Sabre Noise
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Buffalo Sabres UFA Options – Playoffs Edition

By Richard Spalding

Mar 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry (10) congratulates forward Jamie McGinn (88) on his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry (10) congratulates forward Jamie McGinn (88) on his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) warms up before the game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) warms up before the game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Milan Lucic (20-35-55)

Age on July 1, 2016: 28

2015-16 salary cap hit: $6 million

Ugh.

Every molecule in my body is cringing as I type this section, because there may not be a player I dislike in the NHL more than Lucic.

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How much I like or dislike a player, however, has nothing to do with anything the Buffalo Sabres are going to do this summer.  A healthy Lucic gives the Sabres a 20-goal, 50-point scorer who will aggravate the crap out of the opposition and win battles on the boards and in front of the nets.  Imagine his 6’3″, 233 pound frame skating on a line with Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane.  Put aside your memories of Lucic’s cheap-shot on former Sabres goatender Ryan Miller, and tell me you would not enjoy watching a line of Lucic-O’Reilly-Kane each and every single night.

You may feel dirty admitting it, but you would feel pretty good about Buffalo’s playoff chances if we rolled out that starting line.

Lucic is such a good fit with the Los Angeles Kings that it is hard to envision the team not re-signing him, but the NHL is a business.  It wouldn’t hurt for Sabres fans to start controlling their gag reflex now!

Next: Andrew Ladd

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