For the second time, the St. Louis Blues have made the decision to release veteran forward Milan Lucic from his professional tryout. Lucic had been on a tryout with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, where he contributed one assist and incurred four penalty minutes over the course of five games.
The 37-year-old forward, who hails from Vancouver, had previously joined the Blues on a professional tryout last fall. Unfortunately, he was released due to a lower-body injury, with Blues general manager Doug Armstrong expressing hopes of bringing him back during the midseason once he had recovered. Lucic returned to the team on another AHL tryout on November 5.
Lucic was originally selected 50th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft after playing for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. Over the course of his 17-season career, he has participated in 1,177 NHL games with teams including the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, amassing a total of 233 goals and 353 assists. Notably, Lucic was part of the Bruins team that claimed the Stanley Cup in 2011, marking the pinnacle of his storied career.
As he looks for opportunities ahead, Milan Lucic’s extensive experience in the league could serve as a valuable asset for teams in need of veteran presence and skill on the ice.