The Boston Bruins continued a shockingly busy run of trades by sending Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings for the 13th pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, prospect Colin Miller and backup goalie Martin Jones.
Lucic confirmed that he’s been traded to PHT’s Dhiren Mahiban.
With that, the Bruins have traded away Lucic, Dougie Hamilton and Carl Soderberg in what appears to be a bold rebuilding project. Strangely, they’re loading up on draft picks in the teens, as they now hold picks 13-15.
Update: The situation might be more promising for the Kings if LA Kings Insider’s Jon Rosen is correct about Boston retaining $2.75 million of Lucic’s salary in 2015-16:
Boston retaining 2.75 million of Lucic's salary.
— LA Kings Insider (@lakingsinsider) June 26, 2015
Lucic has already reacted to the news:
Milan Lucic just got the call that he is an L.A King: "I'm thrilled. Gives me another chance to win a cup."
— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) June 26, 2015
Lucic on #LAKings roster: "They know how to win. They have a great core"
— Dhiren Mahiban (@dcmahiban) June 26, 2015
Lucic, 27, has one year remaining on a deal that carries a $6 million cap hit. According to ESPN’s Joe McDonald, Boston retained $2.7 million of that in the transaction. Lucic can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The jokes are piling in, although some aren’t at Boston’s expense this time around:
I'm not sure I'll recognize the Bruins by tomorrow.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) June 26, 2015
Is BOS just gonna send all their pieces to the Pacific to play against Chiarelli's #Oilers?
— Tyler, The Curator (@akaRCN) June 26, 2015
The Kings Lucic-Richards-Brown line is sure going to do some damage.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 26, 2015
To their cap.
Like many Bruins fans, Marc Savard just seems sad about today:
Lucic and Hamilton 2 great players and people gone 😕
— Marc Savard (@MSavvy91) June 26, 2015
And the Bruins may not be done dealing yet:
A source indicated to CSNNE that the Bruins are trying to put together a package to move up & take Noah Hanifin. That is their guy.
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) June 26, 2015