Based on comments from new general manager Craig Conroy, the Calgary Flames are aiming to add some youth to their roster in 2023-24. As such, it doesn’t seem like pending unrestricted free agent Milan Lucic will be part of their future plans. According to a report from Rick Dhaliwal (of the Vancouver-based Donnie and Dhali – the Team on CHEK), the Flames have given Lucic permission to talk to teams already.
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
Lucic is set to become a free agent on July 1. But given the current league-wide cap crunch, there will be some jostling around for low-cost veterans – as Lucic is expected to be – and the challenge may be the right veterans finding the right fit. Allowing Lucic to chat to teams two weeks away from free agency opening costs the Flames literally nothing, and gives Lucic a better chance of finding a good landing spot.
The 35-year-old Lucic joined the Flames via a trade with Edmonton in July 2019, sending James Neal the other way. Lucic has been a rock-solid bottom six forward for the Flames, occasionally scoring goals and occasionally delivering big hits. Over 283 games with the Flames, Lucic had 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points.
Lucic is one of five main-roster Flames set to become a UFA on July 1, along with Michael Stone, Troy Stecher, Nick Ritchie and Trevor Lewis.
