Lucic to weigh options after winning gold with Canada at Worlds

TAMPERE, Finland --Milan Lucic has already given his future plenty of thought.

But the 34-year-old forward, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, didn't want to discuss that after winning the gold medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship on Sunday.

"I talked about it a couple days ago," Lucic said. "I'll spend the next month thinking about what the next step is in my career and what the best fit for me will be moving forward. Right now, the main part I think is just enjoying the win.

"This was really the only reason I came, to win a gold medal, and that's why I reached out to ask if there was a spot for me. I just wanted to come and do whatever I could to contribute to the group. It was a long month, but it's worth it now at the end."

The person Lucic had reached out to was St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, who was named Canada's general manager for the World Championship on March 23.

And despite finishing with an NHL career-low 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 77 games with the Calgary Flames this season, Lucic was awarded a roster spot and had four points (two goals, two assists) in 10 tournament games.

"He brings a lot of value," said Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, who also won gold with Canada. "He's obviously a great leader, but he's still got a lot of juice left. He's a guy that when he's on the ice he can still make plays, and then when he gets in the corners guys are still worried about him. He brings a lot. He's still got it.

"I would love for him to come back to Calgary because he brings a lot on and off the ice."

If the Flames do bring back Lucic, it won't be on the same terms as the seven-year, $42 million contract ($6 million average annual value) he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2016.

Since signing that contract, Lucic has 187 points (74 goals, 113 assists) and a minus-60 rating in 526 regular-season games with the Oilers and Flames. In his first nine NHL seasons, he had 397 points (159 goals, 238 assists) and a plus-120 rating in 647 regular-season games with the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.

The dip in production is something Lucic admitted in April weighed on him throughout the duration of the contract.

"You want to live up to the expectations of what you're getting paid and all that type of stuff," said Lucic, who was acquired by the Flames in a trade with the Oilers for forward James Neal on July 19, 2019. "For myself, I'm a proud person, and by no means do I feel like I didn't earn it. I definitely did earn it. But to not be able to live up to it was definitely something that weighed on me day to day. From a personal standpoint, it was hard to deal with at times.

"It's like a weight lifted off my shoulders moving forward that I don't have to think about it anymore."

Another thing he doesn't have to think about is if he still wants to play.

"I definitely still want to continue playing," Lucic said in April. "That's where my head is at. I'm still healthy and still feel good and still enjoy the game. My plan is to continue playing."

Whether that's with the Flames or someone else remains up in the air, though.

"There are so many scenarios that have run through my head," Lucic said. "I think I'll take the next couple weeks to run them all again and find out what's best for me."