Milan Lucic looking to make NHL return after facing charges

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Liam McCormick
August 15, 2024 (1:16 PM)

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After facing criminal charges and spending significant time in the Player Assistance Program, NHL veteran Milan Lucic is looking to make a return to the NHL.

According to insider Frank Seravalli, Lucic is training in New Jersey for the upcoming season with the hope he can attract one more contract. Right now, Lucic is ineligible to return to the NHL, and will need to receive clearance from commissioner Gary Bettman before doing so.

Milan Lucic is now 36 years old and a 1177 game veteran in the league, and this troubling incident may prevent another team from taking one more chance on the veteran. He was already slowing down significantly in recent seasons, and hasn't scored more than 25 points in 6 seasons. His contract with the Boston Bruins last year could've been seen as a farewell tour on the team his career began with, but it ended with the incident after only 4 games.

Lucic was drafted in the second round by the Bruins in 2006, and went on to play for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames over his 1177 game NHL career. Early in his career he had success as a scoring power forward, scoring a high of 30 goals with the Bruins in 2010-11, the year they won the Stanley Cup. He still had decent years with the Oilers, but quickly fell off with the Calgary Flames.

At this point in his career, the best asset Lucic can provide is veteran leadership - and after a troubling domestic violence incident, teams may be re-thinking that value. Lucic was charged with assault and battery, but charges were dropped after his wife declined to testify. Afterwards, he sought counselling for alcohol abuse in the player assistance program.

Hopefully Lucic bettered himself from this incident and was able to tackle his problems that led to that horrible incident. However, given his age, this off-ice issue, being cleared by the commissioner, and his actual hockey playing ability, it seems doubtful Lucic will return to the NHL. We'll have to see if a team takes a chance on him.

Source: Frank Seravalli

Frank Seravalli on Milan Lucic