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After the big trade went down, Don Sweeney is still pounding the pavement. The third signing of the free agency period is reuniting with a former player. The Boston Bruins are bringing back Milan Lucic. It is a minor move but shores up the depth on the roster.
Lucic signed a one-year, $1 million contract to return to Boston. The Stanley Cup Champion returns home to where it all began. Lucic may not be the same top-two-line winger he was next to David Krejci and Nathan Horton. But there is value in bringing him back in the fold for a grand reunion.
Milan Lucic Returns To Boston
In 2015, the writing was on the wall that Milan Lucic would be traded. It was not a matter of if but when he would be moved. The beloved fan favorite for many years said goodbye to the fan base as he marched over to the Los Angeles Kings. Since his departure, he has played for three teams in total. However, there have been rumors of his return and his interest in bringing him back. That rumor has come to life, and Lucic will return to Boston.
What Lucic Brings To The Table
Lucic is your prototypical power forward. He uses his big frame and does much work on the boards and in the dirty areas. Furthermore, he can score and create offense. But that was in his prime years. Lucic is far from that production player but chimes in from time to time. Throughout his career, Lucic has eclipsed the 60-point mark twice and the 50-point mark three times. However, Lucic has not hit the 30-point mark since 2017-18. Not to mention Lucic has not scored more than ten goals since 2016-17.
Lucic brings leadership and a veteran presence. He helps fill a bruising fourth-line role left behind by Nick Foligno and Garnett Hathaway. Given Don Sweeney’s financial flexibility, there is only one logical explanation for the move.
Does Lucic Fit?
Given the futures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the goal is to get younger. Nick Foligno has been traded, and Garnett Hathaway is testing the market. Given the open positions on the bottom two lines, younger guys from Providence could look to fill those roles.
Instead, Sweeney has opted to bring in Lucic. Lucic was a tremendous Bruin and embodied what wearing the black and gold meant. Foligno signed a one-year $4 million dollar deal with Chicago, and Hathaway will likely command just as much. Filling the same role but at a cheaper cost makes sense. Maybe the younger guys in Providence make a push during training camp, but signs are pointing to Lucic being in the fold. What a way to kick off the 100th year of Boston Bruins hockey.
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