Milan Lucic received a fair amount of fanfare after signing a one-year contract to return to Boston. His support evaporated quickly, however, following the recent alarming development.
In the early Saturday morning hours, Lucic found himself in handcuffs after the Boston Police Department arrested the Bruins power forward for an alleged domestic incident (as first reported by WCVB’s Duke Castiglione).
The Bruins issued a statement on the matter ahead of Saturday’s contest with the Montreal Canadiens, revealing that Lucic will take an indefinite leave of absence.
“The Boston Bruins are aware of an incident involving Milan Lucic Friday evening. Milan is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team,” the Bruins said in their public statement. “The organization takes these matters very seriously and will work with the Lucic family to provide any support and assistance they may need. We will have no further comment at this time.”
One of two members remaining from the 2011 Stanley Cup squad, Lucic tallied two assists in four games with the Bruins before succumbing to a lower-body injury. The Bruins placed Lucic on LTIR in late October.
Brad Marchand, the other holdover from 2011, spoke to reporters following Boston’s optional morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena.
“We’re obviously aware of what happened last night with Looch. The biggest thing for us, we care a lot about their family,” the first-year Boston captain said. “We’re a family in here. We’re all very, very close. So we’re obviously very concerned and upset for them and what they’re going through. But we have a lot of support for Brittany and the kids and Looch himself.”
Lucic spent eight seasons with the Bruins before landing in Los Angeles during a Draft Day trade in 2015. He spent a season with the Kings before beginning his seven-year stint in Alberta, playing three seasons with the Oilers and four with the Flames.
The veteran was eligible to come off LTIR on Saturday. But Lucic would’ve likely missed a little more time after Jim Montgomery told reporters earlier in the week that the bottom-six winger was behind schedule in his recovery.
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