Lucic States Why Some Players May Want Out In Calgary

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Austin Sabourin
July 7, 2023 (3:06 PM)

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Milan Lucic, a seasoned forward, recently made a surprising return to the Boston Bruins after briefly exploring other options in the market.

During a candid conversation with Eric Francis, Lucic shed light on the reasons why attracting and retaining players in Calgary can be a tough sell.

In the lead-up to free agency, rumors swirled about the desire of numerous prominent players, including Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin, and Tyler Toffoli, to part ways with the Calgary Flames.

It's worth noting that Toffoli has since been traded to the New Jersey Devils. Furthermore, the departure of Johnny Gaudreau from Calgary and his subsequent free agency signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with the high-profile trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, added to the growing list of player departures.

Lucic offered insights into the factors that contribute to this trend, highlighting the chilly weather experienced by visiting teams, the age of the Flames' arena, the limited range of entertainment options in the city, the absence of major sporting events like NBA or MLB games, and the demanding travel schedule.

«When teams come in, it's usually cold. Even though we all love the 'Dome, it's old. That's the main thing. It's a smaller city, there's not much going on other than the Flames. It's not like on a day off you can go to an NBA game or an MLB game. The travel � it is tough travel. Again, just trying to give you an honest answer about what guys are thinking about.»

Despite these challenges, Lucic expressed his deep admiration for the passionate fanbase in Calgary and how his time with the Flames reignited his passion for the game of hockey.

Source: Hockeyfeed