Edmonton Oilers - Fantasy News

Milan Lucic NHL Fantasy Advice

by Jeff Gordon

1/11/18

NHL

Edmonton Oilers

Milan Lucic

Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli believes in Milan Lucic. He lavished a seven-year, $42 million contract on the free-agent power forward last summer.

He had his reasons.

Chiarelli employed the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Lucic in Boston when he was general manager of the Bruins. He appreciated his rugged play and willingness to stand up for teammates. Chiarelli believed the finesse-minded Oilers needed more size and grit and more protection for star center Connor McDavid.

In a companion move, he traded speedy winger Taylor Hall to New Jersey for stay-at-home defenseman Adam Larsson. And with cap issues hanging over his team — in part due to the massive Lucic contract — he later traded talented winger Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for underachieving forward Ryan Strome.

The bottom line: The Oilers got bigger and tougher over the past one and a half seasons, but also slower and far less skilled just as the NHL was shifting to a faster pace. Those disastrous trades helped tank the Oilers this season and damage the fantasy value of all involved, including Lucic.

“We’re trying to stay positive, but you have to be a realist at times and ask yourself if you are doing enough,” Lucic told the Edmonton Journal after the Oilers suffered an ugly 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. “Myself? I had a really good December up until the Christmas break (producing five goals and five assists in 10 games), and since then I’ve had only one assist in the last [eight] games. A prime example of needing certain individuals to be a big part of the team.

“Everyone needs to take a hard look at themselves and decide if they want to pack it in or climb back in it.”

Last season, Lucic had a solid 23-goal, 27-assist campaign for a team that finished 47-26-9. But half of his points came on the dominant Oilers power play, which ranked fifth in the NHL with a 22.9 percent conversion rate.

This season, he produced just six power-play points in his first 44 games. The Oilers have been converting just 16.1 percent of their man advantages, which ranks 24th in the league. That cut into Lucic's overall production (eight goals, 19 assists) and helped lead to his team's miserable 18-23-3 start.

Lucic is doing OK in the peripheral statistics, with a plus-5 rating and 124 hits. He is blocking shots (15) and earning takeaways (18) at a higher rate than a year ago. He is playing a solid overall game.

But during this latest offensive tailspin, Lucic failed to top his Projected Fantasy Points total six times during a seven-game span, starting on December 29. Not scoring will cause that to happen.

“We have to find a way to start having fun again,” Lucic told the Journal “I don’t think anyone is having fun right now. I think I’m speaking for everyone from the coaching staff to the trainers, the fans, everyone. Nobody is having fun right now. We have to try and create something.”

So you should definitely sit Lucic on your Dober Play Card until the Oilers get back on track — assuming that ever happens this season.