Former Boston Bruins star Milan Lucic is looking to make an NHL comeback.
Lucic hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2023-24 season, as he was given an indefinite leave of absence after he was arrested in Boston for a ‘domestic incident’ involving his wife. He also was injured, so with both those things happening, his season was over.
Since then, Lucic has been out of hockey. But on August 19, he signed a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues to pursue an NHL comeback.
Lucic has since completed the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and has been reinstated by the league, which allowed him to sign the PTO with the Blues.
Lucic is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons and helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011. He’s skated in 1,177 career games, recording 233 goals and 353 assists for 584 points. He also has 1,301 penalty minutes.
Lucic has played for the Bruins, the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Calgary Flames.
Former Bruins Star Lucic Had Charges Dropped
Lucic had been out of the NHL due to his legal issue.
Lucic had been accused of domestic violence, but after his wife opted not to testify, the charges were dropped against the gritty forward.
“This situation is something prosecutors encounter quite often in matters involving domestic violence charges. We handled this case exactly as we would any other presenting a similar set of circumstances,” James Borghesani, chief of communications for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, said in a statement.
According to a Boston Police Department report, Lucic appeared to be intoxicated when officers arrived on the scene. Lucic’s wife, Brittany Lucic, reported that he tried to choke her.
However, when cops arrived, Brittany said that her husband had pulled her hair, but said he did not try to strangle her. She also declined medical treatment.
After the charges were dropped, the Bruins issued a statement on the matter. The team offered their support to Lucic and his family.
“Milan Lucic will remain on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season,” the team said in a statement. “The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation.”
Lucic was selected 50th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft by the Bruins.
Lucic Was Eager to Return to the Bruins
After eight years away from the Bruins, Lucic signed back with Boston for the 2023-24 season.
However, Lucic only appeared in 4 games due to an injury and the domestic violence charges. But, when he did return to Boston, Lucic was honored and excited to be back with the Bruins.
“It was great. Obviously, I was really looking forward to it, so it was a real special moment for me. To be honest, I was just soaking it all in like a fan. I was on the bench going, ‘this is really cool to be a part of and a real special moment for hockey history,’” Lucic said. “To see all of the legends that are here, former teammates, and to be part of the whole ceremony here tonight was something special to be a part of. It just adds to being back in Boston.”
Lucic has skated in 570 career games with the Bruins over nine seasons.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former Bruins Star Signs PTO With West Team to Pursue NHL Comeback appeared first on Heavy Sports.