The Pittsburgh Penguins won’t be signing one of their better collegiate prospects. According to a report from DK Pittsburgh Sports, forward Cruz Lucius has notified the Penguins that he won’t sign his entry-level contract with the team, and will become a collegiate free agent later this summer on August 15th.
Lucius, 21, recently finished his senior season at Arizona State University. He was originally drafted 124th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2022 NHL Draft, before having his signing rights traded to the Penguins in the Jake Guentzel trade.
The Lawrence, KS native burst onto the scene in his freshman season, scoring 11 goals and 34 points in 34 games, then at the University of Wisconsin. He continued his collegiate career with the Badgers the following season, scoring 13 goals and 34 points in 36 games in a nearly identical stat line.
Moving to the transfer portal, Lucius landed with the Sun Devils. His junior season was unfortunately affected by injuries, resulting in two goals and 10 points across 19 games. Back to full health this year, Lucius had his best personal campaign, scoring 15 goals and 46 points in 36 games, finishing 11th in the nation in scoring, just one point behind James Hagens of Boston College.
In the report from DK Pittsburgh, they included a quote from the Penguins’ President of Hockey Operations, Kyle Dubas, saying, “(Lucius and his agent) informed us that that he was not going to be signing in Pittsburgh for a few reasons that’s up to him to share. It’s a personal thing for him. We felt we had a great opportunity for him, and the proof is in the pudding on the development side, but players are entitled to make their decision, and I don’t think we’re at the position here anymore where we have to beg people to come.”
Now, Lucius will spend the next few months choosing where his next landing spot will be. He should get decent interest from around the league, as teams wouldn’t lose much outside of a roster spot by offering him an opportunity. Fortunately, Lucius is seeking a new organization after a successful conclusion to his collegiate career.
Cruz Lucius sounds like the bassist for a Southern California punk band.
Who said anything about begging, Kyle?
it has high school vibes of “you can’t break up with me! I dumped you first”
Exactly!
Maybe he got better than the games I watched but…not worried about this.
Skating is subpar.
Jake deal looking like a bust* unless Koivunen rebounds, which seems less and less likely.
*Aside from the draft pick.
Another entitled loser
Yep, another kid making you miserable by deciding where he will live and work. Well done.
Not miserable at all tard
I don’t know why you’re crying.
People are allowed to work for whomever they chose.
Juat because a team traded his rights to another team doest mean he will sign with them.
Fck him. If he ever comes to play in PIT against the Penguins don’t forget and boo him every time he touches the puck.
Wow, you’ll sure show him.
Sure. He should receive a rude awakening for turning on the nhl club willing to give him a chance. Screw him.
You will certainly show him from your keyboard.
Sounds like Eric Linda’s all over again 🙄
If you were Lindros you would have too. Read the whole story before you made a 🤡 comment
All the people crying because they think a kid HAS to sign with the team his rights were traded to while he was in college 😂
Guess that means we should all be able to chise who you work for and what you do then.
Way different moron and learn how to spell
Epic blast.
Hardly a better place for a young player to start at this time…stupid decision
I bet he signs with the Canes.
His brother Chaz had to retire at 21 yrs old because of his illness
Cruz should bless his lucky stars an NHL team had his “rights” and just play .
Chaz would love to be able to play again .
My guess is his reasoning might even have to do with this situation.
Some people are okay with a team shipping out a player who wants to stay but lose their minds when a player wants to leave. You want teams to have power but not the players.
Reminds me of when a company has a pizza party and announces that “we’re family” and then lays off half its employees. Some family. lol
Dubas still can trade his rights to any other team in the league. I could see Dubas checking back in w/ Lucious
@kodiak32 – Dubas doesn’t have a lot of leverage to trade his rights, since the rest of the league can just wait out the process and see if he’s worth an ELC when he hits FA.