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NHL Rumors: Milan Lucic will test free agent market

By Dave Stevenson

Mar 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) during an NHL game against the Washington Capitals at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) during an NHL game against the Washington Capitals at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to ESPN insider Pierre LeBrun, Milan Lucic is prepared to test the free agency market.

The Los Angeles Kings were hoping to get something done with pending unrestricted free agent Milan Lucic. It always made sense for them to re-sign him. He played fabulously alongside Anze Kopitar and his size and physicality proved to be a very disruptive force on the Kings’ aggressive forecheck. However, Lucic has reportedly told ESPN insider Pierre LeBrun that he is prepared to test the free agent market.

This is not at all surprising. Lucic is the best wing available in free agency due to his relatively young age (just 28-years-old) and his unique blend of size, speed, skill, and physicality. He even proved that he can stay out of the penalty box somewhat with a career low 79 penalty minutes during the 2015-16 season despite amassing 244 hits.

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Lucic makes a ton of sense for the Kings. However, if they have to start bidding against teams with money to spend such as the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, the Kings are likely going to come up short. They don’t have much room to spend and they need to lock up some key players. Tyler Toffoli is also due for a huge raise next season after taking a two-year bridge contract last offseason. Unless the Kings can find a way to get rid of Dustin Brown, it sounds like Lucic’s one year performance with the Kings might not get an encore.

For more NHL Free Agency coverage, check out our NHL hub page.

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