Milan Lucic traded Los Angeles
The Boston Bruins literally stole the show at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft on Friday night by trading tough forward Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles kings in exchange for backup goalie Martin Jones, defenceman prospect Colin Miller and the 13th pick in the draft, which Boston used to select defenceman Jakub Zboril.
“The most exciting thing about moving on from Boston is I get to move on to a team that already knows how to win,” Lucic said. “They’re not a team that’s learning how to win, or trying to make that step to win a Stanley Cup. They already know how to do that, and with the possibilities of playing with two really great players with (Anze) Kopitar and (Marian) Gaborik, it’s definitely a real exciting feeling.” Lucic said when interviewed on the trade.
In 2014-2015, Milan Lucic had a disappointing season after recording two season of 20+plus goals. Last year he managed to net 18 goals and assist on 26 others. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2006 in the second round (50th overall) at the NHL Entry Draft, Lucic had his best season in 2010-11, when he scored 30 goals for 62 points in 79 games played.
With Lucic becoming an unrestricted free agent after next season, Dean Lombardi, general manager of the Los Angeles Kings is confident Lucic will add this toughness needed in the Western conference with some scoring touch around the net. Lucic also declared this about the Kings missing the post-season after winning it all last year. “I think in a way, it’s a good thing going into next season that they didn’t make the playoffs,” Lucic said. “It gives the players a good chance to get their rest and get re-energized and back into tip-top shape and refocused and hungry again.”
With the Bruins getting Martin Jones to backup Tukka Rask, you now have to wonder when Malcolm Subban will be traded. Malcolm Subban is knocking at the door of the NHL and is also the property of the Bruins. Jones in 2014-2015 backed Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, where he compiled a 4-5-2, 2.25 goals against average with a save percentage of .906. The Bruins also got a promising defenseman with Colin Miller. A member of the Manchester Monarch Calder Cup champion, Miller a puck moving defenceman recorded 19 goals and 33 assists in 70 games played. During the AHL playoff, Miller scored two goals, eight assists in 19 games played. He will likely play with the Bruins next season and fill the void left by Hamilton.
Ryan O’Reilly acquired by the Sabres
The Sabres made quite a splash in Florida last night acquiring centre Ryan O’Reilly and left winger Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche. Going to Colorado are defenceman Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and JT Compher, as well as a second-round pick in the NHL draft. For Oreilly, it was expected after the Avalanche acquired Carl Soderberg from the Bruins on Thursday and signing him up later on.
For the Sabres, the addition of Ryan O’Reilly coupled with Jack Eichel will make a dynamic one-two punch. O’Reilly who is only 24 will be an unrestricted free agent and will be asking for a salary north of his current 6.0M cap hit. Buffalo who is well under the cap limit shouldn’t have any issues resigning O’Reilly long term. In 2014-2015, Ryan O’Reilly recorded 17 goals and 38 assists in 82 games played. Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in the second round (33rd overall), O’Reilly played in 427 games all with Colorado, scored 9o goals and obtained 156 assists.
Colorado will fill a need they had all last season and may have got it in defenceman Nikita Zadorov. Zadorov is a 6’5″, 221 lbs. left sided defenceman, who hasn’t reached his prime yet. Zadorov played in 60 games with the Sabres last season and netted three goals and 12 assists for the Sabres. In addition to Zadorov, the Avalanche acquires a familiar face to head coach Patrick Roy in Mikhail Grigorenko. Grigorenko flourished with Roy when the two were part of the Quebec Remparts in QJMHL and the Colorado Avalanche feels like they can probably resuscitate his career.
With JT Compher, the prospect was part of the Big Ten Rookie of the year as a freshman where he got 31 points in 35 games. Tyler McGinn is seen as a depth player who got six points in 19 games for the Avalanche last season
