’11-12 Bruins Season in Review: Milan Lucic
Without a no-trade clause, Lucic might be a solid asset for the Bruins to package in an effort to acquire Rick Nash or an equivalent first-line winger that could be the difference in Boston advancing beyond the first round next season. However, early indications are general manager Peter Chiarelli isn’t inclined to move any of his top six or seven forwards.
So it looks like Lucic’s Bruins career will continue. And the club has to hope he uses the disappointments of last season, and the fact that he’s going into the last year of his contract, as inspiration for a year worthy of his salary and his status as a first-line left winger.
Stats
Regular season: 81 GP, 26-35-61, plus-7
Playoffs: 7 GP, 0-3-3, plus-2
Contract status: Signed through 2012-13 at a cap hit of $4,083,333 per season
Regular season recap
Highlight: Although fans love to watch Lucic’s collision with Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller over and over, Lucic’s best game of the regular season probably came against Nashville Feb. 11. The veteran continued to solidify his status as one of the league’s best power forwards with the game-tying goal with just 1:07 left in regulation during a 6-on-4 situation. The goal was his 20th, making him the first player in the NHL this season to reach 20 goals and 100 penalty minutes. He also drew the penalty before that man advantage and finished with seven shots on goal in a 4-3 shootout win
Lowlight: Not only did Lucic fail to record a point in 20:33 of ice time Dec. 8 against Florida, he also turned over the puck to Dmitry Kulikov in the Florida zone leading to the Panthers’ game-winning rush in a 2-0 Bruins loss. Lucic was minus-2 with just two shots on goal.
Playoff recap: Karl Alzner’s gesture that Lucic was a “cry baby” might’ve been wrong, but there was no denying that Lucic was against a sucker unable to keep himself from getting into trouble (thus the double-minor that resulted from the scrum with Alzner) and also a player who seems to have lost his postseason scoring touch. The Bruins didn’t just need more from Lucic, they needed something. And he didn’t produce either with his hands or his physicality.
Grade: C-plus. Sixty-one points would be great for a second- or third-line energy player. But Lucic is supposed to be so much more and 2011-12 was a step back rather than forward for his development into a top-notch go-to player.
Carnac predicts … trade rumors will continue to swirl around Lucic depending on how he and the Bruins start next season. Like they did the first time around, the Bruins would probably move to lock up Lucic during his last season to take the doubts out of the equation and show how in love they are with his skill set as one of those “true Bruins.”
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bruins16,
the only way lucic scores more than 30 goals is if he manages 10 or more empty netters.
this guy is young with alot to offer. throwing in the towel now would be premature if not foolish.
Rollie
I agree, guys like Lucic are hard to find. This will the breakout season where he gets 30+ goals and Big Jim finally has to eat “crow”. Lucic has to play another winger that is physical, not someone who is just a good checker or goal scorer.
you guys have inflated this guys value. he’s not a prototypical power foward. he’s a big kid, hits and fights well and does too little of either now that he decided he’d rather score 20 goals than be a physical presence.
hallogram bill masterson i believe he’d like to speak to you about the position he plays.
Happy Birthday, Looch! 24 years young today.
Trading this guy would be very silly. He’s a prototypical power forward – they are NOT easy to acquire. If he was available, every GM in the league would be interested.
He’s also well liked, has some leadership qualities, and has the ability to impact a game in so many ways. Yes, he took a bit of a step back this past season, especially during crunch time, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to toss him. A few players took a step back after the cup season, he’s still young, and probably needs to focus a little bit on rededicating himself this offseason, especially continuing to focus on his skating and agility drills.
Not having Horty around, the constant juggling of the first line, certainly didn’t help matters. Yeah, he occasionally gets too fancy in the Dzone, and will give a puck up on the breakout… that’s not the end of the world. He’s still improving. Hope PC gets him re-signed sooner than later.
Big Jim – while I agree with you partially on defensive play for a winger, I believe Datsyuk would like to speak to you about wingers not winning Selkes….
Big Jim. Lucic doesn’t cover the point very well, he sucks at recording or making passes along the boards and routinely just hands it back to the other team. You are kind of making my point when you say any idiot could do it, it is not that hard of a job and he can’t do it.
Trade a 24 year old power forward? Great idea! I can’t wait to see 6′ 4″ 220 Milan Lucic playing against us.
george, defensive zone play of a winger is the most over rated thing in hockey. they cover the points. any idiot can do that. that’s why wingers don’t win the selke.
Worst defensive zone play of the forewords hands down. I give it a pass when he produces, but when his offense dries up all he does is hurt them defensively. I wish the Bruins had enough firepower to allow Lucic to play on the 3rd line.
i’m sorry but 25 goals is much closer to lucic’s potential than 30+. he had something like 7 empty netters the year he scored 30. the simple fact is like krejci he isn’t as good as he’s made out to be in the local media.