Milan Lucic, a former Boston Bruins star and member of the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, opened up about his path back to professional hockey with revealing conversations on Wednesday. Lucic, 37, signed a professional tryout contract this week with the Springfield Thunderbirds. He hopes to one day return to the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and Coach Jim Montgomery.”I’m excited to have this opportunity and get it going here in the great state of Massachusetts where my pro career started,” he said. Lucic was introduced to reporters by the team on Wednesday and spoke candidly about how the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program helped him and his family.The Player Assistance Program helps players through mental health and substance abuse issues.”To be honest, it’s helped me a lot, to get to this point, and I’m grateful and thankful for the whole program,” he said. “It’s helped me, I guess, you know, build myself back up to, to get to this point.”Lucic also thanked his wife and children for their support.”Their support and belief in me helped me get to this point,” he said. Prosecutors dropped a domestic assault case against the veteran NHL forward in 2024, after revealing that an alleged victim declined to testify, and a judge ruled that a 911 call was inadmissible. Lucic last played for the Bruins in October 2023. Lucic is also recovering from a groin injury and has never played an AHL game in his career.He is trying to make a comeback with a chance to reunite with Blues head coach, former Bruins bench boss, Jim Montgomery, who has himself been through things.”It’s great, it’s a great opportunity. He’s always been a big supporter of mine,” Lucic said. “I’m not in my 20s anymore, so not that 20-year old juice that I had but it’s still in there. You try to find that little kid in you that’s excited to play.”Lucic is expected to make his AHL debut with the Thunderbirds on Friday night in downtown Springfield.Lucic, a native of Vancouver, played for the Bruins from 2007 to 2015 and again from 2023 to 2024. In between, he played for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He totaled 1,177 NHL games in his career.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —

Milan Lucic, a former Boston Bruins star and member of the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, opened up about his path back to professional hockey with revealing conversations on Wednesday.

Lucic, 37, signed a professional tryout contract this week with the Springfield Thunderbirds. He hopes to one day return to the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and Coach Jim Montgomery.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity and get it going here in the great state of Massachusetts where my pro career started,” he said.

Lucic was introduced to reporters by the team on Wednesday and spoke candidly about how the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program helped him and his family.

The Player Assistance Program helps players through mental health and substance abuse issues.

“To be honest, it’s helped me a lot, to get to this point, and I’m grateful and thankful for the whole program,” he said. “It’s helped me, I guess, you know, build myself back up to, to get to this point.”

Lucic also thanked his wife and children for their support.

“Their support and belief in me helped me get to this point,” he said.

Prosecutors dropped a domestic assault case against the veteran NHL forward in 2024, after revealing that an alleged victim declined to testify, and a judge ruled that a 911 call was inadmissible. Lucic last played for the Bruins in October 2023.

Lucic is also recovering from a groin injury and has never played an AHL game in his career.

He is trying to make a comeback with a chance to reunite with Blues head coach, former Bruins bench boss, Jim Montgomery, who has himself been through things.

“It’s great, it’s a great opportunity. He’s always been a big supporter of mine,” Lucic said.
“I’m not in my 20s anymore, so not that 20-year old juice that I had but it’s still in there. You try to find that little kid in you that’s excited to play.”

Lucic is expected to make his AHL debut with the Thunderbirds on Friday night in downtown Springfield.

Lucic, a native of Vancouver, played for the Bruins from 2007 to 2015 and again from 2023 to 2024. In between, he played for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He totaled 1,177 NHL games in his career.