EDMONTON — That Milan Lucic spent his summer training with six-time Pro Bowler — and full-time narcissist — Terrell Owens is a bit of a contradiction.
Owens, a star National Football League receiver in his day, was a serial self-promoter who put himself ahead of his team most every day. Lucic, an old-school NHLer, is in no danger of inheriting that trait.
Owens is also, however, a workout fiend, and at age 43 still a physical specimen. “If you ask me,” Lucic said, “if it weren’t for all that extracurricular stuff, he’d still be in good enough shape to play in the NFL.”
Will we be saying the same of Lucic at 33, four years from now? After a sluggish debut in Edmonton last season, it’s no secret: Lucic has to be quicker and more impactful this season — at age 29 — if he’s going to be effective in his 30’s.
“We’re expecting him to be a little quicker,” said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. “It looks like he’s leaned out a little bit. We’re counting on him.”
Lucic is a natural giant, who is down from 236 pounds to “the low 230’s.” His body fat measured less this camp than last, and to see him, he’s strong as a bull and lean as a cheetah.
But, can a man his size produce in a National Hockey League that gets faster every season? Or is he yesterday’s body earning today’s paycheck?
“The weight’s (roughly) the same, but the body fat number is lower than last year,” said Lucic, whose goal this season is plain: “Getting back to the player I know I can be.”
Lucic arrived in Edmonton 12 months ago on a seven-year, $42 million deal that raised eyebrows long before he strapped on a pair of skates and lined up on Connor McDavid’s left wing. Within two months he’d lost that gig to Patrick Maroon, and Lucic proceeded to salt just 11 even strength goals into an 82-game Oilers season.
“If he was slow to the puck in the first year of his deal, how are the last three seasons going to look?” the hockey world asked.
Quietly however, Lucic made his camp on the flank of the second-line centre of the day, whether it was Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and built himself a 50-point season. He also took 19-year-old rookie captain Connor McDavid firmly under his wing, guiding McDavid through his maiden NHL voyage with a ‘C’ on his chest.
On Thursday, Lucic stepped out to meet the media, with a comfort level unseen 12 months ago. He knows that more production is expected of him, and spoke like a player who is poised to deliver.
“Last year coming in here, the only guy I knew was Benoit Pouliot,” he said of the winger whose contract was bought out by Edmonton this summer. “Knowing the city, knowing the trainers, the coaching staff, the arena… It makes it easier coming into the second season. But just like the team, I want to be better than I was last year.”
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His last three summers have been hectic, with a free agent pursuit last year, a trade and the death of his father the summer before, and wrist surgery impinging on his training the summer before that. The Lucic family spent this past summer living by Manhattan Beach in L.A., where he worked out daily with Owens.
“He was my workout partner for 65, 70 per cent of the summer. Even at 43 years old, his level of competitiveness, his work ethic, the energy he brings to the gym… He’s not really what you expect him to be from what he portrays in the media,” said Lucic, 29. “He’s actually very positive, and supportive in the gym. When there were times he’d see myself or someone else maybe not getting a full rep out, he’d be the first to guy to call him out. He’d let the whole gym know, and keep everyone accountable.”
Lucic’s work in helping fix a dysfunctional Oilers dressing room and team culture was immeasurable last season, and did not go unnoticed inside the organization. He was brought in for that experience and leadership experience, and delivered for his old Boston GM Peter Chiarelli.
But on a team that saw many of its best players enjoy career years last season, it is almost a certainty that some will see their production drop off in 2017-18. As such, Lucic is expected to be tangibly better, particularly at even strength.
He’ll have to be if this Oilers team is going to go further this year than last.
“I know I’m not the captain, but I still wear an ‘A’,” he said. “It helps my mindset in focusing on myself and being the best player I can be for this season.”
