Cruz Lucius informed the Penguins that he would not sign with the team and that he would prefer to play for another NHL club after his time in college hockey came to an end. Anaheim is Lucius new home as his rights were moved to the ducks for future considerations.
Lucius declined a contract offer which the Penguins had sent to him after the college season ended in the spring which was his last year of NCAA eligibility. Which meant he was as good as gone. There are no passengers or hostages in Pittsburgh sports identity and blood.
Lucius was one of many pieces back to the Penguins apart of the Jake Guentzel trade that sent the supposed to be future captain to Carolina where he spent only the remaining part of that season with the Canes before signing in Tampa Bay. Lucius had 46P in 36GP last year with Arizona State University (ASU).
Something to note with this, is the common theme brewing of prospects and young talent thinking they can pick and choose where they go in business. That should not be allowed and should be enforced within the CBA as it continues to ruin the entire point of drafting or acquiring these players and young talent when in reality they rather would play elsewhere and feel like they don't belong with a certain organization.
Lucius within the Ducks system doesn't have it any easier then he would have had it with the Penguins. The Ducks are swamped with high to elite end forward talent and he is already 22 and hasn't cracked any professional hockey yet in his career. He has no place in the ducks system for quite some while and at best could see AHL hockey within the next year or two but even then he will be hitting his mid twenties when that happens.
Cruz Lucius would have to file paperwork with the league to announce he has left college, he will then have his rights held by the Ducks for 30 days, that is the process for aging out college prospects who have yet to sign with an NHL team if a team holds their rights.
Lucius has since the trade signed a two year deal with the Ducks organization and now will jump to the professional level and see where his career leads to and lands. It will be something to keep an eye on if you are a Penguins fan.
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