Report: Canucks have inquired about bringing home Milan Lucic
According to a report from Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Canucks have inquired about a possible trade for power forward Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins.
#Canucks have inquired about Lucic. Probably 25 other teams have, too. Bruins could ransom him or keep Lucic despite Cap crunch.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) June 25, 2015
Lucic was born and raised in Vancouver and played his junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants. He is also one of the biggest villains in the Canucks-Bruins rivalry. So the thought of the Canucks acquiring Lucic is intriguing to say the least.
Lucic has one year left on a contract that carries a $6 million cap hit. He also has a no-trade clause, but would be willing to waive it to come to Vancouver, according to TSN 1040’s Bob Marjanovich.
Moj: Lucic is open to the idea of Vancouver. It's one of the team's he'd be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to
— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) June 25, 2015
The 27-year-old has been one of the faces of the Bruins organization, but it appears they are at least willing to listen to offers for the 6’3″, 235 lb winger. Boston is very close to the salary cap and will need to shed salary this summer, and defenceman Dougie Hamilton is due for a big raise.
Increasingly hearing name of Milan Lucic out there on trade market. Doesn't mean he'll move but Bruins listening…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 26, 2015
Canucks GM Jim Benning is familiar with Lucic from his Boston days, so from that perspective, trading for him is a natural fit.
Lucic is coming off a disappointing season that saw him put up just 18 goals and 44 points in 81 games. His best season came in 2010-11 when he scored 30 goals and 62 points in 79 games.