Lucic considered quitting in November

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CGY12

Really? Have you not watched this team get pushed around for the last few years? I'm not saying the contract sucks or that he's played great up to this point, but his mere presence I feel has been noticeable with how the stars on the team have been treated.

Gaudreau still gets hacked all the time, so I'm not entirely sure about that. Also, lets be honest, all of this newfound freedom the stars apparently enjoy has not translated on the scoresheet.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Plenty

Iginla
Neely
Howe
Shanahan
Lucic
Lindros
Tocchet
Tkachuk
Wendel Clark
etc

Yeah nah, those aren't Heavy Weights or if you will Enforcers.

They are tough middle to light heavy weights.

I am talking

Probert
Simon
Sheehy
Odjick

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Amazing on the cap situation perhaps, but IMO, if a coach literally pushed a player to the point to leave that much money on the table, I don't think that's an easy off ice distraction to come back from. It might help short term, but it would be a long term black mark on the org and that cap space could very quickly evaporate for players refusing to back down on negotiations due to the circumstances of Lucic's retiring.

I don't believe that Calgary's coach sitting a depth player for a few shifts in the third would hurt the team's reputation around the league.

I think that says more about Lucic struggling to accept his current ability as a player.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Yeah nah, those aren't Heavy Weights or if you will Enforcers.

They are tough middle to light heavy weights.

I am talking

Probert
Simon
Sheehy
Odjick

Well I think Lucic certainly counted as a heavyweight in his peak, and he was one of the top players in the East for a few years. The heavyweights you've listed haven't really been around in this league over the last twenty years.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

This makes no sense.

How many "heavy weights" in the history of the league have been one of the best players on the ice.

The whole concept of a nuclear deterrent in the NHL makes no sense.

If Iginla, or Lucic, or any of the players Scorpion listed challenge you to a fight, you are taking it no matter what, because it gets them off the ice for 5+ minutes.

There isn't as much glory if you manage to beat Lucic these days, and it doesn't help your team to take him off the ice. The discussion on the podcast was the Lucic was still frequently making the overture, but being declined (because he's still more likely than not to cave your face in).

I don't think any of the guys Scorp listed are as good of fighters as Lucic, though.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

It would be amazing for the Flames if Lucic retired.

I am racking my brain to think of an NHL player that retired with a substantial amount of dollars still left on their contract though.

Berglund left with $13M on the contract.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Gaudreau still gets hacked all the time, so I'm not entirely sure about that. Also, lets be honest, all of this newfound freedom the stars apparently enjoy has not translated on the scoresheet.

Lucic's presence is non-factor for anyone not actually on the ice with Lucic, in my opinion. Dube may feel differently than say Gaudreau, but I haven't noticed Lucic "policing" anyone to the extent that it's changing the game or treatment of our stars.

[stang]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

This makes no sense.

How many "heavy weights" in the history of the league have been one of the best players on the ice.

The whole concept of a nuclear deterrent in the NHL makes no sense.

That’s what they were saying, back in his day, you’d fight Lucic and get your head pounded in but one of their top guys was off for 5 min. Now it’s harder to find a partner because it doesn’t matter if he stays on the ice or not

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I don't believe that Calgary's coach sitting a depth player for a few shifts in the third would hurt the team's reputation around the league.

I think that says more about Lucic struggling to accept his current ability as a player.

What is Lucic’s “ability as a player”? Is it being relegated to the 4th line and benched without communication from the coach, or is it 6 points in 6 games that we just saw?

He was fine until that the years of prolonged exposure to that insidious Oiler stink fully manifested itself, and it took him a while to scrub it off. Some lesser folks don’t fare so well.

He is a power forward, that can play with NHLers, not a goon, and just needed to be deployed with people a few steps above cavemen. Too much talk in this thread about him essentially being viewed as a goon

[Flamenspiel]

I think he is fine and really only overpaid by 1.5 million. I bet the Canucks would rather have him then Ferland. He also has entertainment value to the paying fans.

[Resolute 14]

I'd trade Lucic for Ferland right now, no salary retained, if the Canucks would take it.

[GioforPM]

To me Lucic still does almost everything well. The two flaws he has now are significant (speed and finish), but that’s top 6 stuff. If he plays the way he has for 75% of the games, I’m good with it, and I’d sure prefer it over Neal floating around waiting for pucks to bounce off his shin pad.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'd trade Lucic for Ferland right now, no salary retained, if the Canucks would take it.

Do you really think Lucic would waive his no-move to be traded for the second time in under a year, especially when it was reportedly such an arduous process to get him to waive to come here in the first place?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Do you really think Lucic would waive his no-move to be traded for the second time in under a year, especially when it was reportedly such an arduous process to get him to waive to come here in the first place?

Vancouver might be an exception for him.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Do you really think Lucic would waive his no-move to be traded for the second time in under a year, especially when it was reportedly such an arduous process to get him to waive to come here in the first place?

Probably not - unless Lucic thinks he has a better shot at real playoff success in Vancouver right now than Calgary. Also, this is immaterial. The comment was my expression of how little irreplaceable value I believe Lucic provides.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'd trade Lucic for Ferland right now, no salary retained, if the Canucks would take it.

Vancouver would never make that trade. Ferland is a likely LTIR candidate whose contract would be covered by insurance. Flames would have to add to the trade to get it done.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Gaudreau still gets hacked all the time, so I'm not entirely sure about that. Also, lets be honest, all of this newfound freedom the stars apparently enjoy has not translated on the scoresheet.

I completely disagree. I'm not a fan of the way the team is currently constructed but I have seen value and a change in opponents behaviour when Lucic is on our side. Now does that mean he's worth the price of admission? No, but to dismiss it and mention names like Ferland and Hathaway offering the same type of presence is completely inaccurate IMO. The Flames were the softest team in the league the last couple years. Also them not translating it onto the scoresheet has nothing to do with that and everything to do with who are actual top guys are.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

What is Lucic’s “ability as a player”? Is it being relegated to the 4th line and benched without communication from the coach, or is it 6 points in 6 games that we just saw?

He was fine until that the years of prolonged exposure to that insidious Oiler stink fully manifested itself, and it took him a while to scrub it off. Some lesser folks don’t fare so well.

He is a power forward, that can play with NHLers, not a goon, and just needed to be deployed with people a few steps above cavemen. Too much talk in this thread about him essentially being viewed as a goon

He doesn't really have much ability as a player left.

He has 4 even strength points with the Flames this season. His most common line mates are Dube and Ryan.

They have 14 and 22 ES points respectively. It would likely be one of the best third lines in the league if they didn't have Lucic as a drag.

How do you play over half your minutes with a guy that scores 22 points and only factor into 4 of them?

I mean it's actually more like 2/3rds together.

Lucic and Ryan have played 435 minutes together. Lucic has played without Ryan and Dube. Ryan has played 237 without the other two.

[TheScorpion]

Lucic has 10 ES points

1 goal + 9 assists

Not sure where you got 4 from

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Lucic has 10 ES points

1 goal + 9 assists

Not sure where you got 4 from

I think I subtracted his PP points from his assist total. Carry on. He's awesome.