Lucic himself, had a tough time with the this season, as well. The veteran managed a mere 7 goals and 12 assists in 77 games, marking the worst season of his 16-year career statistically.
At 35, Lucic will become a unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1st for the first time since the summer of 2016. Back then, he inked a substantial seven-year, $42 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers, rejoining GM Peter Chiarelli from their time together in Boston.
In his exit interviews last Friday, Lucic was questioned about his future plans in hockey, if any. The experienced player expressed his eagerness to continue playing, despite the personal challenges he faced during his most recent contract:
Nevertheless, Lucic could still prove to be a valuable asset for an NHL team, albeit at or near the league minimum.