Milan Lucic's days in Boston may be numbered.
The Boston Bruins power forward, who's coming off a down season in which the club failed to make the playoffs, is set to enter the final year of his contract, and general manager Peter Chiarelli admitted Monday that a determination in regards to Lucic's future with the team has yet to be made.
"It’s a decision that will require some thought," Chiarelli said of extending Lucic's deal during Monday's press conference. "He’s a player that has really helped us over the years - he’s a signature-type player. Certainly - and I lump him in with a bunch of guys - that their levels of performance weren't up to snuff this year."
Lucic scored 18 goals and added 26 assists in 81 games, marking one of the poorer statistical campaigns of his career. Still, Chiarelli said the unique skill set renders him a valuable asset.
"He’s a big, strong player that we rely on and he’s paid a good salary right now and if we extend him, he’ll be paid a good salary going forward," he said. "It’s a difficult decision because he’s a player that creates space by his size and his style of play. You’d want more production in general - not just him, but from other players and he falls in that category."
For his part, Lucic admitted his season was affected by how last year's playoff series against Montreal came to an end, with a contentious handshake hanging over him like a dark cloud. He also cited an injury to David Krejci - on whom he relied for production - as a hindrance.
Yet he believes he's worth the $6-million he's being paid, even if he now has something to prove.
"I like to think that I’m worth it," Lucic said. "I showed in the past that I earned that, that I earned the deal that I’m currently on with my play on the ice. That’s one of the things that I have to do in order (to move) forward is I have to prove that I’m still worth it and you have to prove that by your play on the ice.
"I still believe that I can bring a lot to the table as a player and I plan on doing that moving forward."
If the Bruins resolve not to re-sign Lucic, a trade this summer becomes a very real possibility, marking a big shift in culture and philosophy for a club seemingly at a crossroads following a disappointing season.