Milan Lucic – ‘Kings Are Stanley Cup Contenders Next Season’

Following the Kings trade for Milan Lucic earlier this afternoon, the former Boston Bruin forward spoke with the media via conference call and shared the following:

On his feelings being traded away from Boston:

“It was definitely an emotional call. I could sense it his (Sweeney) voice that it was an emotional call for him and even for me. I was hearing and reading everything on Twitter and when I saw, he was the first one to call and give me the news about it and my emotions were there too. At the end of the day, Boston is the place I went to as a 19 year-old. I got to be there for eight great years and got to be a part of a Stanley Cup winning team. It’s where I grew up as a person and the player that I am today. Without the help of everyone that is a part of the Bruins organization, the city of Boston and especially the fans, I think that is why is was such an emotional call to be a part of.”

On when he knew the trade was a real possibility:

“It’s funny, I didn’t really know what to think to be perfectly honest. But you hear over the last couple days all the speculation that is going around, especially in the social media world we live in today. A lot of the times they’re just rumors but when there is that much speculation there has to be some kind of truth behind it. I really didn’t know what to think. I had a lot of emotions over the last 48 hours. I kind of had that nervous-anxious-excited-sad all in one feeling going on in my stomach, especially this morning when something big was going to happen. That’s basically it. Again, with the change in GM with the Bruins you never know what’s going to happen moving forward. You saw today that the Bruins made some pretty big changes.”

On how he feels joining the Kings organization and the possibility of playing with Kopitar and Gaborik:

“I guess that’s the most exciting thing about moving on form Boston is that I get to move on to a team that already knows how to win. They’re not a team that is learning how to win or trying to make that step to win a Stanley Cup; they already know how to do that. The possibility of playing with two really great players in Kopitar and Gaborik is definitely a really exciting feeling. I get to be part of an organization and try to help them win another cup. If you look at the roster I’d say we’re definitely in the top two or three in the league right now of contenders. I’m more than excited to join a team like this that already knows how to win. I’m just going to go there and be myself and be the best player I can be for the team.”

@LAKings excited to be a King! #Kings

— Milan Lucic (@MilanLucicCFC17) June 26, 2015

On what went wrong with the Kings this year and how he can be a part of the solution:

“I think a little bit of fatigue kicked in. You look at what they’ve done prior to this season in the post season; going Stanley Cup, third round, Stanley Cup. It catches up to you when you don’t have, like a lot of players do, that much time to rest. I think in a way, it’s a good thing. Going into next season, they didn’t make the playoffs, so it gives the players a good chance to get their rest, get reenergized and back into tip-top shape and refocus and get hungry again to be in the playoffs and go for that Stanley Cup again. But again, I think it was just fatigue kicking in. There are no excuses heading into next season.”

On when he thinks he might arrive in Los Angeles:

“I’m back home out west in Kelowna actually, Kelowna B.C. It’s funny, I just got home yesterday from Disneyland. I was just down there at Disneyland with my oldest daughter just enjoying taking her for her first time to Disneyland. It would have been nice to have gotten the news when I was down there so I could have stayed down there and started being a King a little more. As of right now, I haven’t really thought too much when I’m going to come down to LA. It’s a great place to be, great place to visit and a short flight for me being from Vancouver. I’ll be there sooner than later.”

On if he knows anyone on the Kings roster:

“I know Drew Doughty a little bit. We played together in the Canada-Russia series in 2007. We spent a total of 21 days together so I know him a little bit. At the last Canadian Olympic camp in the summer of 2013 I was actually roommates with Jeff Carter. Other than that it’ll be all fresh faces for me. I guess you could say it’s a completely fresh start and that’s what I’m looking forward to the most. Getting a fresh start here and just being who I am. Bringing what I can bring, to the best of my abilities, to the LA Kings. Hopefully we can be where we want to be at the end of next season.”

On what type of team Boston will be moving forward:

“It’s tough to say, really tough to say. Especially because I’ve been part of the organization for a long time. I was fortunate to be a part of the identity that we created over the years I was there. Moving forward, I still think they’re going to be a really good team. With Bergeron and Krejci they have one of the best one-two punches as far as centermen go in the Eastern Conference and in the NHL. Krejci was injured pretty much the whole season last year. A health Krejci and a healthy Bergy makes them a good team. Because I got to shoot against him for the last five years, Tuuka is definitely a top-three goalie in the league. I think they’re going to be fine and I think they’re making some changes that they feel are best for them. As an outsider looking in now, you wish them all the best but not against the Kings.”

On what he remembers about his first game in LA, when he scored his first career goal:

“First time in LA and I have a lot of family that lives down in San Diego. I remember them coming up. My parents flew down with my little brother and my grandma came down as well. I think in the first period I had a fight against Ivanans. The second period I had an assist. Then in the third period it was a two-on-one with Krejci and he gave me a really great pass backdoor. I had an open net and scored my very first NHL goal there in the Staples Center. Moving forward, I hope to get a few more in the Staples Center. Because I scored my first goal there, that arena has been really special for me. Even looking back at the 2006 draft, I met with the LA Kings three times before the draft and I thought they were going to take me at the 48th pick, but they too a defenseman. I went 50th to Boston, which obviously worked out really well. What I thought it was going to happen back in 2006 has happened now. Like I said, a big part of me is sad in leaving Boston. But also there is a big part of me that is excited for the opportunity ahead of playing for such a great team and organization like the Kings.”

MORE KINGS TRADE CONTENT:

Lombardi on Lucic Trade – ‘We gave up quite a bit; right fit though’

DETAILS: Kings Trade Trio of Assets for Bruins’ Milan Lucic

Lombardi Says Trade for Lucic ‘Not Possible Without Toffoli’

Follow @mayorNHL