Vancouver native & NHL veteran Milan Lucic ends NHL career to sign pro-contract overseas
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Vancouver, BC native and former National Hockey League forward Milan Lucic has left North America for the first time in his career after finding a new club overseas.
This summer, in an attempt to return to professional hockey, former Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic signed a PTO with the St. Louis Blues, joining them for training camp and the preseason.
Lucic managed to put up a goal and an assist in four preseason games with the St. Louis Blues, but after suffering a lower-body injury, the team opted to release him from his professional tryout, making him an unrestricted free agent.
St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong told reporters that they informed the 37-year-old that once he was healthy, the organization would bring him back and they made good on their word as Milan Lucic was signed to a PTO with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, which didn't go as well as both sides were hoping and now, for the first time in his career, he's heading overseas.
Vancouver native & former NHLer Milan Lucic signs overseas in Scotland
In a press release on Thursday, the Fife Flyers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), which has teams in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, announced that they've signed Milan Lucic for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, with the Vancouver native joining former Canucks forward David Booth at the Scottish club.
"The Fife Flyers Ice Hockey Club are delighted to announce the signing of former NHL forward Milan Lucic.
Milan icing for the Flyers is pending paperwork completion.
Milan will wear #8 this season in the Kingdom." the Flyers said in their press release.
Milan icing for the Flyers is pending paperwork completion.
Milan will wear #8 this season in the Kingdom." the Flyers said in their press release.
The signing of Milan Lucic was met with plenty of criticism from fans of the Fife Flyers and the EIHL due to the criminal charge of domestic violence that Milan Lucic was facing back in late-2023, which was eventually dropped by prosecutors in February of 2024.
"One wife beater departs the eihl, another one comes to take his place
Never a dull moment!" @ACooper1991 said.
Never a dull moment!" @ACooper1991 said.
"There are many words I would use to announce this signing, and delighted is definitely not the one." @JessFromThe504 said.
"What happened to wanting women to feel safe and welcome in the hockey community?" @kate_0803x said.
"Disgusting club absolutely sunk your club into the s**t all to sign one player. I hope every one of your fans stage a walk out and stand up against this!" @MarsayChris said.
It's unclear as to when Milan Lucic will make his debut with the Fife Flyers, but it could come as early as this weekend's home-and-home with the club's Scottish rivals, the Glasgow Clan.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18|2146 ANSWERS Vancouver native & NHL veteran Milan Lucic ends NHL career to sign pro-contract overseas Do you think Milan Lucic will ever play in North America again? | ||
| Yes | 143 | 6.7 % |
| No | 2003 | 93.3 % |
| List of polls | ||