On Sunday, coinciding with his 38th birthday, Milan Lucic announced his retirement from professional hockey after a 17-season NHL career.
"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 released by the NHL Players' Association. "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."
Milan Lucic is officially announcing his retirement following 1,177 career NHL games played – wishing all the best to the 2010-11 #StanleyCup champ👏 pic.twitter.com/X4QF1dWqt3
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 7, 2026
Selected by the Bruins in the second round (No. 50) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Lucic quickly established himself as one of the league's premier power forwards. He made his NHL debut as a 19-year-old and became a beloved figure in Boston for his punishing physical style.
The defining highlight of his career came during the 2010-11 season. That year, he recorded an NHL career-high 30 goals and a career-best 62 points before helping the Bruins secure the Stanley Cup with a thrilling Game 7 victory over his hometown Vancouver Canucks.
"Later in my career, I had the privilege of playing with some exceptional organizations in Los Angeles, Edmonton and Calgary," Lucic said. "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."
Over the course of 1,177 regular-season games, Lucic amassed 233 goals and 353 assists for 586 points, along with 1,301 penalty minutes.