Milan Lucic Returns to Boston

Rumors are swirling that Milan Lucic, a beloved Boston Bruins fan favorite, will be signing with the Bruins on July 1. Update: 1/7/23 – he did! I have mixed emotions about the alleged deal. Personally, I have always liked Lucic, and it’ll be fun to see him back in the black and gold. However, it makes me wonder what he’s thinking. 

Lucic’s Arrival and Early Success in Boston
Let’s go back to when Milan Lucic arrived here in 2007-2008, wearing number 62. In one of his very first games, he recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick and was soon given the number 17, which basically reinforced that he wasn’t going anywhere. As the season went on, he fought against many big names of the time, including Raitis Ivanans, Nick Tarnasky, Ben Eager, and John Erskine.

In my opinion, he acquitted himself well in most of his fights. He also managed to score 8 goals and provide 19 assists, resulting in 27 points (which is 27 more than I have in the NHL) in his rookie year. This is quite impressive for a guy that had 89 minutes in penalties to go with 13 fights. Everyone loved LOOOOOOOOOOCH, and then the comparisons started. 

The Lucic-Neely Comparisons: An Unfair Assessment
Due to his playing style as a power forward, his offensive prowess, and his willingness to drop the gloves, Lucic found himself being compared to Bruins legend, Cam Neely. It was inevitable. Both are from Vancouver. Both were great power forwards, and both could fight.

In my opinion, the comparison wasn’t entirely fair. Neely was a superior offensive talent, playing in an era when fighting was still prevalent and expected. Lucic came up in a time when fighting was a bit more specialized role, and he has never been the most graceful of a skater, but still always seemed to get the job done.

Lucic’s Role in the Bruins’ Championship Season
In the 2010-2011 season, Lucic had an outstanding year with the Boston Bruins. In 79 games, he scored an impressive 30 goals and provided 32 assists, resulting in a total of 62 points. This season was particularly significant as the Bruins ended a 30-plus year championship drought and won the Stanley Cup, with Lucic playing a crucial role in the team’s success.

Forming a line with Marc Savard and Nathan Horton, the strategy was straightforward: Lucic would use his physicality to create opportunities, Savard or Horton would capitalize on those chances, and the cycle would continue. It was a winning formula that brought joy to Bruins fans. However, it’s worth noting that Boston fans can sometimes be overly critical, which is unfortunate.

Criticisms and Controversies Surrounding Lucic
Lucic was a prominent offensive player and not just a fourth-liner, yet the fan base began to turn on him, particularly after losing fights to players like Colton Orr. There was also a well-known incident involving a public feud between Lucic and Georges Laraque in Montreal.

Lucic was a prominent offensive player and not just a fourth-liner, yet the fan base began to turn on him, particularly after losing fights to players like Colton Orr. There was also a well-known incident involving a public feud between Lucic and Georges Laraque in Montreal. It’s been too long to remember the exact details, but tensions were high between them.

In a highly anticipated game in Montreal, Lucic and Laraque lined up next to each other. Laraque clearly challenged him to a fight, but Lucic declined. This incident added fuel to an ongoing feud between Lucic and Montreal’s Dale Weise. Fans were disappointed that Lucic refused to fight a heavyweight like Laraque but would engage in conflicts with a pesky shit disturber like Weise.

Lucic’s time in Boston was always productive, especially after Marc Savard left the game due to concussions. He formed a successful line with David Krejci and Nathan Horton, utilizing his signature “Lucic smash” style. However, despite his contributions, the fans were critical of his skating abilities and his choice of opponents in fights. 

In the 2014-2015 season, with a year remaining on his contract, Lucic was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Martin Jones, a decision that I believe the Bruins should have reconsidered. He spent a single season in LA before signing with the Edmonton Oilers in the summer of 2016. Unfortunately, his production has declined since then, leading to his recent trade to the Calgary Flames.

Milan’s Recent Decline and the Potential Risks of a Boston Return
Lucic’s skating skills have always been subpar, and they have not improved over time. Additionally, his offensive numbers have dipped. Although he had only three fights last year, they were against formidable opponents, with his bout against Kurtis MacDermid being one of the highlights of the year.

Signing Lucic for the Bruins makes sense. Reportedly, he will ink a one-year deal for $1 million. He is expected to bring intimidation to the ice and contribute to the team’s fourth line. However, there are concerns about the potential cost of this signing. I worry that Lucic may come to regret his decision to return to Boston after his time with the Oilers and Flames. It could turn into a disappointing end to his career, mirroring the cliche of finishing where he started. 

So – if the Boston fans can find a way to buck their usual trend of scrutinizing his every move, and the media can resist fueling the fire of the nitwit fans, I think it’s going to be a match made in heaven. Having said that, stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and I see this going down in a Hindenburg-esque ball of flames. Here’s hoping I’m very wrong. Because we love the guy.