Oilers’ Holland makes bleak comments about Lucic trade

New Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland calls them like he sees them. And he wasn’t about to hide anything for reporters when he met with them in Vancouver on Thursday ahead of the NHL Entry Draft. 

The GM was asked about a potential deal involving veteran forward Milan Lucic, whose name has been mentioned more than once in trade chatter over the past two months. 

The latest rumour speculated that a trade of Lucic for Loui Eriksson could make sense for both the Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks. However, Holland didn’t seem to say that a move was close in that case. 

In fact, it seems quite difficult to make a move that involves Lucic… 

“Sometimes names get out in the media because you’ve had a small conversation that doesn’t lead to anything,” he said, per the Edmonton Journal. “Sometimes where there’s smoke there’s fire.”

“I’m nowhere close to that right now (with Lucic).”

Holland explained he had talks with Lucic’s agent, but asking him to lift his no movement clause didn’t come up, and won’t until a deal is in the works.

Remain patients, Oilers fans…