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Photo by David Bloom

Lucic is a stats and NHL history buff and wants to learn more about Wayne Gretzky. “I talked to him on the phone before I made my decision to go to Edmonton. He just talked about what it was like for him to live in a place like Edmonton, and how it is to deal with their fans and he talked about how great their fans were and the friends. It was obviously really cool. The way I see it is when the Great One calls you and tells you to go to Edmonton, you go to Edmonton, you don’t go anywhere else.”

Lucic said he cherishes wearing an Oilers jersey, just like Gretzky did.

Lucic said he’s got to keep playing the way he’s played to date. “I have played with that old school type of style. I mean, it might not be pretty how I do things or how I get things done, but if it gets done, nobody really cares how it gets done…The way I do it is more of that rough and tough style…You know, getting in the forecheck, finishing your checks, driving hard to the net, making to the net, making plays along the walls and being heavy and strong on the puck down low and in the defensive zone, and getting into the other team’s face, and challenging your teammates to bring that same type of fire and emotion to the game.”

In Boston, Lucic said he learned from veteran winger Shawn Thornton, who challenged players to be their best and said unpopular things to young guys in order to push them forward. “He wasn’t afraid to be unpopular at times by saying things that would benefit the team.”

The podcast is lengthy and interesting. To listen to the full interview, go here.

My take

Not a lot to say about this other than Lucic sounds like he’s genuinely thrilled to be coming to the Oilers and to help Connor McDavid in turning around this franchise. It’s also clear that Lucic has a straightforward attitude about hockey, knows a lot about playing a simple, effective game and has a wealth of experience to pass on to other players.

At the Cult

Willis: Should Yakupov play again with McDavid?

Staples: What have you done to our Oilers, Peter Chiarelli?