Flames Give UFA Veteran Permission To Speak With Teams

Ten days from now, the 16-year NHL veteran will become an unrestricted free agent. But the Calgary Flames are letting 35-year-old forward Milan Lucic get a head start, already granting him permission to speak with other teams.

Sources indicate the Flames have given UFA Milan Lucic's agent Gerry Johansson permission to talk with a few teams, Lucic will be hitting the free agent market on July 1st.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 20, 2023

According to hockey Insider Rich Dhaliwal, the Vancouver Canucks are one of those teams, and have "internally discussed the prospect" of signing Lucic.

Fellow NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic wonders if a return to his old haunt in Boston could be in the cards. 

“Obviously it’s a special place for me and it will always be a special place for me,” said Lucic, who won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.

His role is clearly different now; no longer a 20-goal scorer, Lucic still feels, however, that he can help a team as a bottom-six forward.

“The main thing is fit,” Lucic said. “What’s my role going to be on a team? How will the coach use me? Who will I play with? All that type of stuff."

His size — 6'3", 240 pounds — can still be an asset come playoff time, and although he won't be in for a huge deal on the open market, there will be interested teams. 

“Big, heavy, veteran winger who should come in on a one-year, low-money deal,” an anonymous NHL executive told LeBrun. “Any team that wants size and a fear element will look at him.”

Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports