Milan Lucic to Kings: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

Shortly after dealing defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames on Friday, the Boston Bruins made another big move by sending rugged forward Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the 13th overall selection in the 2015 NHL draft, goalie Martin Jones and defenseman Colin Miller.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman initially reported Lucic's departure, before TSN's Bob McKenzie laid out the terms of the deal.

Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reported confirmation that the Bruins retained $2.75 million of Lucic's salary.

After the trade was made official, Lucic said he is looking forward to playing in L.A., according to TSN's James Duthie:

Marc Savard, who is on long-term injured reserve for the Bruins, lamented the fact that two of his teammates were dealt on the same day:

The 27-year-old Lucic is viewed as one of the toughest and most physical wingers in the NHL, although he is coming off a down season offensively. The 2006 second-round pick put up just 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points, his lowest totals in a non-lockout season since 2009-10.

The 6'3", 235-pound forward has shown scoring touch in the past, however, as he totaled 56 goals between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns.

Lucic is a former Stanley Cup winner who brings a wide array of skills to the table, but with unrestricted free agency on the horizon following the upcoming season, Boston may have felt it needed to get something in return for him.

Matt Larkin of the Hockey News was impressed by what the Bruins were able to pry away from the Kings:

Conversely, James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail was confused, as Boston now owns the No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15 selections in the 2015 NHL draft:

In addition to the draft pick, the Bruins also landed Jones, who can either be a quality backup goalie behind Tuukka Rask or a potential trade chip for more assets. Also, Miller is a promising 22-year-old defenseman who posted 52 points in the AHL this past season.

If dealing Hamilton earlier in the day wasn't proof enough, the decision to trade Lucic signals that the Bruins are now looking toward the future on the heels of a season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

The Kings missed the playoffs last season as well, but they won the Stanley Cup in two of the previous three years and clearly feel they are in position to make another run in 2016.

Lucic is the type of player who excels during the postseason due to his size and tenacity, and he figures to mesh well with a Kings roster that knows how to win on the big stage.  

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