It promises to be an exciting and lucrative day for Milan Lucic.
The 28-year-old winger generated considerable interest during the NHL’s free agent interview window and is expected to be offered at least one maximum length seven-year deal after the signing period opens at noon ET, according to sources.
Edmonton is seen as the front-runner for his services and is believed to be willing to pay him in the $6-million range annually on a seven-year deal.
Lucic has also received strong interest from Dallas, Montreal and Vancouver, among others. He travelled to Edmonton for a visit with Oilers brass on Tuesday and had an audience with a group that included Stars owner Tom Gaglardi on Wednesday.
He became the biggest name available in free agency after Steven Stamkos re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this week.
Should Lucic end up signing a contract totalling $42-million or more on Friday, it would eclipse any deal handed out on July 1 each of the last four years. Andrej Sekera’s $33-million, six-year contract with Edmonton was the largest in 2015, with Washington’s Matt Niskanen ($40.25-million, seven years), Columbus’ Nathan Horton ($37.1-million, seven years) and Toronto’s David Clarkson ($36.75-million, seven years) leading the way the three years prior to that.
Lucic just completed an $18-million, three-year deal that he signed with Boston in September in 2012.
He was traded to Los Angeles last summer and had 20 goals and 55 points in his only season as a member of the Kings.