The Western Hockey League officially lost one of its signature players last week, Vancouver Giants left wing Milan Lucic.
Will Everett Silvertips center Peter Mueller be next?
The Giants were informed that Lucic, the reigning Memorial Cup MVP, will remain with the NHL’s Boston Bruins beyond the nine-game trial period, the Vancouver Province reported.
The 19-year-old Lucic was a longshot to make the Bruins’ roster this season as an underage player, and he was expected to return to Vancouver and use his raw power and scoring touch to be an MVP candidate.
However, Lucic surprised Boston’s staff with his ability to compete at the NHL level. In his first seven games he had one goal, one assist and three fights.
By staying with Boston beyond the nine-game trial period, Lucic’s NHL contract will kick in, making it unlikely he’ll be returned to Vancouver. However, it doesn’t completely rule out the possibility.
“What (Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli) told us was that the nine-game rule doesn’t mean anything to them,” Vancouver coach Don Hay told the Province. “To them, how he is playing is what dictates whether he’ll stay. Right now, he’s playing well, he’s contributing to their success and they really like him.
“What he said to us is that it doesn’t mean that he isn’t going to come back at some time, but just don’t expect him after nine games.”
With Lucic’s status determined, that leaves Everett center Peter Mueller as the only remaining WHL underage player with an uncertain status in the NHL.
Mueller, also 19, was always expected to stick with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. He started slow, fueling speculation that he might be returned to Everett. However, he picked up his play in Phoenix’s past two game, notching his first NHL goal and assist.
Mueller has played in six games with the Coyotes so far. He can appear in three more before his NHL contract kicks in.
WHL commissioner Ron Robison told the Province that the NHL teams can still send players back to the WHL up to the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline.
Around the WHL: It appears as though no fireworks are going to erupt in the wake of the Ken Petkau situation. Petkau, a 20-year-old right wing who announced his retirement from the Chilliwack Bruins, was found at a professional tryout in Oklahoma City soon after and was subsequently picked up by Vancouver in the overager draft. However, according to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Petkau told WHL vice president Richard Doerksen he is not interested in returning to the WHL, and the league also determined Vancouver did nothing wrong. … In an effort to crack down on hits to the head, the league handed out a pair of stiff punishments last week, suspending Red Deer right wing J.D. Watt six games and Regina defenseman Colten Teubert two games for separate incidents of high hits. … Prince Albert is suffering through a crisis of leadership as captain Ryan DePape and alternates Mike Gauthier, Matt Robertson and Ryan McDonald were all stripped of their letters. … Chilliwack right wing Oscar Moller was named the WHL Player of the Week. Moller had seven goals and three assists as the Bruins went 2-0-1-0.
League leaders: Points — Mark Santorelli (Chilliwack) 21; goals — Jordan Eberle (Regina) 13; assists — Santorelli 17; penalty minutes — Garet Hunt (Vancouver), Matt McCue (Chilliwack) 57; wins — Tyson Sexsmith (Vancouver), Matt Esposito (Chilliwack) 9; goals against average — Sexsmith 1.72; save percentage — Riku Helenius (Seattle) .925.
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