Former Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic is reportedly considering a return to the NHL, but he must first be reinstated by Gary Bettman and the league following his arrest in 2023.
As he prepares to potentially sign an NHL contract for the upcoming season, Lucic is actively training to prove he still has the skills necessary to compete at a professional level. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Lucic is currently training in New Jersey in hopes of extending his playing career.
He is not eligible to return to the NHL due to an incident in Boston last November, where he faced assault and battery charges. Although he pleaded not guilty and the charges were dismissed in February after his wife chose not to testify, he has remained on an indefinite leave from the Bruins. His one-year contract ended on June 30, and while he hasn’t received a formal suspension, the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program is still applicable. If the league decides Lucic is ready to return, a detailed process will need to be followed.
Interest from other teams remains uncertain, but there have been light-hearted comments suggesting he could be a good fit for the Oilers, given their history with players who have complicated backgrounds. During his time with the Flames, Lucic played 283 regular-season games from 2019 to 2023 and made 22 playoff appearances. His best season in Calgary was 2020-21, where he scored 10 goals and recorded 23 points in 56 games. If allowed to return, Lucic will be 36 years old and may need to accept a professional tryout to secure a chance on a roster.
Update: Sources say Milan Lucic has been training in New Jersey this summer in an attempt to continue his playing career.
Lucic is currently ineligible to return to the #NHL. He was arrested in Boston last November for assault and battery, plead not guilty, and charges were…
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 15, 2024
Seravalli also mentions that Lucic took an indefinite leave of absence from the Bruins following his arrest and did not return to the team. His one-year contract expired on June 30. Although he has not been formally suspended by the league, the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program is still applicable. If the NHL decides Lucic is ready to make a comeback, there will be a detailed process involved.
As for potential interest from teams, that remains uncertain. There were several jokes on Seravalli’s social media post suggesting that Lucic could be a good fit for the Oilers, given their history of signing players and executives with complicated backgrounds.
During his time with the Flames, Lucic played in 283 regular-season games from 2019 to 2023 and participated in 22 playoff games. His most productive season in Calgary was in 2020-21, where he scored 10 goals and recorded 23 points in 56 games.
If he is approved for a return, Lucic will be 36 years old and may need to accept a professional tryout to secure an opportunity.
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