Former Bruins forward’s comeback attempt with Blues ends

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Former Bruins forward’s comeback attempt with Blues ends

Matt Vautour · MassLive

Tue, Nov 25, 2025 ·

3 min read

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Milan Lucic’s comeback attempt with the St. Louis Blues has come to an end.

The Blues announced that the former Bruins ’ forward was released from his AHL tryout contract for the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Lucic had an assist and four penalty minutes in five games for Springfield.

The 37-year-old forward was trying to mount a comeback after his return to Boston as a free agent ended with his arrest for domestic violence in 2023.

On Nov. 20, 2023, Lucic was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a family or household member. According to a police report, Lucic, who was then with the Bruins, pulled his wife’s hair and attempted to choke her in their Boston home after returning from a night out. He appeared intoxicated when police arrived.

The Bruins placed Lucic on an indefinite leave of absence and never reinstated him.

Lucic entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program , which was created to help players and their families dealing with substance abuse, mental health and other issues.

The charges against him were dropped when his wife, Brittany, refused to testify against him. He then sat out the entire 2024-25 season, trying to get his life in order. Lucic stopped drinking and worked to stay in playing shape, but it was unclear if he’d ever play again.

St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong knew Lucic from his play with Team Canada at the 2023 World Championships. Blues coach Jim Montgomery is a recovering alcoholic himself and assistant coach Claude Julien coached him in his first stint in Boston. They vetted Lucic, who was 22 months sober when they offered him a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO).

He was injured in training camp and released with the expectation that he’d get another chance when he was healthy.

Upon signing with the Thunderbirds, he said he welcomed the chance to prove himself worthy of his second chance off the ice and praised the player assistance program.

“I’ve had a lot of support up to this point, so I definitely want to do my best to make the most of it,” he said. “I think a lot of people and players suffer in silence and are scared to ask for help. That’s why this player program is in place — to help players when they’re going through tough times. I’m grateful and thankful for the whole program. It’s helped me build myself back up.

“Not only them, my family, especially my wife and kids,” he added. “Their support helped me get to this point.”

But coming off a groin injury, Lucic, who was getting slow by NHL standards, faced a difficult challenge to get back.

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