Reporters at the first day of the Edmonton Oilers’ training camp on Thursday were greeted by a smiling and relaxed Milan Lucic when it was his turn to answer questions from the media.
Lucic’s smile is a good start to the Oilers’ trying to wipe the slate clean after missing the playoffs in a year that many had pegged the team for major success. And perhaps no other player drew more criticism from fans than the man known as “Looch” by fans in the stands. Despite suiting up for all 82 games, Lucic found the back of the net just 10 times, and only one of those goals came in his last 46 games.
“I think I definitely learned a hard lesson with that last year, but … I’m not thinking about last year at all, I’m just thinking about this year and playing my game and being myself and being the best player I can be for this team.”
READ MORE: As Oilers seek to rebound and return to playoffs, they ask ‘who do we want to be?’
Watch below: After a disappointing season that saw the team miss the NHL playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers’ fresh start got underway with the first day of training camp ahead of the 2018-19 season. Kevin Karius has more.
Lucic is one of the league’s most respected power forwards, and he said he has taken steps to find a way to power through the extended rough patch he had last season. He told reporters he worked with sports psychologists in the offseason to help him bounce back stronger than ever.
“Sometimes it’s just taking a step back and remembering why you play and remembering the kid inside you and why you play the game.”
Lucic said he also took inspiration this summer from teams that had success in the playoffs while the Oilers missed the post-season, in particular Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals who won their first-ever Stanley Cup.
READ MORE: Connor McDavid wants consistency and chemistry from linemates as Oilers open camp
Watch below: Some videos about Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic.
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Peter Chiarelli ‘confident’ Lucic can get back to where expectations are for him -
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Oilers forward Milan Lucic year-end interview -
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Young boy from Cold Lake gets to meet hockey hero Milan Lucic -
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Milan Lucic’s family cheers on Oilers in Anaheim -
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Hockey player Milan Lucic joins Edmonton Oilers -
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Milan Lucic signed with Edmonton Oilers because of Connor McDavid -
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Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli discusses Milan Lucic’s durability -
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Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli talks about connection with Milan Lucic from Boston -
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Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli say Milan Lucic was offered more money then he accepted -
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Milan Lucic says it’s time the Edmonton Oilers become more intimidating -
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Milan Lucic says he’s got a lot of hockey still ahead of him after signing deal with Oilers -
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Milan Lucic says he picked Edmonton so he could play with Connor McDavid -
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Milan Lucic puts on Edmonton Oilers jersey after signing 7-year, US$42M deal
While Lucic won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, he said he feels like “there’s still a lot to prove in my career.”
“I mean, I turned 30 in June and… I remember my first three or four years in the league, you think of someone who turns 30, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s old,'” he said. “But now that you’re here you don’t feel old… There’s definitely motivation from a personal level but I think more so from a team level.
“We’ve got to believe in ourselves and in each other to get back to what we were in 2016-17.”
Watch below: Video on recent news about the Edmonton Oilers.
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