L.A. Kings’ Milan Lucic Wants to Stay in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Kings left winger Milan Lucic is hoping his future is in L.A.
You have to think that any player traded to the Los Angeles Kings, winners of two Stanley Cup Championships in the past four seasons, would love to stay with a team that has been one of the most dominant ones in the NHL over the last five years or so.
But for Kings’ left wing Milan Lucic, it’s much more than just what happens on the ice.
“I feel like I’m in a good place mentally and I just want to stay there,” Lucic said in a story by ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
As you may know, Lucic’s father passed away in April 2015, and Lucic revealed in November it was a suicide. That kind of news would obviously rock anybody’s world, but the hulking winger insists he is starting to get back to his old self.
“I’ve been good,” he said.
“I’ve just been focusing on the hockey and my family. I’ve been trying to focus on the positive in my life. I feel like I’m in a good place mentally and I just want to stay there.”
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Lucic noted that although the road trips are longer in the Western Conference, that means homestands are as well. The extended time at home means that he can spend more time with his family for longer stretches, indicating that his wife and two daughters have adapted extremely well to life in L.A. and are becoming increasingly comfortable each day.
Acquired June 26, 2015 from the Boston Bruins, Lucic currently sits fourth on the team in scoring with 29 points (12g, 17a) in 46 games. The 6’3″, 228-pound winger also sits third on the club in penalty minutes (42), boasts a +11 plus/minus rating and owns a 16.4% shooting percentage.
Milan Lucic also knows the Kings’ current cap situation and, as much as he wants to be an L.A. King for the long haul, he knows it’s a business and anything can happen.
“I would love nothing more than to remain a King.” – Milan Lucic
He said that contract talks haven’t really happened with him and the Kings, but he knows management has had their plate full with negotiating Anze Kopitar’s new contract, which was signed just last week. But with Kopitar now out of the way, the focus shifts to Lucic.
The way things sit right now, L.A. currently has $61.23 million committed to 16 players for the 2016-17 season. As of right now, that doesn’t include players like Trevor Lewis, Christian Ehrhoff, Jamie McBain, Luke Schenn, Jhonas Enroth and Lucic as they are all set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. The salary cap for next season is projected to jump to $74.5 million compared to the $71.4 million cap in place this season.
Additionally, the Kings already have $36.5 million tied up through the 2020-21 season with Marian Gaborik, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Alec Martinez, Jonathan Quick and Kopitar under contract. Should general manager Dean Lombardi re-sign Lucic (which I really hope he does), one of those players just mentioned and their contracts could be moved down the road.
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But for now, Milan Lucic is enjoying his time as a King and is hoping for the best.
“I hope it’s here, just because of how great everything has gone and good the transition has gone,” he said.
“I truly, truly deep down in my heart hope that I do get to remain a King after this season. I would love nothing more than to remain a King.”
Time to work your magic once again, Dean.