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NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks no longer being considered by Milan Lucic

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) reacts against the San Jose Sharks during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) reacts against the San Jose Sharks during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to a report from TSN 1040, the Vancouver Canucks have been told by Milan Lucic’s camp that he will not be signing with them on July 1.

The Vancouver Canucks have not been shy about their interest in signing free agent forward Milan Lucic. Canucks general manager Jim Benning knows Lucic well from his time with the Boston Bruins and Lucic has discussed his interest in returning to his childhood home of Vancouver. However, according to Matthew Sekeres from TSN 1040, the Canucks will not be signing Lucic.

Now that they are out of the Lucic sweepstakes, the Canucks still need to sign at least one second line or first line forward. They will most likely pursue Kyle Okposo, Loui Eriksson, and Andrew Ladd, among others. It should be hard for the Canucks to get any of the top forwards available in free agency due to the Canucks finishing 28th in the NHL for the 2015-16 season. They will have to overpay to get just about anybody.

Lucic is expected to sign with either the Edmonton Oilers or the surprising dark horse Dallas Stars. He met with the Stars earlier this week and the Stars are interested in signing him. That interest is most likely mutual because Lucic has to consider it pretty tempting to play alongside Jamie Benn and former Bruins teammate Tyler Seguin.

The Canucks have just over $10 million of cap space, so they definitely have the resources necessary to sign somebody. But that somebody will not be Lucic.

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

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