Coming off an injury-plagued season as a freshman at the University of Minnesota, the No. 18 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft says he is now focused on making the transition to professional hockey, either with the Jets or Manitoba of the American Hockey League.
"Obviously I want to be in Winnipeg full-time, but with that being said, whatever the organization sees for me, that is where I'll play," Lucius said. "I don't have any expectations to be here nor there. I'm just going to give it 100 percent whenever I step on the ice sheet."
Jets director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier said Lucius will be thoroughly evaluated during training camp next month.
"If they think he's ready to play pro, he'll play pro," Hillier said. "It's just important that he plays a lot of games and a lot of critical minutes in offensive situations where he's a top-two line and power-play guy. His training camp will determine where he's ready to play."
Lucius could also play junior hockey this season; his rights are held by Portland of the Western Hockey League.
Born in Lawrence, Kansas, and raised in Minnesota, Lucius (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2019-21 despite not learning to skate until he was almost 8 years old.
When he was 14, Chaz and his brother Cruz Lucius, 13 at the time, each verbally committed to Minnesota. Cruz, selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round (No. 124) of the 2022 NHL Draft, is expected to play at the University of Wisconsin this season.
Last season, Chaz Lucius sustained a hand injury, followed by ankle surgery that put an end to his season after he had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 24 games. He had to watch from the stands when Minnesota lost 4-3 to the University of Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game and 5-1 to Minnesota State in the semifinals of the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four.
"It didn't feel good, but I did feel happy for our team as well," Lucius said. "You've got to find a new way to motivate yourself to get through the obstacle … managing time and having a positive outlook on it."
He decided to spend his summer in Toronto with renowned strength coach Gary Roberts, a former NHL forward. Working alongside NHL veterans like Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, Lucius committed to getting his body ready for training camp.
"His size and strength, just getting stronger and growing into a man," Hillier said of what Lucius has been focusing on. "His skating can probably pick up a little bit where he can get a little quicker and faster, and that will come with his strength."
When healthy, Lucius has shown top-end offensive skill, with high hockey IQ and the ability to score at an elite level.
"The instincts and the skill and those things are there," Hillier said. "Everything should round out as he gets stronger."
Lucius said, "The biggest thing this summer was strength and just getting faster. [Training with Roberts] played a big impact in how I'm going to come into training camp now. I feel like I'm going to be very prepared, very ready to go."
