4th year left wing Lucas Lessio(14) was left unqualified by Montreal Canadiens heading into restricted free agency after being dealt a couple of months into 2015/2016 from draft team Arizona Coyotes.
The decently big power forward was given a training camp invite by Los Angeles Kings but released to affiliate Ontario Reign to continue.
A week later he was released from his pto.
Tough to say where things went south for the former high draft selection after a good rookie season with an AHL career high 29 goals and 25 assists for 54 points with Portland Pirates, then 26 NHL games and another good run in the minors.
Maybe it was his on ice accountability, which sits at a -11 in the big league and a very lousy -38 rating with three different farm clubs.
The former 2009 OHL Champion and 2011 Hlinka Memorial Tournament Gold Medal winner with Team Canada didn’t take long to pick up a new deal after a series of unsuccessful tryouts.
The 23-year old heads overseas on a one-year deal with Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL in hopes to turn the corner.
Lucas Lessio(38) Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#56 overall) left wing Lucas Lessio(38) makes his NHL debut to start his rookie season.
He signed an ato to join their minor league affiliate Portland Pirates to start his pro career after three years in the OHL with Oshawa Generals.
In 5 AHL games he scored his first goal and assist and added another pair of helpers in 3 playoff contests.
The 6’1″ 206 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game player in juniors racking up 80 goals and 70 assists in 167 games.
He’s signed to a 3-year entry level deal that keeps him with the team through the 2015/2016 season.
At only 20-years old he’s projected to become a top six, power forward in the league.