Great vid, agreed, contracts like lucic's can be just as much destructive for their careers as a blessing. With that kind of security, motivation has to drop off at least a little bit compared to say a 2 year deal. And you're right it definitely makes him seem expendable when a guy like Reeves is making a fraction of what Lucic does. Great content all round 👍
Lucic has had a VERY tough and trying personal life the last few years. For anyone, let alone a professional athlete, it would be nearly impossible to perform at a high level after dealing with what he's had to deal with. His father committed suicide. The guy has all my respect. Yes, his hockey performance hasn't been great, but he's a human being and nobody would be the same after such an awful event. Cut him some slack.
I have seen all flames games this year and I am impressed with his skating and is a big part of the team. Scoring is down but it is not his role still hits alot so i would give him thumbs up. Is he equal to his salary? I would say no but would be worth 4 million at his currant state of play.
@@luvbuttonmoonsoo 4 million ? Flames fans are dillisiuonal as usual. Unreal. You guys are only paying him 5.25. So only a mill less? Again dillisional. Kassian is 10x better and gets less then that and you think in your mind hes worth more then kass? Hes not even worth more then reaves. Flames fans try so hard to be relevant but it just doesnt happen. It's sad. That's why even jets have more fans around the world then flames. Flames will always be oilers little brother. Sincerely, hawks fan
I think Krejci is already widely appreciated for what he did for that line. But watch the B's 2013 playoff run. It wasn't that Krejci carried them, Horton and Lucic were dominant on their own right, often being the playmakers that would set up Krejci! For a few years, that line was a beast with each guy making the others better. Krejci is mostly the same player now as he was then, yet his line's production isn't nearly what it was, and that's directly because of Horton and Lucic.
So true, who wants to pay $300 to go to a Bruins game to see player like Donato or PJ Axelson. I loved Lucic play not for what he did every night but what may happen at any minutes he was on the ice. He made the price of admission and my NHL DIRECT TV subscription worth every penny.
Should re-name this to the Rise & Fall & Rise of Milan Lucic. Dude is loved on the Calgary Flames, not exactly lighting it up, but a huge presence. LA and Edmonton were rough for him
His chemistry has fallen when he left Boston. He was the definition of a big bad Bruin. His line mates in Calgary don’t play exactly his style in Boston.
No question. That line was awesome and all three guys could finish or play set up man. Horton and Lucic were also tough where other teams had to second guess whether or not to be physical, which helped create even more space for a guy like Krejci who strives when he has a little time and space.
yo RTH. i'm a relatively new subscriber and i gotta say... I have mad respect for you dude. I didn't know u were a full time student and making these bomb ass videos. keep up the great work brother
looch has actually played quite well as a flame in a 3rd line role, and was contributing fairly consistently in the latter half of this season. Up until 2 seasons ago he was still putting up 50 points. Will he ever touch those numbers again? probably not. But i do believe he's still valuable to the flames lineup, and if his play in the second half of this season is any indication, he does have some gas left in the tank
@@bofadeese2715 he's actually been decent for the team in a bottom 6 role. He's ranked 8th amongst the forwards in terms of his offensive output, but he's been way better than Neal was last season in terms of what he brings too the table. not to mention he leads the team in hits with 198 and has good possession numbers
Never knew Lucic had this disease. I used to make fun of his hunchback skating but now knowing this I'm not gonna. In all honesty I think his skating has regressed to far for him to get back to a 20+ goal scorer and I wouldn't be surprised if he retires within the next 3-4 seasons
Lucic was your prototypical power forward. he could hit, fight, and score. he was never a dynamic forward spewing with skill but in his prime he would be a desirable player to any team. unfortunately for him the game got faster and Lucic couldn't keep up, not that he was ever that fast to begin with.
The all star game is a joke and so is being an all star, but if you want to look at it that way. Those were definitely his best years, playing with Krejci and Horton. But he was still a 50 point guy in LA and first year Edmonton. There were multiple all stars this year on pace to 50 points and under.
Bruins fan here; and yeah, a Lucic guy. For starters as a bantam he was passed over completely for the major junior draft. In essence, he was not only told he wasn't good enough for major junior, he was told he wasn't good enough for regional junior A. Essentially a B player, ouch. Two years later? He's holding the MVP for the Memorial Cup. When I heard that, and the Bruins had drafted him at 50 overall, I learned never to doubt his heart. Not too many young players at that age have the heart, belief in themselves, work ethic, to overcome all of that. Lucic did, and in his prime was the best true (essence of Cam Neely) power forward in the game. Most would have attributed their bad fortune to having a disability, schuremans (sp.) disease. Which in Looch's case, as a skater, causes his shoulders and upper body to be out in front of his knees, instead of over them. Something Lucic cannot correct due to the affects of the disease, hence his hunched back. Which, as he's aged, is doing him no favors. As did the game becoming faster, and faster since his entry into the league. Another thing that hurt Looch over his career, despite possessing a good shot, he always seemed to be a pass first guy. He just never was, even in his prime, a greedy enough goal scorer. You can trash talk him now all you want. In his prime, bare minimum, he turned 50/50 pucks into 90/10 pucks in the offensive zone. Terrorized defensemen that had to go into corners w/ him. Was a top 6 player that none other than 4th line goons could handle in a fight. Always, ALWAYS had his teammates backs, and the heart of a champion. I watched him almost singlehandedly will the Bruins back from a 3 goal deficit in game 7 vs the leafs in 2013. His name is on the Cup for a good reason, and no one can ever take it away from him. I will always be a Looch fan, and will never forget what he did for the Bruins, or for me as a fan. Thanks, Looch.
Pens fans here and I fucking LOVED watching lucic play in his Boston era. Absolute UNIT. Every time he stepped on the ice you were waiting to see him smash into someone or break some glass or something
You make a great argument. As a bottom 6 checking forward he’s actually been great in Calgary. The contrast is really just diminishes his effectiveness
Great video!! Although, yes hockey is being more fast speed an skilled based. I would argue that this season it feels like its becoming more of physical game. unlike maybe the previous 3.ca years
I'm a Flyers fan, from Philly. Believe it or not I loved watching Lucic and the Bruins back then. They were such a good team and like half of the line up was nasty. Horton, Chara, Lucic, Macquaid, Thornton and Campbell were all really good as players in their rolls and all the guys I just mentioned were all super tough when it came down to dropping the gloves. Lucic though? That guy was a beast! An elite power forward back then. You could put him on the ice in clutch situations and he would perform. He would hit, put up points and intimidate. He would also fight legit enforcers a lot too. He wouldn't go after small guys but actual tough guys. I miss the old Lucic.
he played one season with the kings but man i loved that beastly hockey he played along with the rest of the team. they're not the same anymore but i'll always be thankful that they bullied their way to two stanley cups.
I have a theory: going consistently far into the post-season horribly ages players and lowers their potential ceiling and overall longevity. More so if that player conditions his body to be stronger but not necessarily faster.
As a Boston fan I absolutely loved him for the longest time. He was a beast! After he left tho I think his age and play style started to get to him and he just isnt as fast as all the new players and it seems like he cant really keep up anymore.
The last two years in Boston was the start of the decline. Lucic got married, had a kid and the fire was gone. I remember in a game that David Pastrnak got leveled by Nicklas Kronwall. Lucic was on the ice and didn't do a damn thing. He never challenged Kronwall during the game. Pastrnak was a rookie then, you are suppose to protect rookies on the team. I knew right then and there Lucic checked out nere to be seen again.. Lucic will never be the player he once was. I suspect he will be a future buy-out by the Flames within two years. I appreciate the time he spend on the Bruins I witnessed them lift a Cup Thanks for the memories, Milan
He also has a back condition which could of help led to this, this year he started off slow but he's doing actually a really good job and he's having a better year than last year so that's good
Loved him in his prime with Krejci and Horton. When he got moving in the neutral zone with the puck and would cross with Krejci, drop him the puck at speed and keep moving and drive the net on the far side, unstoppable. Such a great play. Too big and strong to effectively cover without taking a penalty and Krejci (or Horton for that matter!) knew the timing for the far post drive.
Lucic had what many players have happen to them. He became a family man and a millionaire. Other factors too. Had his nose broken especially badly towards the end of his days in Boston and it just seemed to take the heart out of him. He fit well with Krejci because they were both on the slower side. He made space for Krejci and Krejci's vision and hands did the rest. Boston had a monster series of pairs. Krejci Lucic, Bergeron Marchand, Kelly Peverely, Campbell Paille. It was a unique scheme at the time. The third guy on all of those lines was flexible but those tandems would do everything together. Even Strength, PP, and PK and they were just excellent. Having said that as he's gotten older and slowed down his lack of speed has become a large problem. It's hard to be a physical force when you can't catch up to the puck carrier. And it's hard to score in a league ever moving more and more towards speed. Even Krejci has suffered to find his place at times in the faster game. But Krejcis vision and play making abilities have allowed him to continue to do his thing slowing down the game and making other players play at his pace. Lucic's bull style of game really isn't suited for that sort of thing and he doesn't have the best of hands. If he did using him as a net front guy would make a lot of sense. But as it stands he really doesn't have a place in modern hockey. Reaves isn't much of a comparison. Evander Kane and Tom Wilson or more what he was. Last of the power forwards in the traditional sense (Score,Fight,Hit).
Two things... 1. His personal life. His father committed suicide. Suicide is devastating; it leaves family members w/ nothing but questions never answered, and guilt never assuaged. 2. Scheuermann's disease, age, speed of the game. No matter what Looch does, b/c of his back, his upper body is out in front of his knees when he skates. Awful skating mechanics, which he overcame for most of his career. Legs are the first thing to go, and the game is getting faster. Still, how many guys w/ an actual disability have their name on the Cup? Zero. Just like all the losers bashing Lucic who never played Junior B, or can fight their way out of a crowded booth at fucking starbucks. Looch was one of a kind and a dying breed.
i'm a flames fan, so maybe i'm biased but i liked his play in calgary - especially lately. his price tag is definitely not worth but he does a few things really well and works well with bennett, ryan and dube. he has even had a couple 'rushes' down the wing that were reminding me of him in boston. he's not a guy you're gonna rely on for points and his hands look pretty slow, but he does allow some other guys to play the game they want to, he plays well on the forecheck and isn't bad in front of the net either.
I agree. All the guys in the dressing room love him and he provides something the flames needed. Sure he’s not how he used to be but I still think he’s a good fit for us
Your commentary was spot on and very interesting. The only flaw in the entire video was your take on the St Louis Blues bullying their way to the most recent Stanley Cup victory. The Blues team was dirty, period. Every reputable hockey outlet has made note of it. The Blues were a disgrace to the game. Great job.
Good to see you gaining subs :) You popped up in my feed a while ago and I enjoy the way you mix detailed analysis with eye candy footage. If you're interested, I have two points of (hopefully constructive) criticism: - Cutting off the y-axis on graphs when analyzing a trend always makes me feel like I'm not being presented with honest data. Either you can show the full y-axis and still distinguish the trend (while keeping it realistic) or the trend is basically irrelevant anyway, and presenting it with a cutoff y-axis makes it seem way more significant than it really is. - Sometimes I feel like you're rushing your speech a lot for no real reason. You can afford to slow down just the tiniest bit. Now I feel like you're trying to keep up some super-hyped speed, sometimes leading to words getting a bit jumbled together, and I don't really see the benefit in trying to break word-per-minute records in this format. Thanks for the content so far!
Flames need Lucic for the Battle of Alberta which is getting grittier and grittier. Love your channel I also have a channel not as good as yours but I know what you’re feeling when you get more and more subscribers, good luck!
He's a shell of his former self but a useful player for the Calgary Flames for being a presence. Less players are picking on Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Bad contract though but he's more useful than what James Neal was for Calgary.
LA FLAME Neal was way worse for the flames last year. Lucic is a good physical presence and put up about the same point total as Neal did last season. Neal was straight up useless and the only reason he was doing alright this year is because of playing with McDavid and Draisaitl.
@@Tylerboyd2001 and Neal scored 19 goals this year and Lucic has an unmovable contract that is buyout proof. Lol have fun with that piece of trash for the next 3 years. Dude is cooked and is shit
It’s crazy, at the start of his 2017-18 he was actually still pretty good on offense and was on pace for 45-50pts. Then in the second half of the year, his offence simply dried up
I’m a die hard canucks fan and even though Lucic was a huge contribution to why the Canucks don’t have a cup I’ve always respected him as much as I despised him!
The other issue with Lucic was that he stopped being really physical. He was always out of the play and therefore he couldn't land those big hits. He just wasn't intimidating and would barely stand up for his teammates the last couple of years in Edmonton. He just lost all drive.
along with mcquaid, horton, chara, hell even boychuk and ference could throw hands if they needed to. that team was fucking nasty, probably my favorite bruins era since I’ve been watching hockey
You’ve shown most of his wins, but none of his running away from the big boys…..you know, Colton and definitely G. Laraque…..also, he could NEVER. take a hit! Also making more than twice than Reaves is what I don’t like….just my view….
Not so sure about that. Could see a team give him league minimum. That is far from 6 million, but he is a serviceable asset. Worst thing is how he has a no-movement. If there is a compliance buyout(s), he will be Calgary's. And then he'll sign minimum with whoever for a make-or-break season. Or not.
I really think that in today's game you have to be able to skate to survive. I think what the flame should be looking at is helping Lucic to work with a power skating instructor to help improve on his stride and learn to be less choppy on his skates. You look at skaters in the past like Paul Coffey and Bret Hedican they were never choppy on their skates they were lowered to the ice and they pumped more with their legs rather than strides. Smoother is faster and faster is smoother.
As a big Los Angeles Kings fan i was never impressed with Lucic. You could sense the Kings were heading towards some lean times in the coming years and Lucic just added to that fall.
He reminds me of Eric Lindros or Peter Forsberg, who too hit very hard but also put up good goals. It is a bit of a older type of playstyle. Which is very entertaining to watch. I doubt Lucic will have a comeback into being a top scorer again, but im sure he can still play for 3-5 years more. Unless injuries hinder him of course.
I've watched about a dozen of your videos and I don't know what your career aspirations are but if it's in sports journalism, I can see you being very successful. .
my opinion. trading lucic to Calgary for neil was the best trade the oilers have made in recent years, and considering the oilers are paying part of his contract annually.
The guy is still one of the legitimate heavyweights in the NHL. Still a valuable asset when matching up with guys like Reavo, Wilson, Macdermid, Ross Johnston, and Kassian. If I'm Gaudreau, Mony, or Tkachuk I want Looch on my team over James Neal for the battle of Alberta every single time.
I remember in 2011 he had like 24 goals before Christmas, but only finished with 30 on the year. The team won the Cup but he continued the horrible production on a personal level, only 5 goals in 25. There was a pretty bad rise and fall just in that season lol
As an Oilers fan, Lucic was obviously a massive disappointment after his first year here, but I will always love Lucic and hope he has a great rest of his career (just not against us)
Game passed him by because now its all about being fast and it doesnt really matter how physical you are anymore. Completely different game than when he started.
As a montreal fan, he was a great player, but the time changed. The game moved from size and skill to speed and skill. Yes he slowed down a bit, but it's more that the rest of the game sped up.
In Boston he was in a perfect situation. He had Krejci who slowed the game down, allowed Lucic to keep up and then put the puck on a platter for Lucic. With the oilers putting him with Conner McDavid was the dumbest thing possible. With the Flames he basically was on anche hung line.
I noticed Lucic looks 'beat down' in the past few seasons, even when he fight's he tends to have that 'what the hell am I doing'? look to him. He should retire and give his body a rest. BTW this from a NHL fan who always hated the guy - lol
What happened? Easy. 1- he was traded away from Boston to a new system. 2. He signed a ridiculous contract for obscene money (see Bobby Holik, Dustin Penner, etc.) and 3. Most imprtantly, he isn't playing on a line with David Krejci anymore. Why do you think back in the day Claude Julien always used to say, "How David Krejci goes.....So go the Bruins".
It almost seems like he has bad knees or something, because it's not just that his stride is less powerful, it's that he looks like he can barely take a stride at all. He almost hobbles around the ice. It also doesn't help that the league never cuts certain teams any slack. He got away with plays like running over Miller when he was a Bruin (similar to how Chara got away this last season with cross-checking Gallagher in the face), but as soon as he puts a Flames jersey on, he can't even pop a guy that slashes his goalie without getting a suspension. So now what's the guy supposed to do? He can barely skate, and if any play he makes as a tough guy is even borderline, he's going to get a penalty or suspension.
As a Bruins fan, I love Lucic. Unfortunately, the game changed too much and he was not able to keep up. I would love to see him adjust and get back to being a 15-20 goal scorer for the last three years on his contract. One day would love him back in Boston as a 4th liner
Lucic was a 30 goals scorer once. I'd say he averaged 25 goals per season. Also Vancouver weren't bullied until they couldn't compete. They lost Raymond to a dirty hit in game 6, which hurt their depth scoring, but they still took the Bruins to game 7 and outshot them 37 to 21, with a lot of good opportunities. Thomas just stood on his head and Luongo fell apart.
What about that balerina-style they do play in Edmonton? Boston in Lucic's prime was full of tough guys bullying theyir way forward. Edmonton is build around two guys, who are pulling all the weight....
All fighting power forwards fall off later on in their career. It happened to Gary Roberts, Wendel Clarke, and a bunch of other guys that play the type of style that Lucic play's. Josh Anderson, and Matt Tkachuck's goal scoring will dry up also once they gets older also. Its just they way it is with this type of player, and the GMs should know this by now.
As a Calgary fan I feel that the Flames management tied up a large amount of their salary cap on Lucic which would be better spent on younger, faster upcoming talent. The Flames last season success (minus their playoff showing) highlighted speed, accurate passing and playmaking as well as balanced line combinations. I feel The Flames have saddled themselves with a dying horse that they could only rid themselves of by giving up a more talented player along with Lucic in a trade. His acquisition was another mistake reminiscent of poor player management in the past decades of the franchise.
Huge disappointment when he came to Edmonton to be an enforcer and to protect McDavid. He was so busy missing shots at the net that he was unaware of opponents pushing around the superstar he was supposed to protect. He seems a tiny bit better in Calgary now, which is even more disappointing since I am an oilers fan. Stick a fork in his career, its done. I hope that Maroon knocks a few of lucics teeth out in his final game.
I think his playing style just took a toll on him. The Bruins dealt him at the right time because every team he faced had guys that would go out with the sole purpose of physically neutralizing Lucic. Say what you want about Emelin, he was probably the hardest hitter in the NHL and every shift he played was basically to smash Lucic. Lucic went flying on some checks, but others he absorbed but I think the damage over the years from guys like Emelin and others just took a toll and he simply can't skate anymore. Hockey players are tough guys and they will never admit they can't skate anymore because of injury X or Y but this is what happened to Lucic.
I wonder if I played on the same lacrosse team as him( the picture at 2:34). We're the same age and I remember a kid named Milan who was really good being on the team. I also played for the same organization (Vancouver-Killarney)
The game changed around him more than he changed. He’s the same player he always was. Put him on any teams top line and he’d score 20+ goals. The game is speed and mobility now, not his strong suit.
When you play around good players, it makes you look better... Thats why he fell off, people were under the impression he was good ... he just had good players around him
It would’ve been so embarrassing for him to be unloaded by Edmonton so quickly. And to a Calgary no less. Says a lot about Edmonton’s divisional concern, lol. Vancouver certainly would not want that deal on the books but he should have come home to the support of his hometown which would have kept him going longer. He’s soon to be a year-to-year deal player if not an early retirement.
The NHL shifted very quickly a couple of years after he came into the league and it only got faster. Chiarelli signing him to Edmonton right after drafting McDavid was an all-time HORRIBLE mistake. 6 million per for 7 years with a no movement clause too lol
To all haters, give the guy a slack, he scored 30 goals, he's more than 0.5pt / game right now, he won a Stanley Cup, he made big money. He's having a hell of a career. Yes he is overpaid, but at 1.5-2m a year no one would be bitching. - From a Habs fan.
The game has changed,he is still a GREAT Power Forward for the right team.Contracts are the fault of the teams that hand them out like halloween candy.
What is your opinion of Lucic!? Who should I do next?
Rob Talks Hockey Loui Eriksson
Eriksson then Erik Karlsson please
Great vid, agreed, contracts like lucic's can be just as much destructive for their careers as a blessing. With that kind of security, motivation has to drop off at least a little bit compared to say a 2 year deal. And you're right it definitely makes him seem expendable when a guy like Reeves is making a fraction of what Lucic does. Great content all round 👍
Rob yesterday on your post I said Lucic so I was right
He is probably going to have another 30 goal season then leave Calgary and retire and you should do a goalie .
Lucic has had a VERY tough and trying personal life the last few years. For anyone, let alone a professional athlete, it would be nearly impossible to perform at a high level after dealing with what he's had to deal with. His father committed suicide. The guy has all my respect. Yes, his hockey performance hasn't been great, but he's a human being and nobody would be the same after such an awful event. Cut him some slack.
well put..athlete or not he's a person with issues just like the rest of us.. loved Luc in Beantown and will always love the guy..
No shit? I had no idea about his personal problems. That's terrible.
He's awesome
I didn’t know about his father. I think he has also gotten older and the game has just gotten faster.
He's only 32 shit I am turning 37 and full of energy on the ice but I aslo have ADHD so I will slow down at age 50🤣🤣
He got older, and slower. If he were 22 years old everyone would want him.
I have seen all flames games this year and I am impressed with his skating and is a big part of the team. Scoring is down but it is not his role still hits alot so i would give him thumbs up. Is he equal to his salary? I would say no but would be worth 4 million at his currant state of play.
@@luvbuttonmoonsoo 4 million ? Flames fans are dillisiuonal as usual. Unreal. You guys are only paying him 5.25. So only a mill less? Again dillisional. Kassian is 10x better and gets less then that and you think in your mind hes worth more then kass? Hes not even worth more then reaves. Flames fans try so hard to be relevant but it just doesnt happen. It's sad. That's why even jets have more fans around the world then flames. Flames will always be oilers little brother.
Sincerely, hawks fan
I agree
@@waleah4855 Tell us how you really feel
Krejci deserves more appreciation for carrying that 2nd Boston-line for well over a decade. The guy made Lucic look better.
Definitely!
@JW KenCo correct. Krejci, Lucic, Horton were first line. Bergeron, Marchand, Seguin (or whoever else they wanted to plug in there) were second line
Krejci/Lucic/Horton were the Bs first line, not second, Marchand was just a rookie, no a star
I think Krejci is already widely appreciated for what he did for that line. But watch the B's 2013 playoff run. It wasn't that Krejci carried them, Horton and Lucic were dominant on their own right, often being the playmakers that would set up Krejci! For a few years, that line was a beast with each guy making the others better.
Krejci is mostly the same player now as he was then, yet his line's production isn't nearly what it was, and that's directly because of Horton and Lucic.
Krejc hasnt had line mates scense then and probly cost them the cup last year no slite on debrusk
One of my favorite Bruins of all time. He made watching hockey fun!! I’d take him back on the 4th line in a heartbeat!
So true, who wants to pay $300 to go to a Bruins game to see player like Donato or PJ Axelson. I loved Lucic play not for what he did every night but what may happen at any minutes he was on the ice. He made the price of admission and my NHL DIRECT TV subscription worth every penny.
Same!!
Boston could use him on 3rd 4th line. Against St Louis we would have maybe competed more. After Chara broke his jaw.
Should re-name this to the Rise & Fall & Rise of Milan Lucic. Dude is loved on the Calgary Flames, not exactly lighting it up, but a huge presence. LA and Edmonton were rough for him
His chemistry has fallen when he left Boston. He was the definition of a big bad Bruin. His line mates in Calgary don’t play exactly his style in Boston.
so you mean hardly skilled, benefiting solely off the talent of others?
The man was the prototype for Brad Marchand
@@Yomasi Exactly
Not really, he scored back to back 20+ goal seasons with LA and Edmonton. I think the problem is age and the game is changing.
Playing with guys like Krejci and Horton helped him I think too. That line had a good mix of talent and toughness
No question. That line was awesome and all three guys could finish or play set up man. Horton and Lucic were also tough where other teams had to second guess whether or not to be physical, which helped create even more space for a guy like Krejci who strives when he has a little time and space.
@@bones343finally a man that knows what he’s talking about.
yo RTH. i'm a relatively new subscriber and i gotta say... I have mad respect for you dude. I didn't know u were a full time student and making these bomb ass videos. keep up the great work brother
Thanks man. That means a lot!
looch has actually played quite well as a flame in a 3rd line role, and was contributing fairly consistently in the latter half of this season. Up until 2 seasons ago he was still putting up 50 points. Will he ever touch those numbers again? probably not. But i do believe he's still valuable to the flames lineup, and if his play in the second half of this season is any indication, he does have some gas left in the tank
He is not valuable at all, guy is cooked and hes terrible
@@bofadeese2715 he's actually been decent for the team in a bottom 6 role. He's ranked 8th amongst the forwards in terms of his offensive output, but he's been way better than Neal was last season in terms of what he brings too the table. not to mention he leads the team in hits with 198 and has good possession numbers
5 points in 5 playoffs games. He's not done yet!
I know
I know lol
I admired the skilled play and toughness of Lucic for years. He was always good for a Gordy Howe hat trick. I wish him well.
Never knew Lucic had this disease. I used to make fun of his hunchback skating but now knowing this I'm not gonna. In all honesty I think his skating has regressed to far for him to get back to a 20+ goal scorer and I wouldn't be surprised if he retires within the next 3-4 seasons
sometimes its more than a players skill deminishing its everyone lse getting faster and better
Bro imagine Lucic vs Reaves backthen
Still now lucic could rock reaves
I would love to see it!
Hockey Fusion
Yup
Lucic was your prototypical power forward. he could hit, fight, and score. he was never a dynamic forward spewing with skill but in his prime he would be a desirable player to any team. unfortunately for him the game got faster and Lucic couldn't keep up, not that he was ever that fast to begin with.
My all time favorite hockey player nobody was more feared than he was in his prime
He’s doomed. He was only an all star because Boston had the best lineup for years. Look at Eriksson
Takes skill to be on an all star line up
Erkisson had his best years on dallas. His decline is also due to the concussion he suffered
The all star game is a joke and so is being an all star, but if you want to look at it that way.
Those were definitely his best years, playing with Krejci and Horton. But he was still a 50 point guy in LA and first year Edmonton.
There were multiple all stars this year on pace to 50 points and under.
not today I don’t mean all star like how the NHL says all star. I just mean he was a really good player
The Berg Gotcha, fair enough.
Bruins fan here; and yeah, a Lucic guy. For starters as a bantam he was passed over completely for the major junior draft. In essence, he was not only told he wasn't good enough for major junior, he was told he wasn't good enough for regional junior A. Essentially a B player, ouch. Two years later? He's holding the MVP for the Memorial Cup. When I heard that, and the Bruins had drafted him at 50 overall, I learned never to doubt his heart. Not too many young players at that age have the heart, belief in themselves, work ethic, to overcome all of that. Lucic did, and in his prime was the best true (essence of Cam Neely) power forward in the game.
Most would have attributed their bad fortune to having a disability, schuremans (sp.) disease. Which in Looch's case, as a skater, causes his shoulders and upper body to be out in front of his knees, instead of over them. Something Lucic cannot correct due to the affects of the disease, hence his hunched back. Which, as he's aged, is doing him no favors. As did the game becoming faster, and faster since his entry into the league.
Another thing that hurt Looch over his career, despite possessing a good shot, he always seemed to be a pass first guy. He just never was, even in his prime, a greedy enough goal scorer.
You can trash talk him now all you want. In his prime, bare minimum, he turned 50/50 pucks into 90/10 pucks in the offensive zone. Terrorized defensemen that had to go into corners w/ him. Was a top 6 player that none other than 4th line goons could handle in a fight. Always, ALWAYS had his teammates backs, and the heart of a champion. I watched him almost singlehandedly will the Bruins back from a 3 goal deficit in game 7 vs the leafs in 2013. His name is on the Cup for a good reason, and no one can ever take it away from him. I will always be a Looch fan, and will never forget what he did for the Bruins, or for me as a fan. Thanks, Looch.
Never thought his career would end this way. Hope he gets his life back together.
Pens fans here and I fucking LOVED watching lucic play in his Boston era. Absolute UNIT. Every time he stepped on the ice you were waiting to see him smash into someone or break some glass or something
You make a great argument. As a bottom 6 checking forward he’s actually been great in Calgary. The contrast is really just diminishes his effectiveness
Great video!!
Although, yes hockey is being more fast speed an skilled based. I would argue that this season it feels like its becoming more of physical game. unlike maybe the previous 3.ca years
I'm a Flyers fan, from Philly. Believe it or not I loved watching Lucic and the Bruins back then. They were such a good team and like half of the line up was nasty. Horton, Chara, Lucic, Macquaid, Thornton and Campbell were all really good as players in their rolls and all the guys I just mentioned were all super tough when it came down to dropping the gloves. Lucic though? That guy was a beast! An elite power forward back then. You could put him on the ice in clutch situations and he would perform. He would hit, put up points and intimidate. He would also fight legit enforcers a lot too. He wouldn't go after small guys but actual tough guys. I miss the old Lucic.
The funny thing about the pic with Jagr is that Jagr will probably play after Lucic stops
I feel like Lucic’s downfall was one similar to Dany Heatley’s. The guys both got old and their skating went to crap.
he played one season with the kings but man i loved that beastly hockey he played along with the rest of the team. they're not the same anymore but i'll always be thankful that they bullied their way to two stanley cups.
He is someone that you hate but love if he is on your team!!! I like him, but he doesn't play for my team. Stay healthy, stay safe and take care!!!
I have a theory: going consistently far into the post-season horribly ages players and lowers their potential ceiling and overall longevity. More so if that player conditions his body to be stronger but not necessarily faster.
As a Boston fan I absolutely loved him for the longest time. He was a beast! After he left tho I think his age and play style started to get to him and he just isnt as fast as all the new players and it seems like he cant really keep up anymore.
I was so excited when he signed with the Oilers...
Now I'm excited he's a Flame
Lucic will always be one of my favorites!
I wish him, and his family the best. IM not ready to see Lucic end a career in the NHL.
Thanks for lucic video!!( Great job) hope loooch makes the best of what years he has left.. one of hockey's enforcers u love to watch..
He was my favorite then he left the bruins wasn’t as good anymore so now I guess he is okay
The last two years in Boston was the start of the decline. Lucic got married, had a kid and the fire was gone. I remember in a game that David Pastrnak got leveled by Nicklas Kronwall. Lucic was on the ice and didn't do a damn thing. He never challenged Kronwall during the game. Pastrnak was a rookie then, you are suppose to protect rookies on the team. I knew right then and there Lucic checked out nere to be seen again.. Lucic will never be the player he once was. I suspect he will be a future buy-out by the Flames within two years. I appreciate the time he spend on the Bruins I witnessed them lift a Cup Thanks for the memories, Milan
He also has a back condition which could of help led to this, this year he started off slow but he's doing actually a really good job and he's having a better year than last year so that's good
awesome discovery on youtube, great content!
Loved him in his prime with Krejci and Horton. When he got moving in the neutral zone with the puck and would cross with Krejci, drop him the puck at speed and keep moving and drive the net on the far side, unstoppable. Such a great play. Too big and strong to effectively cover without taking a penalty and Krejci (or Horton for that matter!) knew the timing for the far post drive.
When you fight every game and dish out pain it takes a toll
8:51: Lucic looks like how I imagine Happy Gilmore would play
Lucic had what many players have happen to them. He became a family man and a millionaire. Other factors too. Had his nose broken especially badly towards the end of his days in Boston and it just seemed to take the heart out of him. He fit well with Krejci because they were both on the slower side. He made space for Krejci and Krejci's vision and hands did the rest. Boston had a monster series of pairs. Krejci Lucic, Bergeron Marchand, Kelly Peverely, Campbell Paille. It was a unique scheme at the time. The third guy on all of those lines was flexible but those tandems would do everything together. Even Strength, PP, and PK and they were just excellent. Having said that as he's gotten older and slowed down his lack of speed has become a large problem. It's hard to be a physical force when you can't catch up to the puck carrier. And it's hard to score in a league ever moving more and more towards speed. Even Krejci has suffered to find his place at times in the faster game. But Krejcis vision and play making abilities have allowed him to continue to do his thing slowing down the game and making other players play at his pace. Lucic's bull style of game really isn't suited for that sort of thing and he doesn't have the best of hands. If he did using him as a net front guy would make a lot of sense. But as it stands he really doesn't have a place in modern hockey. Reaves isn't much of a comparison. Evander Kane and Tom Wilson or more what he was. Last of the power forwards in the traditional sense (Score,Fight,Hit).
You are amazing! Keep making awesome hockey videos
Appreciate it! (:
Guess you were wrong about Lucci is still in line up in Calgary going strong playing well and developing well good chemistry with Calgary
Two things... 1. His personal life. His father committed suicide. Suicide is devastating; it leaves family members w/ nothing but questions never answered, and guilt never assuaged. 2. Scheuermann's disease, age, speed of the game. No matter what Looch does, b/c of his back, his upper body is out in front of his knees when he skates. Awful skating mechanics, which he overcame for most of his career. Legs are the first thing to go, and the game is getting faster. Still, how many guys w/ an actual disability have their name on the Cup? Zero. Just like all the losers bashing Lucic who never played Junior B, or can fight their way out of a crowded booth at fucking starbucks. Looch was one of a kind and a dying breed.
Not having too bad of a season so far either
Great video!!
Thanks dude!
He was actually playing pretty well before the stoppage...he seemed to be turning it around with Calgary
@tyson sandison and?..
i'm a flames fan, so maybe i'm biased but i liked his play in calgary - especially lately. his price tag is definitely not worth but he does a few things really well and works well with bennett, ryan and dube. he has even had a couple 'rushes' down the wing that were reminding me of him in boston. he's not a guy you're gonna rely on for points and his hands look pretty slow, but he does allow some other guys to play the game they want to, he plays well on the forecheck and isn't bad in front of the net either.
I agree. All the guys in the dressing room love him and he provides something the flames needed. Sure he’s not how he used to be but I still think he’s a good fit for us
He had one good season in Edmonton. He’d have one good game and then be useless fir 10 games. He was good in his prime but he’s done
Lol no
Your commentary was spot on and very interesting. The only flaw in the entire video was your take on the St Louis Blues bullying their way to the most recent Stanley Cup victory. The Blues team was dirty, period. Every reputable hockey outlet has made note of it. The Blues were a disgrace to the game. Great job.
The amount of headshots they were getting away with in the Final was insane
Good to see you gaining subs :) You popped up in my feed a while ago and I enjoy the way you mix detailed analysis with eye candy footage.
If you're interested, I have two points of (hopefully constructive) criticism:
- Cutting off the y-axis on graphs when analyzing a trend always makes me feel like I'm not being presented with honest data. Either you can show the full y-axis and still distinguish the trend (while keeping it realistic) or the trend is basically irrelevant anyway, and presenting it with a cutoff y-axis makes it seem way more significant than it really is.
- Sometimes I feel like you're rushing your speech a lot for no real reason. You can afford to slow down just the tiniest bit. Now I feel like you're trying to keep up some super-hyped speed, sometimes leading to words getting a bit jumbled together, and I don't really see the benefit in trying to break word-per-minute records in this format.
Thanks for the content so far!
Flames need Lucic for the Battle of Alberta which is getting grittier and grittier. Love your channel I also have a channel not as good as yours but I know what you’re feeling when you get more and more subscribers, good luck!
You summed it up...”Lucic remains as a relic of the past.” The past. Not the now. Not the future.
He's a shell of his former self but a useful player for the Calgary Flames for being a presence. Less players are picking on Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Bad contract though but he's more useful than what James Neal was for Calgary.
No, hes not. Lucic is an anchor and is awful
LA FLAME he was more useful than Neal lol
@@Tylerboyd2001 LOL Lucic is straight trash, only thing he was good at was turning the puck over
LA FLAME Neal was way worse for the flames last year. Lucic is a good physical presence and put up about the same point total as Neal did last season. Neal was straight up useless and the only reason he was doing alright this year is because of playing with McDavid and Draisaitl.
@@Tylerboyd2001 and Neal scored 19 goals this year and Lucic has an unmovable contract that is buyout proof. Lol have fun with that piece of trash for the next 3 years. Dude is cooked and is shit
It’s crazy, at the start of his 2017-18 he was actually still pretty good on offense and was on pace for 45-50pts. Then in the second half of the year, his offence simply dried up
I’m a die hard canucks fan and even though Lucic was a huge contribution to why the Canucks don’t have a cup I’ve always respected him as much as I despised him!
That Jarome and Lucic line was amazing I hate to see what has happened him it’s super unfortunate
The other issue with Lucic was that he stopped being really physical. He was always out of the play and therefore he couldn't land those big hits. He just wasn't intimidating and would barely stand up for his teammates the last couple of years in Edmonton. He just lost all drive.
Lucic and Shaun Thornton on the same team was brutal
along with mcquaid, horton, chara, hell even boychuk and ference could throw hands if they needed to. that team was fucking nasty, probably my favorite bruins era since I’ve been watching hockey
Yeah, all those cups they won was due to Thornton and Lucie………….wait….I mean was a force but let’s be real…..
You’ve shown most of his wins, but none of his running away from the big boys…..you know, Colton and definitely G. Laraque…..also, he could NEVER. take a hit! Also making more than twice than Reaves is what I don’t like….just my view….
If he wasn’t getting paid so much no one would care, and he’d be out of the league.
Not so sure about that. Could see a team give him league minimum. That is far from 6 million, but he is a serviceable asset. Worst thing is how he has a no-movement. If there is a compliance buyout(s), he will be Calgary's. And then he'll sign minimum with whoever for a make-or-break season. Or not.
I really think that in today's game you have to be able to skate to survive. I think what the flame should be looking at is helping Lucic to work with a power skating instructor to help improve on his stride and learn to be less choppy on his skates. You look at skaters in the past like Paul Coffey and Bret Hedican they were never choppy on their skates they were lowered to the ice and they pumped more with their legs rather than strides. Smoother is faster and faster is smoother.
It wouldn't be a RTH video without a graph showing a player's regression
Hahaha
As a big Los Angeles Kings fan i was never impressed with Lucic. You could sense the Kings were heading towards some lean times in the coming years and Lucic just added to that fall.
He reminds me of Eric Lindros or Peter Forsberg, who too hit very hard but also put up good goals. It is a bit of a older type of playstyle. Which is very entertaining to watch. I doubt Lucic will have a comeback into being a top scorer again, but im sure he can still play for 3-5 years more. Unless injuries hinder him of course.
I’m not surprised you hit your goal, you make year videos, dude
I will always be a fan of him. It happens in Hockey. The very few can play top level throughout there career.
I've watched about a dozen of your videos and I don't know what your career aspirations are but if it's in sports journalism, I can see you being very successful. .
More rise and fall videos please
This aged perfectly, can we get a Rise and fall of the leafs in 2021?
my opinion. trading lucic to Calgary for neil was the best trade the oilers have made in recent years, and considering the oilers are paying part of his contract annually.
The guy is still one of the legitimate heavyweights in the NHL. Still a valuable asset when matching up with guys like Reavo, Wilson, Macdermid, Ross Johnston, and Kassian. If I'm Gaudreau, Mony, or Tkachuk I want Looch on my team over James Neal for the battle of Alberta every single time.
I remember in 2011 he had like 24 goals before Christmas, but only finished with 30 on the year. The team won the Cup but he continued the horrible production on a personal level, only 5 goals in 25. There was a pretty bad rise and fall just in that season lol
In the last couple of years with the Bruins it seemed like he was reacting about a half of a second late to the play.
Only reason he’s still playing is because of his contract. He’ll be gone soon.
Great content keep it up
You should do Eriksson then Erik Karlsson
Sens fan 7 I mean one bad season shouldn’t have to make one yet give it another year or 2 till one on Erik Karlson
Erik karlson has just had a few injuries he’s not a fall yet he’s still 29 bud
Shit take classic sens fan still salty Karlsson left
As an Oilers fan, Lucic was obviously a massive disappointment after his first year here, but I will always love Lucic and hope he has a great rest of his career (just not against us)
Game passed him by because now its all about being fast and it doesnt really matter how physical you are anymore. Completely different game than when he started.
As a montreal fan, he was a great player, but the time changed. The game moved from size and skill to speed and skill. Yes he slowed down a bit, but it's more that the rest of the game sped up.
Great video make a series of it
Thanks for the feedback !
In Boston he was in a perfect situation. He had Krejci who slowed the game down, allowed Lucic to keep up and then put the puck on a platter for Lucic. With the oilers putting him with Conner McDavid was the dumbest thing possible. With the Flames he basically was on anche hung line.
Put him on the Leafs. We need his toughness. Plus he has A awesome over under during fights!!!
I noticed Lucic looks 'beat down' in the past few seasons, even when he fight's he tends to have that 'what the hell am I doing'? look to him. He should retire and give his body a rest. BTW this from a NHL fan who always hated the guy - lol
Awesome video keep up the good work
Thanks dude!
What happened? Easy. 1- he was traded away from Boston to a new system. 2. He signed a ridiculous contract for obscene money (see Bobby Holik, Dustin Penner, etc.) and 3. Most imprtantly, he isn't playing on a line with David Krejci anymore. Why do you think back in the day Claude Julien always used to say, "How David Krejci goes.....So go the Bruins".
He might not have much of a future left in hockey, but he might be able to have a thriving career in the newly rebuilt Notre Dame cathedral
It almost seems like he has bad knees or something, because it's not just that his stride is less powerful, it's that he looks like he can barely take a stride at all. He almost hobbles around the ice. It also doesn't help that the league never cuts certain teams any slack. He got away with plays like running over Miller when he was a Bruin (similar to how Chara got away this last season with cross-checking Gallagher in the face), but as soon as he puts a Flames jersey on, he can't even pop a guy that slashes his goalie without getting a suspension. So now what's the guy supposed to do? He can barely skate, and if any play he makes as a tough guy is even borderline, he's going to get a penalty or suspension.
As a Bruins fan, I love Lucic. Unfortunately, the game changed too much and he was not able to keep up. I would love to see him adjust and get back to being a 15-20 goal scorer for the last three years on his contract. One day would love him back in Boston as a 4th liner
Lucic was a 30 goals scorer once. I'd say he averaged 25 goals per season.
Also Vancouver weren't bullied until they couldn't compete. They lost Raymond to a dirty hit in game 6, which hurt their depth scoring, but they still took the Bruins to game 7 and outshot them 37 to 21, with a lot of good opportunities. Thomas just stood on his head and Luongo fell apart.
Playing the way he did in Boston took its toll on him, couple that with personal stuff mentioned in another comment and there's your answer.
What about that balerina-style they do play in Edmonton? Boston in Lucic's prime was full of tough guys bullying theyir way forward. Edmonton is build around two guys, who are pulling all the weight....
All fighting power forwards fall off later on in their career. It happened to Gary Roberts, Wendel Clarke, and a bunch of other guys that play the type of style that Lucic play's. Josh Anderson, and Matt Tkachuck's goal scoring will dry up also once they gets older also. Its just they way it is with this type of player, and the GMs should know this by now.
not fair to judge Lucic during his time with the Oilers. That organization is a tire fire. He's a valuable player for the Flames now.
As a Calgary fan I feel that the Flames management tied up a large amount of their salary cap on Lucic which would be better spent on younger, faster upcoming talent. The Flames last season success (minus their playoff showing) highlighted speed, accurate passing and playmaking as well as balanced line combinations. I feel The Flames have saddled themselves with a dying horse that they could only rid themselves of by giving up a more talented player along with Lucic in a trade. His acquisition was another mistake reminiscent of poor player management in the past decades of the franchise.
Huge disappointment when he came to Edmonton to be an enforcer and to protect McDavid. He was so busy missing shots at the net that he was unaware of opponents pushing around the superstar he was supposed to protect. He seems a tiny bit better in Calgary now, which is even more disappointing since I am an oilers fan. Stick a fork in his career, its done. I hope that Maroon knocks a few of lucics teeth out in his final game.
I think his playing style just took a toll on him. The Bruins dealt him at the right time because every team he faced had guys that would go out with the sole purpose of physically neutralizing Lucic. Say what you want about Emelin, he was probably the hardest hitter in the NHL and every shift he played was basically to smash Lucic. Lucic went flying on some checks, but others he absorbed but I think the damage over the years from guys like Emelin and others just took a toll and he simply can't skate anymore. Hockey players are tough guys and they will never admit they can't skate anymore because of injury X or Y but this is what happened to Lucic.
I wonder if I played on the same lacrosse team as him( the picture at 2:34). We're the same age and I remember a kid named Milan who was really good being on the team. I also played for the same organization (Vancouver-Killarney)
Congrats rob on 20k :)
Thanks dude!
@@RobTalksHockey dude this video is provin wrong sweet hands lucic
The game changed around him more than he changed. He’s the same player he always was. Put him on any teams top line and he’d score 20+ goals. The game is speed and mobility now, not his strong suit.
When you play around good players, it makes you look better... Thats why he fell off, people were under the impression he was good ... he just had good players around him
It would’ve been so embarrassing for him to be unloaded by Edmonton so quickly. And to a Calgary no less. Says a lot about Edmonton’s divisional concern, lol. Vancouver certainly would not want that deal on the books but he should have come home to the support of his hometown which would have kept him going longer. He’s soon to be a year-to-year deal player if not an early retirement.
The NHL shifted very quickly a couple of years after he came into the league and it only got faster.
Chiarelli signing him to Edmonton right after drafting McDavid was an all-time HORRIBLE mistake. 6 million per for 7 years with a no movement clause too lol
My all time favorite player
To all haters, give the guy a slack, he scored 30 goals, he's more than 0.5pt / game right now, he won a Stanley Cup, he made big money. He's having a hell of a career. Yes he is overpaid, but at 1.5-2m a year no one would be bitching. - From a Habs fan.
The game has changed,he is still a GREAT Power Forward for the right team.Contracts are the fault of the teams that hand them out like halloween candy.
He single handedly eliminated Toronto on his own