Milan Lucic Retires After 17 NHL Seasons, Cements Legacy with Stanley Cup Win

Milan Lucic has officially retired from the NHL after a 17-season career that included a Stanley Cup championship with the Boston Bruins in 2011. The 38-year-old forward played 1,177 regular-season games and tallied 586 points (233 goals, 353 assists) across stints with the Bruins, Kings, Oilers, and Flames.

Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft, Lucic made his NHL debut at 19 and quickly became a key part of the Bruins' lineup. In his rookie season, he recorded 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) in 77 games. Over the next decade, he developed into a consistent two-way forward, reaching 24 or more goals in three separate seasons. His peak came in 2010-11 when he set career highs with 30 goals and 62 points while playing a pivotal role in Boston’s Stanley Cup victory.

Lucic’s contributions in the 2011 playoffs were instrumental in the Bruins’ 4-0 Game 7 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. He notched 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 25 playoff games during that run. His ability to play physical and contribute offensively helped solidify the Bruins’ identity as a gritty, hard-working team.

In 2015, he was traded to the Kings and later signed with the Oilers in 2016. After three seasons in Edmonton, he was dealt to the Flames in 2019. Lucic reached his 1,000th career game with Calgary on April 13, 2021, recording an assist in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs.

Lucic returned to Boston in 2023 on a one-year, $1 million contract and played his final NHL game on October 21, 2023, when he recorded an assist in a 4-2 win over the Kings. In a final attempt to extend his career, he signed a PTO with the Blues in 2025 but was later released by their AHL affiliate in Springfield.

“Looking back on my career, I feel truly grateful to have fulfilled my dream of playing professional hockey, culminating with a Stanley Cup win in 2011 with the Boston Bruins,” Lucic said in a statement. “I want to especially thank the Bruins for giving me my start in professional hockey and for instilling the confidence to reach new heights as a player.”

Lucic also expressed gratitude to the Kings, Oilers, Flames, and all the people who supported him throughout his journey. “I look back with fondness at the time I spent with each organization and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure of playing alongside,” he said. “I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the coaches, staff and fans from each team I was a part of. I also want to thank my agent, Gerry Johannson, for his guidance during my playing days. Finally, none of this would have been possible without my family for their encouragement throughout my career. I would like to especially thank my wife Brittany for her love and support along with my three beautiful children, Valentina, Nikolina and Milan Jr.”

Lucic’s retirement marks the end of an era for a player who was known for his physicality, leadership, and commitment to team success. His legacy will remain tied to the 2011 Stanley Cup and the impact he had on every team he represented.