Milan Lucic reportedly agreeing to tryout contract with eastern conference team

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
September 4, 2024 (5:55 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

NHL insider Bob Stauffer has reported that former Oilers forward Milan Lucic will be signing a professional tryout contract with the New Jersey Devils in the coming days.

UPDATE:

According to a new statement from Lucic's agent, there is no deal in place for him with the New Jersey Devils. The agent re-iterated that Lucic must be cleared by the commissioner before being signed.

»By the way, we wish him the best of luck in his PTO that's coming up with the New Jersey Devils.»
- Bob Stauffer

This could be just speculation from Stauffer, but he does sound pretty sure that Milan Lucic will be joining the Devils. The 36 year old forward has been training in New Jersey in the last few weeks, but will need to clear additional hurdles to be allowed back into the NHL.

Lucic was arrested for assault and battery in November of 2023 after an alleged domestic incident involving his wife. The veteran forward immediately left the team, and later joined the NHL's Player Assistance Program. His wife invoked marital privilege in court and declined to testify, leading to the charges being dropped. According to a recent update from Frank Seravalli, Lucic will need to be cleared by commissioner Gary Bettman to return to the NHL.

At this point, there has been no update on Lucic receiving that clearance from Gary Bettman, and until that point, he remains ineligible to return to play.

Milan Lucic has played 1177 career NHL games after being drafted in the second round by the Boston Bruins in 2006. He signed a high value free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016, and during the deal really began to slow down with age. He hasn't recorded more than 23 points in his last 5 seasons, and honestly didn't look like much of an NHL player in his final year with the Calgary Flames.

It's puzzling to understand why the New Jersey Devils would feel the need to take on the off-ice controversy for this signing for a player who could bring so little on-ice reward. The Devils may believe he's a locker room asset, but again after the recent issues that's nearly impossible to justify. We'll see if this report comes true in the coming days if Gary Bettman officially grants Lucic entry back into the NHL.

Source for stats and salaries: