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Milan Lucic Singled Out For Contract, Red Wings Executive Calls NHL Players ‘Cattle’

In yet another interesting plot twist that is the soap opera of collective bargaining talks between the NHL and NHLPA, one league exec took a shot at the Bruins’ Milan Lucic.

Detroit Red Wings senior-vice president Jimmy Devellano commented in a recent interview, comparing players to “cattle.”

“I will tell you this: The owners can basically be viewed as the Ranch,
and the players, and me included, are the cattle,” Devellano said to an Island Sports News reporter.

As a result of his comments made about the league, the Red Wings exec opened up his wallet, coughing up a quarter-million dollars for the comparison.

As for how Lucic is involved in the situation? Later in the same interview, Devellano singled out the 24-year-old for his three year, $18 million extension.

“Not a bad trade off for a guy like Lucic getting what, 6 million dollars a year? I mean good on him too, but he should be grateful.”

Grateful? Peter Chiarelli and Cam Neely are convinced they’ve found the next great power forward and rewarded his short but exciting career.

“I guess I must be Grade A prime beef,” Lucic replied in an interview with CSNNE.com. “I think we’re pretty good cattle if you’re looking at it that way.”

Moral of the story here: if you’re going to be compared as livestock, you might as well get the best rating. If the contract speaks for itself, might as well call Luch a porterhouse.