Boston Bruins: Top 10 Milan Lucic Memories

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Playing with one team throughout an entire career is rare, and almost unheard of in modern day sports.Milan Lucic wasn’t an exception to that fact. After being drafted by the Bruins in 2006 and first playing for the team in 2007 at the age of 19 years old, Milan Lucic instantly became a fan favorite. Lucic spent his first eight seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins and was very big factor in reestablishing the Boston Bruins as a contender, as well as a difficult team to play against in general.

10. Milan Lucic Breaks Glass….and Mike Van Ryn

Most Milan Lucic hits are big and will leave the player on the receiving end feeling like they got hit by a truck. One hit in particular, however, is easily the most memorable Milan Lucic hit of all time.

On October 23rd, 2008, Milan Lucic was 20 years old and made a hit that will live in Bruins’ history forever. Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Mike Van Ryn handled the puck and cleared it down ice and out of his defensive zone; a typical hockey play that is seen many times in every game. What isn’t seen often, however, is a six-foot-four freight train named Milan Lucic skating full speed to finish his check and shattering glass in the process.

“I didn’t even realize it happened until 10 seconds later,” Lucic said. “Like, ‘Oh, wow. What just happened?’ I remember there was a couple from Ireland that was sitting in the front row there, and they got the worst of it. I saw them the next day because you felt bad, they got stitched up.”

Lucic also said “I think that’s one of the things that we’ll be seeing when they show clips of me probably to the end of my career. One of those cool things that you can say you did in your hockey career.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Next: 9. Another Big Hit?

9. Milan Lucic Lays Out Ryan Miller

Milan Lucic was the subject of a ton of controversy as a member of the Boston Bruins. One moment that will never be forgotten is Milan Lucic‘s hit on then-Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller on November 12th, 2011.

Lucic received a minor penalty on the play, but the controversy was in full swing after the game when Ryan Miller declared that the hit was “Gutless”, citing the fact that Lucic had a 50 pound weight advantage between the two of them.

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“It’s exactly the same thing as I explained after the game,” Lucic said. “I blocked a shot and I pushed the puck a little too far ahead of me. I was skating as hard as I could and when I first looked up he was still in his net. I looked down at the puck as he was continuing on and the next thing I knew I looked up and he’s coming out full speed at me, so obviously it was a hard collision and I did everything I could just to brace myself.”

Milan Lucic further defended himself by saying “Like he said, I have 50 pounds on him, so that’s probably why he might have got the worst of it.” he continued by saying “And if you look at the video I was cringing after the play because I was winded because it was such a hard collision. He got a good piece of me as well.”

Whether or not Milan Lucic felt some of the hit or not, he will always been seen as the villain on the play due to his reputation.

Next: 8. A Fight To Remember

8. Fight With Mike Komisarek

One of the most memorable rivalries that Milan Lucic had throughout his career was that with former-Montreal Canadiens defender Mike Komisarek.

On November 13th 2008, the Boston Bruins were leading the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in a regular season game. Mike Komisarek was clearly unhappy about the score and decided it would be best to take out his aggression on Milan Lucic. The outcome wasn’t pretty for Komisarek.

Milan Lucic dominated the fight with Komisarek, and the blue liner who was once considered to be one of the up-and-coming stars of the Montreal Canadiens was never the same again.

The feud continued for some time afterwards, but no fight was as memorable as the one that took place on November 13th.

Next: 7. Nothing Like The First Time

7. First Goal and Gordie Howe Hat-Trick

Before Milan Lucic was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Los Angeles Kings, he showed the league exactly what kind of player he was….against the Los Angeles Kings.

As a 19 year old forward, Milan Lucic scored a goal, recorded an assist, and was involved in a fight in a game in his rookie season. Not only was the goal Milan Lucic‘s first in the NHL, he was able to record the infamous Gordie Howe Hat Trick in the exact same game.

The game showed Lucic’s ability to dominate the game in every aspect, whether it be driving the net and scoring goals, finding a passing lane and helping out a teammate for their own goal, or using his body and strength to set the tone for the game and generate energy for his team. Milan Lucic proved over the next eight years with the Bruins’ that he was a force to be reckoned with in every single game he played; a trait that most teams would absolutely desire.

Next: 6. A Night To Forget

6. Handshake Line With Montreal

There are few rivalries are as stories as the one between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. The only way to make a game between the two clubs more meaningful is to add the word “playoffs” to the mix.

During the second round of the 2013-14 season, the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens met in a series that went the distance with the Canadiens taking the win in game seven to advance to the conference finals. With the series over, the handshake line was set to take place between the two clubs; an age old sign of respect in sports. This handshake line however, will always be remembered more distinctly than any other moment in the series itself.

During the handshake line, Milan Lucic shared some words with Montreal Canadiens’ forward Dale Weise and defenseman Alexei Emelin. The words that Lucic said to Dale Weise were “I’m going to (expletive) kill you next year”.

While it isn’t one of Milan Lucic’s proudest moments, it can never be said that Lucic doesn’t have passion in his game. A moment that Lucic would probably like to take back in hindsight, it will forever be a moment entrenched in Bruins’ history.

5. Milan Lucic Takes Out Full-Page Ad Thanking Boston

When Milan Lucic was traded to the Los Angeles Kings following the 2014-15 season, the entire city of Boston knew they were losing something special. The feelings were clearly mutual as Milan Lucic took it upon himself to personally thank the Boston Bruins fans by taking out a full page ad in the Boston Globe.

The note was heart-felt and showed a softer side of Lucic, a playerr that Boston grew to love as a result of his aggression.

The note read:

I was 19 when I joined the Boston Bruins, a very young man. Now at 27, I must say goodbye to this special city. I lived my dream when we won the Stanley Cup. I married my wife here. Both my children were born here. Boston will always be a key part of who I am. I played in front of a group of fans I will never forget, especially my pals in the North End. I want to thank the entire Jacobs family, Cam Neely, Peter Chiarelli, Don Sweeney, Scott Bradley and the rest of the Bruins management team; coaches Claude Julien, Geoff Ward, Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis, Craig Ramsey and Joe Sacco; captain Zdeno Chara and the rest of my teammates; the medical staff, trainers and strength coaches who all kept me going; and, of course, all the fans and my friends. Boston embraced me over the years and I would not be who I am personally or professionally without each of these special relationships. To the people of Boston… You are #BostonStrong

The note showed Bruins’ fans a human side of the sport of hockey. A story of a teenager who was drafted by an NHL team, who eventually won a Stanley Cup, but also spent the first eight years of his adult life in a city on the opposite side of the North American Continent.

Milan Lucic thanked the people of Boston in his note, just as the fans thanked Milan Lucic for his years of service to the black and gold.

Next: 4. Don't Go Pointing Fingers

4. “Bite Me” With Alex Burrows In The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals

The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was as full of hits, goals, and controversy. One of the many memorable moments from the Stanley Cup Finals came from game one when Alexander Burrows took it upon himself to bite Patrice Bergeron‘s finger. The move was classless, but didn’t result in a suspension; a decision that set the tone for controversy throughout the entire seven game series.

During game three of the series, Milan Lucic took it upon himself to respond to some of the instigators on Vancouver in Maxime Lapierre and Alex Burrows himself. Lucic pointed his fingers in the face of both of the previously mentioned players, taunting them to bite him.

“I was wrong,” Lucic said. “We are a classier team than that.”

The end result of the series was a Boston Bruins Stanley Cup win, but the series will always be shadowed by some of the controversy that took place during the series.

Next: 3. A Career Milestone for #17

3. Milan Lucic Scores 30 Goals

Milan Lucic reached an impressive milestone for any player, let alone a power forward, and tough guy such as himself in 2010-11. Scoring 30 goals is impressive, and it’s something the Boston Bruins haven’t experienced very often in recent years.

The last player to record 30 goals before Milan Lucic was Phil Kessel who did so in 2008-09, and the last time that it occurred before then was Patrice Bergeron‘s 30 goal season in 2005-06. Since Lucic recorded his 30 goal season, only two players have hit the 30 goal mark, one being Patrice Bergeron, and the other Jarome Iginla, both in the same season.

The 2010-11 season was definitely Milan Lucic’s best in the NHL, and it ultimately resulted in a Stanley Cup Victory.

Next: 2. A Dream Come True

2. Winning The Stanley Cup

The city of Boston had to wait 39 long years to witness a Stanley Cup victory following the wins in 1970 and 1972. Milan Lucic was a part of the the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins and he played an integral part in the entire series. Skating on the team’s top line alongside David Krejci and Nathan Horton, Milan Lucic showed fans that he had a legitimate championship pedigree.

Vancouver residents are as familiar as anyone with Milan Lucic‘s game due to the fact that he is originally from Vancouver. In a full-circle set of events, Milan Lucic was able to hoist his first Stanley Cup in the town that he called home, and that he played for in the WHL as a member of the Vancouver Giants.

The city of Boston will always remember members of the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team, but perhaps none more than #17. Milan Lucic played an absolutely incredible season that year, recording 30 goals, and he was able to top it with an impressive post-season for the Boston Bruins, one that he won’t ever forget.

Next: 1. Welcome Home, Looch

1. First Return to Boston

Regardless of the sweater that Milan Lucic wears, it’s clear that the city of Boston will always respect him. Milan Lucic won’t soon forget his first return to the TD Garden on February 9th 2016 after being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins’ faithful in attendance made it known that Milan Lucic the Los Angeles King is still Milan Lucic nonetheless, and should be treated with the same “Looch” chants as he always was.

Milan Lucic was all smiles throughout the chants, as well as the tribute video that was shown during the first period of the game. Although the night will be one for Milan Lucic to remember for the rest of his life, the game was one to forget for Bruins’ fans.

Next: Top 30 Boston Bruins Draft Picks All-Time

The final score of the game was 9-2 with the Los Angeles Kings scoring seven unanswered goals at one point. Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, but fortunately for Milan Lucic, he did tally one goal and one assist in the game to consummate his return to Bean Town.

Follow Brandon Share-Cohen on Twitter @BShareCohen to discuss all things Bruins and sports

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