Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic is one of the most unique players in the NHL and a nightmare to play against. No one else brings his blend of size, speed, toughness, fighting ability and offensive skill.
Still, Lucic doesn’t receive the praise he deserves from the hockey community. According to one of his former teammates, New Jersey Devils winger Jaromir Jagr, Lucic is the most underrated player in the league.
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Lucic is in the midst of another impressive season with 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) in 67 games, and he has hit the 20-goal mark in three consecutive non-lockout campaigns. Lucic entered Tuesday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils with six points (two goals, four assists) in his last five games.
In addition to Lucic’s regular-season success, he also has developed into one of the league’s better playoff performers. That was evident during Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, when Lucic posted 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 22 games. You could even make a case that, aside from Patrice Bergeron, Lucic was the Bruins’ best player in the historic Game 7 comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1.
Lucic deserves a lot of credit for becoming a well-rounded player. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his speed and skating ability, and the improvements made in those areas are easily noticed on the ice.
When Lucic is at the top of his game, the Bruins — and their first line, specifically — are incredibly difficult to stop.
