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Lucic would accept trade to Vancouver

Boston Bruins v Toronto Maple Leafs

Milan Lucic

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Milan Lucic has a controversial history with Vancouver, but is willing to return to the city he calls home.

On Friday, Lucic told PHT’s Dhiren Mahiban he’d be willing to accept a trade to Vancouver, should such a deal arise. The Bruins forward, who has a 15-team no-trade clause, grew up in East Vancouver and played junior hockey for the WHL Giants before getting drafted in 2006 by the Bruins -- back when current Canucks GM Jim Benning was an assistant in Boston.

It’s important to note there’s no trade pending for Lucic, nor have the Bruins asked him to waive. That said, the Canucks have reportedly inquired about the 27-year-old power forward, despite the fact they’re facing a salary cap crunch and would have to clear significant space to afford Lucic’s $6 million hit.

Slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, Lucic has been at the center of trade talks for some time. In April, the Boston Globe reported he was under consideration to be moved; Lucic’s name then resurfaced two days ago, shortly after new GM Don Sweeney said he’d spoken with numerous other NHL GMs and was “feeling the heat” to improve the B’s roster.

As mentioned above, Lucic has history with Vancouver, and not all of it good. After video of a physical altercation outside of a downtown restaurant surfaced in 2013, Lucic delivered a stinging criticism.

“I have no reason left to defend my city and the people in my city,” he said, per the Vancouver Sun. “I’m disgusted and outraged that it had to come to something like that.”

Shortly thereafter, Lucic re-embraced Vancouver and expressed remorse about his comments, saying “I am still, and always will be, proud to be from there. It is home.”