Milan Lucic Traded to the Los Angeles Kings

Michael Clifford

2015-06-26

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Boston continues its big day and moves Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings.

In what seemed like an inevitable move, Boston sent forward Milan Lucic out the door, only it was to the Los Angeles Kings. In return, the Bruins get the 13^th overall pick this year, goaltender Martin Jones, and defenceman Colin Miller. Miller will be 23-years-old next year and spent last year in the AHL (and managed 52 points).

Boston obviously needed to free up cap space. The reason Dougie Hamilton was sent packing was because they couldn't afford to sign him (though if it turns out it was only $5.5M per season as the Globe's Kevin DuPont had reported, it's amazing that Boston chose to trade him at that price, and then sign Adam McQuaid). General Fanager has the Bruins at less than $5-million in cap space for next year, with several spots to sign (or bring up younger players). There's not a lot of flexibility for a team that just traded a cornerstone defenceman, has their current cornerstone defenceman aging, and missed the playoffs last year. They now own the 13th, 14th, and 15th overall pick this year.

There is no telling how he'll be ranked now that he's in Los Angeles, or how bullish/bearish fantasy owners will be for his prospects in a new area code. Lucic is just a year removed from a top-25 forward status in fantasy, and I think he can get back there again. I don't have official projections, but if he can be had outside the top-50 draft picks in a roto draft next season, I'll start to take interest.

One thing that will be necessary to keep an eye on is line mates. With Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli playing so well with Jeff Carter, it's not certain that Lucic will crack that line. Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar are a package duo, so one of Pearson/Lucic/Dustin Brown will spend a good portion of the year on the third line barring injury. My initial lean is it's Brown moving down the lineup, but that's certainly a fluid situation. It could easily be Pearson.

Dougie Hamilton traded to Calgary

Robin Lehner and David Legwand traded to Buffalo