The Boston Bruins are a storied franchise with so many great players that have come and gone over their 90 year existence.
Throughout those years the Bruins have created a brand of hockey that will forever be remembered in Black and Gold. Bruins hockey. Tough, big, bad and sometimes ugly.
In this Two Pad Stack mini series, we will be looking at Bruins players who were at the forefront of establishing the ‘Big Bad Bruins’ style of hockey and those who were deemed the Boston Bruins toughest players. Believe me, categorising those guys into a Top 10 is hard. Really hard. There will be a whole group of players who will miss out that could have easily made it in – we could easily have done a Top 30.
So without further ado, at No.3 of our toughest Bruins is…
MILAN LUCIC
Train no.17, Milan Lucic. Arguably the best Power Forward in the game has been terrorising teams in the NHL since 2007 in more ways than one. One of the most talented players in hockey who can drop the gloves and go at it with the leagues toughest guys at the same time. How many players on this list have we said that about? Nearly all of them, I know. But perhaps Lucic portrays it more than any other.
Drafted 50th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, Lucic played three seasons with the Vancouver Giants (WHL), winning the Memorial Cup before getting to the National Hockey League and putting on the Black and Gold of Boston. What an assest this young Vancouver native would turn out to be.
Despite his reputation at times preceding him, Lucic is a beast. So far, during his seven years in Boston he has totalled 61 NHL fights, 846 penalty minutes, and at the same time has amassed 147 combined regular and post season goals along with 212 assists. It’s clear he excels in many aspects of the game.
Most Memorable Season
During the 2010-11 campaign, Milan Lucic would see himself reach a career high in goals and points on the way to winning the Stanley Cup with the Bruins. Quite a season. Lucic posted 30 goals and 32 assists with a +28 rating on the year.
The Bruins’ first line winger brought a tough, hard hitting and pyhiscal style of game that would be instrumental in capturing the teams 6th Stanley Cup and would help establish Lucic himself as one of the leagues most feared players.
Toughest Season
The 2008-09 season was Lucic’s second in the NHL and he was continuing to make an impact, with possibly his toughest season to date. Dropping the gloves 12 times (second most in his career), for 136 PIMS. This particular season saw Lucic fight Montreal Canadiens’ Mike Komisarek multiple times, showing clear love for each other… Rivals? That’s pretty obvious. One of many no doubt, as Lucic isn’t particularly loved by many. However, there’s no doubt he was starting to be noticed around the league.
Biggest Rival
http://youtu.be/qVKAV_d_Lmo
Brandon Prust. Ex New York Ranger, current Montreal Canadien. That’s really the only explanation needed. There’s a lot of hatred there already. Lucic has met Prust, who is a very strong fighter, three times throughout his career (more than any other opponent). Two heavyweights colliding always produces fireworks, even if it is a little one sided…
Seven years into his career, Milan Lucic has showed no signs of slowing down. His fighting averages have decreased slightly, but that shows maturity in the sense that the Bruins no.17 is vital to his team and is much more valuble on the ice as opposed to in the penalty box. This doesn’t mean we won’t have the joy of seeing Lucic lay waste to opponents anymore, it just means it’ll be that much more worth the wait.
Be sure to keep it here for no.2 of the Boston Bruins Top 10 Toughest Players.
