Flames hoping an old coach can help Milan Lucic find his game

[fotiou22]

https://theathletic.com/1151000/2019...find-his-game/

They broke into the NHL in 2007-08 — Lucic as a burgeoning power forward out of WHL Vancouver (taken 24 draft slots after the Flames latched onto netminder Leland Irving in 2006), Ward fresh off a 24-24-4 winter as skipper of Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

At first blush, it appears to be a mismatched pair, the 19-year-old hopeful and the 45-year-old career coach, but they came together quickly in Boston.

As Lucic puts it, “We kind of grew together.” The two would end up spending hours in each other’s company. He refers to himself as one of Ward’s “projects,” meaning he was someone who garnered extra attention.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Geoff Ward was a really underrated hire.

[FlamesFanFromBC]

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

[Itse]

Motivated, good in the room, reunited with x, blah blah blah.

We've all heard this song, and it means nothing.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

Not really a reclaimation but Dustin Brown would be the most recent example of a guy that looked done only to turn it around.

Went from being a consistent 20 goal/50 point guy until 2012/2013 season.

Then he went on the following trend under Darryl Sutter:

13-14: 15 goals, 27 points (age 28/29)
14-15: 11 goals, 27 points (age 29/30)
15-16: 11 goals. 29 points (age 30/31)
16-17: 14 goals, 36 points (age 31/32)

And at that point everyone thought he was done and should be a buyout candidate.

Then all of a sudden he goes:

17-18: 28 goals, 61 points (age 32/33)
18-19: 22 goals, 51 points (age 33/34)

Lucic doing something like that is very unlikely but probably the best example of new role, new coach, etc rejuvenating a player that looked done.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

Besides every player that leaves the Oilers?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

Schultz, Dubnyk, Strome? And what do they have in common?

[dammage79]

All Lucic has to do is not be as disengaged as Neal was last year. I'm honestly shocked that Neal was such a bad fit that after year #1 he was dealt for a worse boat anchor.

We are stuck with Lucic for better or for worse. Just give a true honest effort night in and night out and I can live with this strange reality we live in where Lucic is a Flame.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Schultz, Dubnyk, Strome? And what do they have in common?

Does Eberle and Hall count? Or are they just guys Edmonton thought sucked and it turns out it was EDMONTON that sucked?

[The Cobra]

I would check first in Boston, I think he left it there.

A time machine would also help.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Does Eberle and Hall count? Or are they just guys Edmonton thought sucked and it turns out it was EDMONTON that sucked?

I didn't count them. But maybe Broissoit counts. Maybe Maroon? Perron to a degree. Cole to a degree. Lupul to a degree. Glencross.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

I don't think the flames need him to be a "reclamation project" in that they need him to go back to being a 50-60 point player.

They need him to be involved, win battles, be nasty, get into all the scrums and help build another layer of a "tough to play against" identity to the team. That's the target, at least for me. We don't need a point producing Lucic, and the flames aren't going to be putting him in high offensive situations (top 6, pp time).

If he can do that, he's far better than anything we ever got from James Neal, and is actually more of what this team needs to grow to the next level, more so than a 20 goal scorer (in my opinion).

[lazypucker]

Lucic's career best is 62 pts, I think it will be highly unlikely he will do that again.

40 / 45 pts will be a more realistic target. Anything above will be a bonus.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

Has there ever been an NHL reclamation project like this that has worked out?

For some reason, I keep remembering Daniel Cleary being almost of of the league until he found his game in Detroit. Coincidentally, it was also the Oilers he came off of when he was struggling, so E=NG even back then.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Lucic's career best is 62 pts, I think it will be highly unlikely he will do that again.

40 / 45 pts will be a more realistic target. Anything above will be a bonus.

No. 40-45 points will be a massive bonus but one he's only going to have any chance of getting if he's on the 1st line. But if he is a 1st line regular on this team, that's not likely going to be a good thing.

Anything above 25 points will be a nice bonus for Looch actually.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

For some reason, I keep remembering Daniel Cleary being almost of of the league until he found his game in Detroit. Coincidentally, it was also the Oilers he came off of when he was struggling, so E=NG even back then.

He didn't really have much game before he went to Detroit (via Phoenix) at age 27. He was more like a failed prospect.

Lucic used to be a star (of sorts) who has declined at an age when many do.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Lucic's career best is 62 pts, I think it will be highly unlikely he will do that again.

40 / 45 pts will be a more realistic target. Anything above will be a bonus.

He's not getting 45 points unless he plays a fair amount in the top 6 with some PP time.

If he's a useful player I'd be delighted.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by dammage79

All Lucic has to do is not be as disengaged as Neal was last year. I'm honestly shocked that Neal was such a bad fit that after year #1 he was dealt for a worse boat anchor.

We are stuck with Lucic for better or for worse. Just give a true honest effort night in and night out and I can live with this strange reality we live in where Lucic is a Flame.

Honestly yeah, I still can't believe Lucic is a Flame, but as the summer has progressed, I am getting used to the idea. A physical presence and solid 13-15 minutes per night will be better than what Neal gave us last year.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

For some reason, I keep remembering Daniel Cleary being almost of of the league until he found his game in Detroit. Coincidentally, it was also the Oilers he came off of when he was struggling, so E=NG even back then.

I used to live in the same building as Cleary when he played in Edmonton. He was brutal and even he knew it. He was on such a cold streak that when he eventually did score a goal (on HNIC), he swore with excitement when being interviewed on tv after the game!! I brought it up a few days later and he joked that he wasn't sure he'd ever score another one, but we both knew he was only half joking.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Wait, I thought Adam Oates was helping him find his game.