Boston Bruins Rumors: Milan Lucic back returns to the Black & Gold express
The Boston Bruins have been trying to figure out how can they replace a lot of the pieces that are leaving from their record-setting team in 2022-2023.
They sent Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to the Blackhawks in a trade. It’s clear that they aren’t bringing back Garnet Hathaway. Dmitry Orlov has signed with Carolina. It doesn’t look like they are going to be able to bring back Tyler Bertuzzi. So where do the Bruins go from here?
Well, one old friend will be back to help the Bruins out a bit.
Old friend Milan Lucichas agreed to a one year, $1 million contract with the Bruins on Saturday. Lucic’s first stint with the Bruins lasted from 2007-2015.
Boston Bruins bringing back Milan Lucic on a cheap contract
In the prime of his career, Milan Lucic was putting up 60 point seasons for the Bruins. But keep in mind, those were when he was in his age 22 and 23 seasons. He was seen as the big enforcer that could also score goals and bring a level of physicality to the Bruins.
Now granted, he’s going into his age 35 season when the 2023-2024 season kicks off. That’s why this contract is perfectly fine!
It’s basically the Patrice Bergeron contract from a season ago. Obviously, the production won’t be near what Bergeron did last year with the Bruins. But the veteran leadership and toughness makes the $1 million dollar contract worth it.
Boston Bruins having a capable 3rd/4th line wing in Milan Lucic
Nobody is expecting Milan Lucic to come in and be a first/second line wing. If he plays on the third/fourth line with guys like Charlie Coyle, Morgan Geeke, and Jakob Lauko, that works just fine!
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Lucic will bring an element of physicality to the Bruins, like we mentioned before. Sliding in with Charlie Coyle and those guys can only help raise Lucic’s game.
He only had 7 goals and 12 assists in 77 games for the Calgary Flames this past season. So the production has gone down significantly.
But can you sit there and honestly tell me that Lucic won’t benefit from playing on the third or fourth line in Boston? Similar to what happened to Taylor Hall this past season? I’d say so.
I can easily see the points amount go up for Lucic next season. As long as Jim Montgomery uses him correctly!
Milan Lucic a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Bruins
This is a perfect low-risk, high-reward type of signing for the Bruins. It also has the nostalgia feeling of welcoming back a beloved Bruin for one more go around!
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Don Sweeney is looking for talent on cheap contracts. That’s why Lucic and other signings like James Van Riemsdyk work out well too. But now the question is: can these pieces help get the Bruins to where they want to get to? A Stanley Cup Final win for the first time since 2011?
Time will tell. But let’s let Bruins fans have their fun with this. It’ll be fun to see Milan Lucic back in a Boston Bruins sweater. A fight or two will get the fans on their feet, a goal or two will keep them on their feet, and a championship will make sure they never sit down or forget the good times!