Milan Lucic returns to Bruins after four seasons with Flames

Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic (17) reacts after celebrating with the bench after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. THRE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Josie Lepe

Veteran forward Milan Lucic departed the Calgary Flames to return to the Boston Bruins when NHL free agency opened Saturday.

The 35-year-old winger from Vancouver signed with Boston where he spent eight seasons from 2008 to 2015 and won a Stanley Cup in 2011.

His new contract was a one-year deal worth US$1 million, according to CapFriendly.

Lucic, six foot three and 240 pounds, scored 35 goals and had 48 assists in 283 games over four seasons with the Flames.

A bottom-six forward for most of his time in Calgary, Lucic was a fan favourite who drew chants of "Loooch" at the Saddledome.

He marked his 1,000th NHL game as a Flame on April 13, 2021.

Lucic has a career 233 goals and 351 assists in 1,173 games for Boston, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Calgary.

He's also appeared in 136 career playoff games with 29 goals and 48 assists.

While veterans Lucic, Trevor Lewis, Nick Ritchie and defencemen Michael Stone and Troy Stecher hit the open market Saturday, more pressing for new general manager Craig Conroy was high-profile Flames entering the final years of their contracts.

Unable to sign 31-year-old winger Tyler Toffoli to an extension, the Flames dealt their leading scorer this season to the New Jersey Devils for forward Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick at the NHL draft Tuesday.

The pick was Aydar Suniev from Penticton, B.C.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2023.