Former NHL forward Milan Lucic has officially called an end to his hockey career, making the announcement on his 38th birthday Sunday after 17 seasons in professional hockey.
The hard-hitting player was instrumental in Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup championship run, which concluded with a seventh-game triumph against Vancouver, the city where Lucic grew up. His last NHL appearance came during a brief four-game return to Boston in October 2023.
“Looking back on my career, I feel truly grateful to have fulfilled my dream of playing professional hockey, culminating with a Stanley Cup win in 2011 with the Boston Bruins,” Lucic stated through the National Hockey League Players Association.
“I want to especially thank the Bruins for giving me my start in professional hockey and for instilling the confidence to reach new heights as a player. Later in my career, I had the privilege of playing with some exceptional organizations in Los Angeles, Edmonton and Calgary. I look back with fondness at the time I spent with each organization and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure of playing alongside.”
Throughout his NHL career, Lucic accumulated 586 points, including 233 goals and 353 assists, while serving 1,301 penalty minutes across 1,177 regular-season contests. His career spanned time with Boston (2007-15, 2023), Los Angeles (2015-16), Edmonton (2016-19), and Calgary (2019-23).
Lucic had made an effort to return for the upcoming 2025-26 season after inking a professional tryout deal with St. Louis. However, he was cut loose in November after appearing in five American Hockey League contests.
