Stanley Cup champion shocks NHL world with stunning comeback to join Avalanche divisional rival
Photo credit: Derek Leung / Yahoo Sports
Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic has stunned the NHL world by announcing his unexpected comeback, choosing to join the Colorado Avalanche's divisional rival, the St. Louis Blues, in a move that is already sending shockwaves across the league.
Lucic won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins during their 2011 playoff run.
Milan Lucic poised for stunning NHL comeback.
Billy Heyen from The Sporting News writes that Blues GM Doug Armstrong confirmed to the media that the veteran forward will be attending the team's training camp on a professional tryout contract.
"The last time Lucic played in an NHL game was Oct. 21, 2023. The Vancouver-born Lucic is now 37 years old." -Heyen
Lucic broke into the NHL back in 2006 when the Bruins selected him 50th overall in the draft. He went on to spend the first eight seasons of his career in Boston, where he became a Stanley Cup champion and established himself as a hard-nosed, two-way forward.
During that stretch from 2007 through 2015, Lucic recorded 139 goals and 203 assists, while also racking up 1,580 hits and 202 blocked shots, cementing his reputation as one of the league's most physical power forwards.
"From there, Lucic spent a season with the Kings, scoring 20 goals with 35 assists and 244 hits. Three years in Edmonton came next, accounting for another 39 goals and 65 assists to go with 715 hits. Then it was on to Calgary for four seasons, 35 goals, 48 assists and 714 hits." -Heyen
Lucic wrapped up what many thought was the end of his career with a brief four-game stint in Boston in October 2023, where he chipped in two assists and 12 hits.
Now, the veteran forward is attempting an NHL comeback, with the St. Louis Blues giving him an opportunity to prove himself.
The Blues would welcome his physicality, leadership, and championship experience in their lineup, but before that happens, Lucic will need to show in training camp that he still has the strength, grit, and compete level to keep up in today's NHL.
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