Milan Lucic headed to free-agent market

Milan Lucic's prepared to make himself available on the open market.

In text messages to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, both Lucic and Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi confirmed the bruising power winger will test the open market as an unrestricted free agent.

This comes after the latest round of negotiations, believed to have occurred over the past few days, failed to yield an agreement.

According to LeBrun, Lombardi has since authorized all 29 other clubs to speak with Lucic, likely in an effort to gain compensation.

Lucic has previously expressed a desire to return to the Kings, and a scheme that suited his style so incredibly well, but at this time he's unwilling to accept the pay cut required to squeeze inside the club's tight salary parameters.

Now, he'll be one of the biggest names on the open market July 1, and will have no shortage of suitors. The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are two teams that fit Lucic's desire to be on the West Coast, and have previously been rumored to be interested in him.

Lucic earned $6 million last season, and will likely pursue something similar as a free agent.

If Lombardi's unable to recoup a draft pick or prospect as compensation, the Kings will have nothing to show for their draft-day deal with the Boston Bruins, which saw them part with Martin Jones, Colin Miller, and the 13th overall pick used to select defenseman Jakub Zboril.