, Khaira, etc.

Right, and that drop coincided with him being unable to make it around the ice well enough. He isnt getting faster cause the dome ice is better.

You say Ryan and Bennett had issues. After a slow start, Ryan ended up having 38 points, as a bottom 6 Center. I have news for you - that’s not lacking in production.

Yeah Ryan did figure it out...so what?

I mean, the pretty much one dimensional player Neal the Flames thought they were getting had 41 and 44 points his 2 seasons prior to joining the Flames (playing with Perron and Haula).

OK...but whats that got to do with Milan Lucic's abilities as a hockey player?

Lucic is coming in to quite a favourable situation. Even if he isn’t on the top line (which nobody necessarily expects right now), he will have comparably decent linemates and quality D.

The real loser in this deal is probably Kassian. Because people were projecting the Oil using him on the top line. They will probably gift his spot to Neal.

Top line?

Im HOPING he is still able to play 3rd line minutes. Im expecting he plays bottom line minutes when its all said and done though.

I dont think people paid enough attention to him the last year and a half...he is a terrible hockey player. Now is some of that mitigated by the fact he was on the good ship Oiler? Sure...I would agree with that.

But watching him two years ago and even more last yar, he was simply unable to play the game any longer. Maybe his give a crap meter bottomed out too, which is not necessarily a good thing either, but a possibility.

Maybe he finds the fountain of youth and gets better after a steady decline on a body that is way way more worn than the "older" James Neal. That would be awesome. Its just almost 100% unlikely though...then you add in the contract structure...and...well.