Milan Lucic homecoming to Boston filled with emotion and determination

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Hunter Bowman
July 12, 2023 (10:49 PM)

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In the midst of the NHL Free Agency frenzy on July 1, numerous teams vied for the attention of Milan Lucic, not just the Boston Bruins. However, it was the Bruins who emerged victorious in their pursuit of the 35-year-old veteran.

In an insightful interview on "Dropping the Gloves" with former NHL player John Scott, Lucic shared his thought process behind his decision to return to Boston and once again don the Spoked-B on opening night.

Prior to the commencement of free agency, Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy granted Lucic permission to explore his options, allowing the 16-year veteran to entertain calls from a multitude of teams across the league�somewhere in the range of 10 to 15.

Lucic disclosed to Scott, "There was significant interest from other teams, but ultimately, I followed my heart and returned to where it all began. I longed to be a Boston Bruin once more."

Among the first suitors to reach out to Lucic were the Chicago Blackhawks, who incidentally will be the Bruins' opening night opponent on October 11�an occasion that the winger eagerly anticipates.

"It's undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated games of my career," Lucic admitted. "To be honest, it may even bring a tear to my eye. That's how much I'm looking forward to it."

The prospect of Lucic, a player known for his physicality and willingness to engage in fisticuffs, getting emotional may surprise some. However, he passionately explained,

"It's Boston. It's the fans. It's the Garden. It's the Original Six. Donning the jersey once again, representing the Bruins�it means the world to me. It's a significant part of who I am, and I've missed it tremendously. I genuinely believe it will stir up a tidal wave of emotions within me."

Lucic believes that his participation in the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, held in Finland and Latvia from May 12-28, played a pivotal role in attracting the attention of numerous teams. He shared,

"Many of the teams I conversed with noted that they could still see my passion for the game. They saw it in my face, in my eyes. They witnessed the joy I derived from playing. They recognized that the fire within me still burned brightly, and that's what piqued their interest in having me join their ranks."

Moreover, Lucic attributed his involvement in the tournament as a contributing factor in securing another NHL contract. Ultimately, it solidified his decision to return to his NHL home, where he spent the first eight years of his career.

Despite the Boston Bruins' premature exit from the playoffs last year, Lucic urges fans not to fret, drawing upon past experiences of the franchise. He reflected,

"It's interesting to note that the 2011 team wasn't even the best one during my eight-year tenure here. In 2009, we were exceptional, yet lost to Carolina. Likewise, in 2014, we fell to Montreal. Both those teams were superior to the 2011 squad, but we possessed a solid core, a foundation to build upon. After the infamous collapse in 2010, we emerged victorious in 2011. So who's to say history won't repeat itself after the setback in 2023?"