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Forums :: Blog World :: Todd Cordell: On Milan Lucic and his role with the Calgary Flames
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Todd Cordell
Location: Barrie, ON
Joined: 02.10.2014

Jul 22 @ 12:15 PM ET
Todd Cordell: On Milan Lucic and his role with the Calgary Flames
Savetheembers33
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 01.23.2017

Jul 22 @ 12:26 PM ET
I honestly still don't understand why the Flames made this trade. As bad as Neal was last year, I would much rather see if after an off year with the Flames he can find his game and scoring touch back than be tied to Lucic the next four years. He's so slow it's like he has cement in his skates. I honestly would not be surprised one bit of James Neal bounces back playing with McDavid to score 20+ goals for the Oilers next year
Guile
Joined: 03.04.2014

Jul 22 @ 12:40 PM ET
Todd Cordell: On Milan Lucic and his role with the Calgary Flames
- ToddCordellCGY



His role... to be your guy's new most disliked player?
Hunkulese
Calgary Flames
Location: QC
Joined: 09.30.2006

Jul 22 @ 12:42 PM ET
I honestly still don't understand why the Flames made this trade. As bad as Neal was last year, I would much rather see if after an off year with the Flames he can find his game and scoring touch back than be tied to Lucic the next four years. He's so slow it's like he has cement in his skates. I honestly would not be surprised one bit of James Neal bounces back playing with McDavid to score 20+ goals for the Oilers next year
- Savetheembers33


It seems no one else watched Neal play last year. He was 100% useless. He brought nothing to the team and anyone they have in the AHL would have been an upgrade. He's not going to be playing with McDavid because he's just as slow as Lucic. Neal wasn't fast enough to play with Monahan who is one of the slowest first-line centres in the league.

If Lucic is a serviceable 4th liner, he's just being paid 5 million too much. Neal doesn't even deserve a contract anymore. People seem to forget that Treliving was desparate last year and gave Neal way more than anyone else was even considering, and now the Oilers are basically giving up more cap space for Neal after he had one of the worst seasons ever. 32-year-old players don't bounce back after awful seasons, they get bought out.

And how is 20 goals a successful season? Chiasson got to 20 goals playing with McDavid and is still a better option than Neal. It's not like Chiasson is getting anywhere near 20 playing down in the lineup, so the Oilers aren't adding anything even if Neal gets 20.
Eersel
Edmonton Oilers
Location: City of Failures, AB
Joined: 12.15.2011

Jul 22 @ 12:44 PM ET
I think Lucic will find some more success in Calgary. When he came to Edmonton, he was viewed as the great problem solver. Going to Calgary he is fitting a defined roll.

The contract is still crappy regardless.

I actually think he's going to succeed for you guys.
Kevin R
Calgary Flames
Location: E5 = It aint gonna happen.
Joined: 02.10.2010

Jul 22 @ 12:48 PM ET
I honestly still don't understand why the Flames made this trade. As bad as Neal was last year, I would much rather see if after an off year with the Flames he can find his game and scoring touch back than be tied to Lucic the next four years. He's so slow it's like he has cement in his skates. I honestly would not be surprised one bit of James Neal bounces back playing with McDavid to score 20+ goals for the Oilers next year
- Savetheembers33

Im assuming you didnt watch Neal play much last year. If you did, you would know he wasnt cracking the top 6. He will in Edmonton, so yes, he has an excellent chance to rebound back in the goals dept. Relationship with coach went toxic, he had to be traded.
Lucic isnt expected & isnt needed to score 20 goals. He's there to be a deterrent to the dirty hits & hacks on the likes of Gaudreau, Tkachuk & some of our other smaller skilled guys. A way over paid one but whatever. Would rather gain $500K & a potential 3rd rounder airlifting Neal's contract out of here versus having to give up one of our good young players or a 1st round pick to jettison him elsewhere. Either way, at least we get a purpose for a crappy contract.
Not sure why people think a buyout is such a no brainer. Uh...the guy/owner writing that kind of cheque after 1 year of a 5 year deal wont be too anxious to do that & who in their right mind wants to carry dead buyout money/cap hit for 8 years.

Maybe no different than your Seabrook contract you have on your books that I see Hawk fans b!tch & complain about all the time. It's tough for us, because I get it that others dont see Neal as we do & the BS he pulled last year blaming the coach for his usage.
Kevin R
Calgary Flames
Location: E5 = It aint gonna happen.
Joined: 02.10.2010

Jul 22 @ 12:53 PM ET
I think Lucic will find some more success in Calgary. When he came to Edmonton, he was viewed as the great problem solver. Going to Calgary he is fitting a defined roll.

The contract is still crappy regardless.

I actually think he's going to succeed for you guys.

- Eersel

Agreed & I think this last year for Neal was a wakeup call & if he gets in shape & can stay in your top 6 (which based on the lack of top 6 forwards there) most likely, I think Flames will be getting your 3rd round pick next year. You know what, it's all good. It was a pretty good fitting trade for two fierce rivals, but I know fan bases hate the thought of helping a fierce rival but in this case, the alternatives were pretty bad.
Kevin R
Calgary Flames
Location: E5 = It aint gonna happen.
Joined: 02.10.2010

Jul 22 @ 12:54 PM ET
His role... to be your guy's new most disliked player?
- Guile



Yup & hopefully deflect the attention off of Chucky while he ramps up his Dennis the Menace style. lol
Kevin R
Calgary Flames
Location: E5 = It aint gonna happen.
Joined: 02.10.2010

Jul 22 @ 1:04 PM ET
Todd Cordell: On Milan Lucic and his role with the Calgary Flames
- ToddCordellCGY

Todd I think you have to assume Tre isnt done & have to assume Frolik will be traded as well. So assuming not much comes back aside from maybe some picks, I would be shifting Bennett into that top 6. Then that would leave Lucic, Ryan & Magpie. Ryan & Magpie played well together & have good speed. If they can do the quick forecheck, Lucic could give them some space once they could get possession. Ryan & Magpie arent the biggest guys but it could be a match that works. Janko moves to the 4th line with Dube & Czarnik. Not a bad 4th line.
tincup
Calgary Flames
Location: AB
Joined: 07.21.2006

Jul 22 @ 1:26 PM ET
Both contracts stink. I just hope Lucic is happy playing bottom 6 minutes. No way Neal was ever going to be happy there and it sure didn't look like he'd be capable of playing any higher up the lineup. Whatever BT told him to get him here clearly didn't play out so there's no way they could have brought him back....At least BT got his tough guy role filled though.
bsimms
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary
Joined: 10.25.2013

Jul 22 @ 2:13 PM ET
I am pleasantly surprised with all of the reasonable comments on here given the post topic. Agree that both are bad contracts, and that both players will likely see a resurgence on their new teams. If you squint... it kind of looks like a hockey trade.
FinnGod
Carolina Hurricanes
Location: ND
Joined: 01.25.2018

Jul 22 @ 3:47 PM ET
Can flamers and Oil fans stop arguing over this? It’s a lose-lose. Two awful players with awful contracts were swapped. Both teams lose.
Trevor_Neufeld
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 02.11.2007

Jul 22 @ 3:49 PM ET
Can flamers and Oil fans stop arguing over this? It’s a lose-lose. Two awful players with awful contracts were swapped. Both teams lose.
- FinnGod


Flames won now fck off
HockeyCanadian
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 01.31.2011

Jul 22 @ 3:52 PM ET
I live in Calgary so I understand defending this against Oilers fans (Neal does not make them a better team so I'm not sure what they are excited about). I don't really think you can call a winner or loser at this point but from a salary cap perspective BT was owned...I dont get it. Given the situation with Neal I bet he didn't have choice and maybe ownership wouldnt approve a buyout? There was no way Neal was playing for the flames next year so maybe this was the only deal out there? Either way, the battle of Alberta will be keeping a close eye on these guys all year haha should be fun. Hopefully Lucic can carve a role on the team for himself but I don't see it being all that successful....hope I'm wrong.
BINGO!
Carolina Hurricanes
Location: I'll always remember the last words my grandfather ever told me. He said, "A Truck!", SK
Joined: 09.21.2009

Jul 22 @ 4:01 PM ET
Flames won now fck off
- fry


no they lost too didn't you read it
Jack Straw
Buffalo Sabres
Location: CO
Joined: 02.21.2018

Jul 22 @ 4:08 PM ET
Taylor Hall for Gaudreau.

Jack & Johnny get to pile up regular season points together, then they get smothered by Team-D / Attention to Detail while struggling to create an impact in the playoffs.

Taylor goes home and then provides the Flames with someone in the Playoffs that the Avs can't easily negate.

Make it happen Ray and Brad!
jessehub
Calgary Flames
Location: BC
Joined: 06.25.2010

Jul 22 @ 5:43 PM ET
Taylor Hall for Gaudreau.

Jack & Johnny get to pile up regular season points together, then they get smothered by Team-D / Attention to Detail while struggling to create an impact in the playoffs.

Taylor goes home and then provides the Flames with someone in the Playoffs that the Avs can't easily negate.

Make it happen Ray and Brad!

- Jack Straw


Hall plus what? Johnny is signed to an unreal contract.
RonPielep
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer
Joined: 08.21.2014

Jul 22 @ 5:54 PM ET
With both teams fans getting excited for potential bounce-back years I think it will be pretty interesting to monitor how each fan base sours on their new addition as the season evolves.
Flamin_Irishmin
Calgary Flames
Location: Victoria B.C., BC
Joined: 09.15.2015

Jul 22 @ 6:03 PM ET
Broken quotes again
Flamin_Irishmin
Calgary Flames
Location: Victoria B.C., BC
Joined: 09.15.2015

Jul 22 @ 6:09 PM ET
Taylor Hall for Gaudreau.

Jack & Johnny get to pile up regular season points together, then they get smothered by Team-D / Attention to Detail while struggling to create an impact in the playoffs.

Taylor goes home and then provides the Flames with someone in the Playoffs that the Avs can't easily negate.

Make it happen Ray and Brad!

- Jack Straw

Right. So Johnny at 6.75 until 2021 vs. Taylor looking for a contract around 10 mil minimum after this year. If your going to be an armchair GM, at least understand how the cap works..
Flamin_Irishmin
Calgary Flames
Location: Victoria B.C., BC
Joined: 09.15.2015

Jul 22 @ 6:11 PM ET
With both teams fans getting excited for potential bounce-back years I think it will be pretty interesting to monitor how each fan base sours on their new addition as the season evolves.
- RonPielep

If he can do better than Brouwer’s stay here then I don’t mind.. sort of..
Flamin_Irishmin
Calgary Flames
Location: Victoria B.C., BC
Joined: 09.15.2015

Jul 22 @ 6:16 PM ET
no they lost too didn't you read it
- BINGO!

Don’t put the cart before the horse BINGO, should be an interesting year for your team as well. We both have good teams with question marks in net..🤨🤔
BINGO!
Carolina Hurricanes
Location: I'll always remember the last words my grandfather ever told me. He said, "A Truck!", SK
Joined: 09.21.2009

Jul 22 @ 6:36 PM ET
Don’t put the cart before the horse BINGO, should be an interesting year for your team as well. We both have good teams with question marks in net..🤨🤔
- Flamin_Irishmin


Be curious to see how it goes. I'm hoping Mrazek actually did turn the corner back to what he used to be last year.
flashfire
Joined: 10.02.2006

Jul 23 @ 1:16 AM ET
The Oilers "big win" is paying Neal 6.35M

Nobody is expecting big things from Lucic...he is a better fit for a 3rd/4th line than Neal. Yeah we know the contract sucks...so did Neal's contract.

After this season Lucic will have 3 years left, a 5.25 contract, but only owed just over 9M in actual salary...seems like a prime candidate for a cheap ass team trying to reach the cap floor.

Highly doubt Lucic is in Calgary for 4 years


Also, how is Neal scoring with McDavid relevant? Its pretty sad if a Flames healthy scratch is their first line winger
xShoot4WarAmpsx
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hamilton, ON
Joined: 06.25.2010

Jul 23 @ 9:25 AM ET
3rd line is where he fits. I would not play him ahead of matty unless he absolutely earns it. I dont think Lucic is donr, i just dont feel Edmonton is the right fit for him. He will benefit from playing with slower players. McDabid is just too fast and lets be honest, Edmonton has been lacking in talent behind McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH. Lucic will improve slightly in calgary. Lucic would have had a good year last season if it wasnt for Tobias Reider
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