Milan Lucic was born on June 7, 1988, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Lucic comes from a hockey family that includes his uncle Dan Kesa who was drafted in the fifth round of the 1991 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. The right-shot, right-wing played 139 NHL games for four franchises and finished his playing career in Austria in 2002-03. Lucic played in the British Columbia Hockey League during the 2004-05 season and registered nine goals, and 14 assists with 100 penalty minutes in 50 games. The rugged left wing played one game for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League at the end of the season.
During the 2005-06 season, Lucic played 62 games with nine goals and ten assists. The 6-foot-3 230-pound forward racked up 149 penalty minutes as the Giants won the Western Hockey League. The following season, as an assistant captain, the bruising forward developed his offensive game to the tune of 30 goals and 38 assists in 70 games and 147 penalty minutes, and the Giants would be Memorial Cup champions. Lucic was a Memorial Cup all-star and won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award (Stafford Smythe Trophy).
Milan Lucic Drafted 50th Overall in the 2006 NHL Draft
The Boston Bruins selected Milan Lucic in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft with the 50th overall pick. Lucic was the fifth left-wing chosen in the draft. Only fellow Bruins draft pick Phil Kessel has played more games than Lucic from that draft. Jordan Staal has played the same amount of games as Lucic, with 1,173. Draft analysts loved the big winger’s physical play, size, and scoring ability. Skating was the only red flag that caused Lucic to drop to the second round.
Boston Bruins Sign Milan Lucic to an Entry-Level Contract
The Bruins signed Milan Lucic to a three-year, entry-level contract on August 2, 2007, worth $2.55 million. Lucic would play eight games for the U20 Canada Selects as captain in the 2007 Super Series, collecting three assists. With the new deal, Lucic would leave the Vancouver Giants and begin his professional career.
Milan Lucic’s NHL Debut To Today
Milan Lucic played in his first career NHL game on October 5, 2007, a 4–1 loss to the Dallas Stars, in which he fought opposing forward Brad Winchester. Lucic played 6:53 of ice time and collected one shot on the net. His first goal came a week later, on October 12, against goaltender Jonathan Bernier, a game-winner, in an 8–6 win against the Los Angeles Kings. By also fighting Kings forward Raitis Ivanans and notching an assist, he recorded a “Gordie Howe hat trick.”
Lucic would play 566 regular season games for Boston over eight seasons with 139 goals, 203 assists, and 772 penalty minutes. Lucic would also be a clutch playoff performer with 26 goals, and 35 assists in 96 postseason games and was an integral part of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup champion squad. In the 2013 playoffs, Lucic led the league with 102 hits.
On June 26, 2015, the Bruins traded the popular forward to Los Angeles for a first-round draft pick, goaltender Martin Jones, and defenseman Colin Miller. Lucic played one season for the Kings with 20 goals and 35 assists before signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2016. The deal would be for seven years and $42 million. Lucic would play just three of those years for Edmonton and amass 39 goals, and 65 assists in 243 games.
On July 19, 2019, the Oilers traded Lucic to Calgary with a conditional third-round draft pick for forward James Neal. Lucic would play the remaining four years of his contract with the Flames and register 35 goals and 48 assists in 283 regular season games. In 22 postseason games, Lucic would collect one goal and six assists.
Milan Lucic Returns To Boston
On July 1, 2023, the Boston Bruins signed Milan Lucic to a one-year, $1 million contract to bring the strapping 35-year-old forward back to the team that drafted him. Lucic, however, was arrested for alleged domestic abuse of his wife and suspended for the rest of the season after playing just four games. In his 16-year career, Lucic has 233 goals and 353 assists with a plus-59 rating and is an unrestricted free agent who is unlikely to play in the NHL again.
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