Milan Lucic signs professional tryout with Springfield Thunderbirds

Milan Lucic Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout details

The Springfield Thunderbirds announced the signing on Thursday, bringing aboard a player with 1,177 NHL games under his belt. According to the official AHL announcement, Lucic originally signed a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues prior to the 2025 training camp. During his time with the Blues in preseason action, he managed to appear in four games, recording a goal and an assist before a lower-body injury sidelined him.

The professional tryout agreement does not guarantee Lucic a contract, but it provides him with the platform to showcase his abilities and work his way back into game shape. The Thunderbirds can release him at any point, or they can recommend him to the parent Blues organization if he proves his worth on the ice.

For Springfield, adding a player of Lucic’s caliber and experience could provide significant value both on and off the ice. His leadership and playoff pedigree could be invaluable to a developing roster, even if his on-ice production isn’t what it once was during his prime years.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong addressed Lucic’s situation in October, noting that the veteran forward had gotten “banged up” during the final preseason games. Armstrong indicated at the time that the organization would “likely reconnect on an in-season PTO,” a promise that has now come to fruition with the Springfield signing.

The path to a Milan Lucic Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout opportunity

Lucic’s journey to this professional tryout has been anything but straightforward. His last NHL action came during the 2023-24 season with the Boston Bruins, where he appeared in just four games during his second stint with the franchise that drafted him in 2006. His season was abruptly halted in November 2023 following a domestic incident that led to his arrest on charges of assault and battery on a family or household member.

Following the arrest, Lucic entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, a confidential resource designed to help players and their families dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, and other personal challenges. Players can remain in the program for as long as necessary and must be cleared before returning to NHL action. The charges against Lucic were eventually dropped in February 2024 when his wife invoked marital privilege and refused to testify.

The road back began in earnest when Lucic signed a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues in August 2025. The move reunited him with Jim Montgomery, who had briefly been his head coach in Boston before being fired by the Bruins earlier in the season. Montgomery’s familiarity with Lucic and belief in his ability to contribute likely played a role in giving the veteran forward another opportunity.

During Blues training camp, Lucic showed flashes of his old form, using his physicality and net-front presence to create opportunities. However, the preseason injury derailed what could have been a path to an NHL contract, leading instead to this AHL opportunity with Springfield.

What Milan Lucic brings to the Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout

Despite being 37 years old and having been away from regular hockey action for nearly two years, Lucic still possesses qualities that can benefit a hockey organization. Throughout his NHL career, he accumulated 233 goals and 353 assists for 586 points while establishing himself as one of the league’s premier power forwards during his prime years with the Bruins and Los Angeles Kings.

Lucic’s resume includes a Stanley Cup championship with Boston in 2011, when he was a key contributor during the Bruins’ playoff run. He reached the 20-goal plateau five times in his career and was known for his ability to combine offensive production with a punishing physical style. At his peak, he was one of the most difficult players in the league to play against, using his 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame to dominate along the boards and in front of the net.

Beyond the statistics, Lucic brings veteran leadership and playoff experience that could prove invaluable to Springfield’s younger players. He has appeared in 116 career playoff games, providing him with the kind of high-pressure experience that can’t be taught in practice. His understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level could help accelerate the development of the Thunderbirds’ prospects.

The physical element remains a significant part of Lucic’s game. Even in his preseason appearances with the Blues, he showed a willingness to engage physically and protect his teammates. In an AHL setting, that presence could be particularly impactful, setting a tone for Springfield’s style of play.

Reports from his time in St. Louis suggested that while his skating might have slowed, his hockey IQ and positioning remain sharp. These are the types of attributes that can translate even as a player ages, particularly in a depth role where he’s not expected to carry offensive responsibility.

The unprecedented nature of this Milan Lucic Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout

One of the most remarkable aspects of Lucic’s signing with Springfield is that it marks the first time in his professional career that he will play in the American Hockey League. After being selected by Boston in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Lucic spent one more season in junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants before making the jump directly to the NHL in 2007-08.

He never required an AHL apprenticeship, immediately establishing himself as an NHL-caliber player during his rookie season. That trajectory is rare in modern hockey, where even top prospects typically spend at least some time developing in the minors. Lucic’s ability to skip that step spoke to his readiness and the maturity of his game at a young age.

Now, nearly 18 years after his NHL debut, Lucic finds himself in unfamiliar territory. The AHL represents a different challenge than what he’s accustomed to—a faster, more chaotic style of play with younger, hungrier players looking to prove themselves. The travel is more grueling, the facilities less luxurious, and the spotlight far less intense than what he experienced during his years as an NHL regular.

Yet this humbling experience could also serve as a proving ground. If Lucic can demonstrate that he’s still capable of playing professional hockey at a competitive level, it keeps alive the possibility of another NHL opportunity. Several players have used AHL stints to resurrect their careers, showing teams that they still have something left in the tank.

For Lucic, the goal is clear: stay healthy, produce when given the opportunity, and prove that he deserves another shot at the highest level. Whether that comes with the Blues or another organization remains to be seen, but the Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout represents his best chance to make that case.

Looking ahead for the Milan Lucic Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout

As Lucic begins this new chapter with Springfield, several questions remain about what the future holds. Can his body hold up to the rigors of regular AHL action after an extended absence from competitive hockey? Will he be able to adapt to a league he’s never played in before? And most importantly, is there still a path back to the NHL for a player who will turn 38 before the end of this season?

The answers will unfold in the coming weeks and months as Lucic takes the ice for the Thunderbirds. If he can stay healthy and contribute meaningfully, the Blues organization may decide to reward him with an NHL contract, particularly if they face injuries or need veteran depth down the stretch. St. Louis currently sits in the midst of a rebuilding process, and adding a player with Lucic’s experience could provide stability to a young roster.

Even if an NHL contract doesn’t materialize, there’s value in what Lucic is doing. He’s showing a willingness to do whatever it takes to continue his playing career, even if that means swallowing his pride and playing at a level he was never expected to experience. That determination and work ethic sends a powerful message, both to younger players who might face similar adversity and to organizations looking for character players.

The hockey world will be watching closely as Milan Lucic embarks on this unprecedented journey. For a player who has already accomplished so much in the game—a Stanley Cup, nearly 600 career points, and a reputation as one of his generation’s most intimidating competitors—this AHL stint represents something different. It’s about proving that he still loves the game enough to chase one more opportunity, regardless of where that pursuit takes him. The Springfield Thunderbirds professional tryout may not be the ending Lucic envisioned for his career, but it could very well be the beginning of one final chapter in what has been a remarkable hockey journey.