Milan Lucic training in New Jersey with hopes of continuing playing career

Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported Thursday that Milan Lucic has been training in New Jersey this summer in an attempt to continue his playing career.

The 36-year-old was arrested in Boston last November for assault and battery after an alleged domestic accident with his wife, Brittany. He would plead not guilty.

Days after the arrest, Lucic, who was a member of the Boston Bruins at the time, entered the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program. The team said the forward would be taking an “indefinite leave of absence.”

Charges were dropped last February after his wife refused to testify against him, invoking marital privilege. According to the New York Post, Brittany filed for divorce from Milan in April.

Lucic’s contract with the Bruins expired June 30 and he’s now an unrestricted free agent, but Seravalli also reported that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would need to clear Lucic to return to play, even though he hasn’t been formally suspended.

The Vancouver native signed a one-year contract before the 2023-24 season to rejoin the Bruins for the first time since 2014-15. In four games, he had two assists.

Taken by the Bruins in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Lucic has scored 233 goals and 353 assists for 586 points and 1,301 penalty minutes in 1,177 career regular-season games with Boston, the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He also has 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points in 136 Stanley Cup playoff games and was a key part of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run.

Internationally, Lucic helped Canada win gold at the 2023 World Championship, the only time he has represented Canada in an IIHF event.