Miian Lucic is on his way to Springfield as he keeps trying to work his way back into the NHL, which the St. Louis Blues confirmed that this would be a professional tryout contract (PTO). It will be a strange sight, seeing Lucic playing in the AHL for the first time in his career, and it drives home the fact he is in career twilight.
Signing him to a PTO indicates he didn't do enough to impress the Blues during training camp and the preseason. If they thought otherwise, chances are, they would have at least signed him to a one-year deal and found a way to keep him in St. Louis.
The PTO will let Lucic play up to 25 games for the Thunderbirds, allowing the Blues to decide whether he's worth keeping in the organization or if it's best to move on from him for good. With the PTO, the Blues can release Lucic at any time, meaning the pressure is on for him to play solid hockey with the Thunderbirds.
What signing Milan Lucic to a PTO means for the St. Louis Blues
Having Lucic in Springfield on a PTO is also a good way to get him into game shape as he continues to work his way back from a lower-body injury he suffered in the preseason. It's also a great way to evaluate where he's currently at health-wise and if he still has what it takes to play lower-line minutes in the NHL if he's needed with the big club.
Still, there is more to this than Lucic trying to make his way back into the NHL. There are plenty of prospects going through the Thunderbirds right now, like Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein, and to have a veteran mentor like Lucic, who has 1,177 games of NHL experience, is valuable to any young group.
He also brings an old-school approach to the game, meaning he can be a physical presence in Springfield while sticking up for and protecting his younger teammates. This would make Lucic, even if he never plays in the NHL again, a valuable presence with the AHL squad, regardless of how long he is in town.
Milan Lucic can also factor in as insurance for the St. Louis Blues
There are a few ways Lucic could help the Blues if he stuck around the organization. Should he prove that he can still play at a high level, yet isn't needed in St. Louis, he can sign a contract with the Thunderbirds. This will let him stay in that mentor/leader role during his time in Springfield, continuing to help develop the next batch of Blues players.
There's also a good chance that even if Lucic can't make his way back into the NHL, he can land a full contract with the Blues and continue to help lead the Thunderbirds. In this case, he would be with the big club briefly, but they would have to put him on waivers, which might entice another team to claim him.
With veterans like Lucic, who clock in as fringe, at best, talents for NHL teams, this would be worth the risk for the Blues if they were looking for potential insurance should the injury bug strike them. In such a case, Lucic could move up. So think of him as an insurance policy and a mentor rolled into one if the Blues went this route.
Having Lucic in the AHL with the Thunderbirds but under contract with the Blues also means that, if he can still be an NHL-caliber player, he may join the Blues following the trade deadline when the league lifts the 23-man roster cap.
If the Blues climb their way back into contention and they need a physical presence, a player like Lucic means the Blues would have a former Stanley Cup Champion, a big hitter, and, as mentioned earlier, someone to come to a teammate's defense should they battle for a Cup.
Still, should he show that he's not rehabbing well from his latest setback, then the organization can terminate his PTO at any time. They can also opt not to sign him following his PTO stint, meaning he would need to look for other ways to continue his career if he's still interested in playing pro hockey.
Keeping Lucic around for a little while longer shows that the Blues still see value in him. He may never chase another Cup, but helping to mentor and develop prospects and give the big club a sound insurance policy will help catapult the Blues forward even after he hangs up the skates for good.