Milan Lucic released from pro tryout with St. Louis Blues after five-game AHL stint

Milan Lucic’s comeback bid has hit another roadblock. The veteran forward was released from his professional tryout agreement with the St. Louis Blues organization on Tuesday, bringing his brief stint with the team to an unceremonious end. The Blues terminated the 37-year-old’s AHL contract after just five games with their affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, where Lucic struggled to make an impact following a lower-body injury that had sidelined him since training camp.

The announcement, made by Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong, closes the chapter on a three-month experiment that began with optimism but ultimately fizzled due to performance concerns and a crowded forward group. For Lucic, who hadn’t appeared in an NHL game since November 2023, the release represents another setback in his attempt to resurrect a career that once saw him hoist the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

Milan Lucic released from pro tryout with St. Louis Blues after five-game AHL stint

The timeline of Lucic’s Blues tenure tells a story of unfulfilled promise. Signed to a professional tryout (PTO) prior to training camp in August 2025, the hulking winger showed glimpses of his former self during the preseason. Across four exhibition games, Lucic contributed a goal and an assist, demonstrating his trademark physicality and net-front presence that made him a feared power forward for nearly two decades.

However, the momentum evaporated when Lucic suffered a lower-body injury that required weeks of rehabilitation. The setback forced him to miss the start of the regular season, and the Blues, who had initially hoped he would crack the NHL roster, pivoted to a contingency plan. Rather than cut ties, the organization showed patience, keeping him in St. Louis to complete his recovery process.

Once healthy, Lucic’s path back to the NHL was rerouted through the AHL. On November 4, he signed a second professional tryout agreement, this time with Springfield, marking his first-ever stint in the minor leagues after 17 seasons as an established NHL veteran. The demotion was intended as a conditioning assignment and extended audition, but the results were underwhelming from the start.

Springfield Thunderbirds tenure marked by offensive struggles

Lucice’s five-game sample with the Thunderbirds revealed a player struggling to adapt to the pace of professional hockey after an extended absence. The statistics paint a stark picture:

• One assist in five games
• Minus-7 rating
• Failed to register a shot in four of five contests
• Four penalty minutes

His final appearance came on November 21 in Springfield’s 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets. After that game, the Blues front office clearly saw enough to make a decision on his future within the organization.

The performance issues extended beyond the scoresheet. At 6-foot-3 and listed between 236 and 240 pounds, Lucic’s skating and mobility appeared diminished, limiting his effectiveness in a league that increasingly prioritizes speed and transition play. What once made him dominant—his ability to combine physical intimidation with soft hands around the net—seemed to have eroded after more than a year away from competitive action.

The Thunderbirds coaching staff gave Lucic opportunities, but the production simply wasn’t there. When a veteran player on a tryout fails to generate offense at the AHL level, it becomes difficult for NHL management to justify a roster spot, particularly for a team already struggling to find its identity.

Blues roster crunch and performance concerns sealed Lucic’s fate

Several factors converged to make Lucic expendable. The Blues entered Tuesday with a disappointing 7-10-6 record, sitting 29th in the NHL standings and seven points behind both Utah and Vegas for the final Western Conference wild-card position. With the team mired in a difficult start following last season’s playoff appearance, there’s little patience for developmental projects.

St. Louis currently carries 14 healthy forwards on its NHL roster, creating a logjam that has already forced veterans like Mathieu Joseph and Nick Bjugstad into healthy scratch status. In Monday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers, both players watched from the press box, illustrating the depth the Blues possess despite their record.

Armstrong’s decision reflects the harsh reality of professional sports: performance dictates opportunity. Lucic’s inability to dominate AHL competition made it virtually impossible to promote him over younger players or established veterans fighting for ice time. The Blues’ official statement was brief, noting simply that the organization had “terminated the American Hockey League professional tryout for forward Milan Lucic,” with Armstrong declining to elaborate further on the rationale.

For context on Lucic’s journey with the organization, our previous coverage detailed his initial signing with the Thunderbirds as a crucial step in his comeback attempt. The termination marks a stark reversal from the optimism that surrounded his arrival in St. Louis.

Career retrospective: From 2011 Cup hero to journeyman tryout

Lucic’s release underscores how far his star has fallen since his prime years in Boston. Drafted 50th overall by the Bruins in 2006, he became a fan favorite for his blend of skill and snarl, peaking with 30 goals in the 2010-11 season while helping the franchise capture its first championship in 39 years. After eight seasons with Boston, he embarked on a journeyman career that included stops with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames.

His return to Boston for the 2023-24 season was supposed to be a storybook ending. Lucic recorded two points in four games under then-head coach Jim Montgomery—the same coach now leading the Blues—but his campaign was derailed by a puck to the ankle that landed him on long-term injured reserve. The injury preceded his indefinite leave of absence following an arrest in November 2023 on suspicion of assault and battery involving a family member.

Lucic entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program after the incident, and though charges were eventually dropped when his wife declined to testify, the episode cast a shadow over his final NHL season. The league reinstated him over the summer, paving the way for his Blues tryout, but the Hockey News report on his release from the AHL agreement suggests teams remain cautious about his fit.

Across 1,177 career regular-season games, Lucic amassed 586 points (233 goals, 353 assists) and 1,301 penalty minutes, adding 77 points in 136 playoff contests. Those numbers cement his legacy as one of the most effective power forwards of his generation, but they also belong to a style of player the modern NHL has largely phased out.

What’s next for Lucic and the Blues organization?

At 37 years old, Lucic faces an uncertain future. Few teams are willing to allocate roster spots to aging forwards who can’t contribute on special teams or keep up with the speed of today’s game. His lack of production at the AHL level will make it difficult for other organizations to justify giving him a look, even with his championship pedigree and veteran experience.

The Blues, meanwhile, must now focus on salvaging their season. With key players underperforming and the team near the bottom of the standings, Armstrong may need to explore trade options or lean further into youth movements to spark a turnaround. The roster spot and developmental resources previously allocated to Lucic can now be redirected toward players with long-term organizational value.

As for Lucic’s legacy, his impact on the 2011 Bruins championship team and his role in revitalizing the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry during his prime years remain secure. He represented a breed of player who could change games with a single hit or a timely goal, but that era has given way to a faster, more skilled version of hockey that leaves little room for one-dimensional enforcers.

The termination of his tryout with St. Louis may well signal the end of Lucic’s NHL journey. While players like him rarely receive farewell tours, his contributions to multiple franchises and his unique brand of power forward play have earned him respect throughout the hockey world. Whether he attempts another comeback or hangs up his skates for good, Lucic’s imprint on the league will be remembered by teammates who appreciated his loyalty and opponents who feared his presence.