Milan Lucic back to Boston?
Veteran winger could be returning
NHL Free Agency starts on Saturday at noon, but the rumors are already in full swing.
According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet a reunion between veteran winger Milan Lucic and the Boston Bruins are a “strong possibility.” Rick Dhaliwal from CHEK television even declared it is happening.
Lucic played with the Bruins after being drafted in the second round as a 19-year-old from 2007 to 2015.
He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015 offseason. The 6-foot-3 forward won over the Bruins fans from his physical play and fights. He had two season of over 60 points (2010-11 and 2011-12). Of course these were in the midst of the Bruins winning the cup in 2011.
With the the NHL as fast as it is ever been, Lucic struggled last season with a career low 19 points. He has not eclipsed 30 points since 2017-18. Despite his age, his physical presence has not let up as he had 168 hits despite only averaging 11:10 of ice time last season for the Calgary Flames. The time on ice was a career low.
Lucic would come to Boston with a role on likely the fourth line. He would provide veteran presence to a locker room that could include no Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
With over 16 years in the NHL, Lucic has played over 70 games 12 times including the last two season where has missed a combined total of five games.
The Bruins will be tight on cap space with a lot of holes to fill so it will be very interesting how this deal shakes out. The guess would be a one-year deal with an AAV of around $1 Million.
Lucic recently told Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic on whether he’d return to Boston in free agency, “Obviously it’s a special place for me and it will always be a special place for me.”
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