Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
It's going to be interesting to watch Lucic this season. He looks like he's lost a step, or is trying to do too much?
If you break it down he's had two miserable games and two decent games by the metrics. The interesting point, as many have mentioned is the two horrible games came with Nordstrom on the other side.
Nordstrom doesn't have the two good games ... just the two bad, so the inkling would be he's the heaviest anchor, but yeah they should split them up and see.
If Lucic starts going in and out of the lineup you have to wonder what he does. My thought is always why would a guy retire when he has money coming, but he hinted he was thinking of just that under Peters.
His xgf% game log ...
at Wpg 6%
vs Vcr 53%
vs Vcr 77%
vs Tor 10%
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I think Lucic just needs time to get going and into a rhythm.
I thought he looked fine against Vancouver after the Winnipeg game. Then a big 5 days off and he was rusty again.
He didn't start off well last year and got better as the season went on and was one of our best players in the playoffs.
This kind of arc is not uncommon for big power forwards. Even Iggy was affected by this.
I'm fine with the team managing Lucic's ice time during the regular season. He doesn't need to play every game or get a lot of ice time when he does play, but they should manage it so that he does get into a nice rhythm.
He's going to be valuable in the playoffs.
In fact, I bet he will have a big impact in the 3 games coming up against the Habs. They have some big guys and Lucic has always played well against them. Actually, tonight, it'd do him some good to smash Bogosian or Simmonds around.