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| Milan Lucic | |
|---|---|
| Name | Milan Lucic |
| Birth date | 7 June 1988 |
| Birth place | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Weight lb | 236 |
| Position | Left wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| Played for | Vancouver Giants, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, European Elite Ice Hockey |
| Draft | 50th overall, 2006 NHL Entry Draft |
| Draft team | Boston Bruins |
| Career start | 2007 |
| Career end | 2023 |
Milan Lucic is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger noted for his physical play, net-front scoring, and role as a power forward in the National Hockey League. He rose through major junior ranks to become a second-round pick, won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins, and represented Canada in international tournaments. Lucic's career spanned multiple NHL franchises and included leadership roles, notable rivalries, and involvement in several high-profile playoff runs.
Lucic was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and raised in the suburb of Surrey, British Columbia. He played minor hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League system before joining the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League under coach Don Hay. With the Giants he played alongside teammates such as Dustin Friesen and opponents including Evander Kane while competing in the 2006 Memorial Cup and winning the BC Division and WHL Championship contention. Drafted 50th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Lucic's junior tenure featured physical dominance, point production, and playoff experience that attracted scouts from franchises including the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.
Lucic began his professional career after signing with the Boston Bruins organization, splitting time between the American Hockey League affiliate Providence Bruins and the NHL club. He established himself in Boston as a prototypical power forward under coach Claude Julien and alongside teammates such as Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron, and Tim Thomas. Lucic contributed to the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup championship, participating in playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vancouver Canucks. Following his tenure in Boston, Lucic signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings, joining veterans like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty while playing home games at Staples Center.
Mid-career moves saw Lucic traded to the Calgary Flames in a deal involving Sean Monahan prospects and later moved to the Colorado Avalanche where he played with stars such as Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Late-career stints included signing with the St. Louis Blues and an overseas period in European leagues, playing with organizations in Sweden and Czech Republic. Across these teams he recorded multi-goal games, served as a mentor to younger players like Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, and was involved in high-profile matchups with rival clubs including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers.
Lucic represented Canada at several junior and senior levels, including selection camps for the IIHF World Championship and participation in tournaments featuring national teams such as United States, Russia, Sweden, and Finland. He competed against international stars including Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin, contributing physical presence and occasional scoring in exhibition and competitive games. Lucic's international appearances reinforced his reputation among national team selectors from Hockey Canada and drew attention during Olympic and World Championship cycles.
Lucic's playing style combined size, strength, and aggressive forechecking typical of a power forward; he often battled for pucks along the boards and screened goaltenders in front of the crease. Coaches such as Claude Julien and Darryl Sutter used Lucic on checking lines and power-play units, leveraging his ability to create traffic for scorers like Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. His reputation included both praised toughness and criticized instances of on-ice incidents leading to suspensions or fines assessed by the National Hockey League and officials including Don Koharski. Lucic developed rivalries with players like Daniel Sedin, Zack Kassian, and P.K. Subban, and his physicality often made him a focal point in playoff series against clubs such as the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks.
Off the ice, Lucic has ties to the Serbian community through family heritage and engaged in charitable initiatives in the Greater Vancouver area and cities where he played, working with organizations including local children's hospitals and community foundations. He maintained residences in Boston and Calgary during his career and was involved in business ventures and endorsements linked to Canadian and American brands. Media coverage of Lucic included profiles in outlets such as Sportsnet, TSN, The Boston Globe, and Calgary Herald.
Lucic's NHL regular-season totals encompass over 1,000 games played with cumulative goals, assists, and points reflecting his role as a middle-six winger and power forward. His playoff statistics include contributions during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs and multiple subsequent postseason appearances with teams such as Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and Calgary Flames. His single-season highs included 30+ goals in a campaign and 60+ points in another, while penalty minutes often reflected his physical style of play.
Lucic's honours include winning the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, selection to WHL all-star lists during his junior career with the Vancouver Giants, and team-based awards recognizing leadership and community contributions. He earned recognition in media and league award conversations for his role as a top power forward and was named in team promotional materials and alumni events for franchises including the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Giants.
Category:1988 births Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Stanley Cup champions