12°c Overcast
17°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Lucic signs for $6M per
Only problem now will be collecting it
Bruins left-winger Milan Lucic celebrates a goal last season. Now he's celebrating a $36-million deal. (FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)
BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins beat the lockout deadline and signed forward Milan Lucic to a three-year contract extension on Saturday that will pay him US$6 million a year and make him the highest-paid forward on the team.
Lucic, a second-round choice in 2006, is a Vancouver native and was a key part of Boston's 2011 Stanley Cup victory over the Canucks. He had five goals and seven assists in that championship run.
"I have spent five great years here in Boston and I've really embraced the city and the Boston Bruins, and they have embraced me," he said in a conference call. "I'm really excited for this and happy to be remaining a Bruin. There is no other team in the NHL I'd rather play for."
Last year, as Boston won the Northeast Division, Lucic had 26 goals and 61 points, and has 90 goals in five seasons with the Bruins.
The 24-year-old Lucic is another Bruin to receive a new deal with an NHL lockout looming. In less than two weeks, Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli has also given new contracts to forwards Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin.
"We have been winning and we will continue to use this approach. A guy like Milan is a perfect example," Chiarelli said.
"He marks the end of three signings that we've done over the course of a couple of weeks," Chiarelli said. "I am very happy to have completed them. I think it shows commitments from Milan and the other players and a commitment from our owners."
Lucic has noticed.
"Him keeping all the core guys, all the guys I have built really good relationships with here, that's obviously makes me want to stay more. He believes in all of us as players, and we believe in him and what he is trying to build here," he said.
"Peter definitely has done a good job of finding guys who are willing to sacrifice and be on the same page. That is why we're a real competitive team. We achieved our ultimate goal in 2011 and we plan to do the same heading into the future."
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 16, 2012 B6
More NHL
- Back to Top
- Return to NHL
More NHL
(1 of 7 articles for today)
MacLean, Boudreau, Quenneville best behind the bench
1:00 AM 0NEW YORK -- Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean, who guided his team to the playoffs despite losing key players ...
Poll
Most Popular NHL
- 'It's the worst feeling'
- Tale of two stars as Crosby outshines Karlsson in Penguins 4-3 win over Senators
- Bruins draw first blood
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- King's quest is to repeat
- 'Peg sniper aims for MemCup success
- NHL Report
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors sells hoard that brought him closer to game
- Torres suspended for rest of Round 2
- Staples stunner: Brown, Lewis score PP goals in final minutes, LA Kings shock Sharks 4-3
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- From the rubble of disaster: Lokomotiv picking up pieces after entire team was killed in a 2011 plane crash
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Playing safe: Brendan Shanahan might have the toughest job in the NHL — protecting the players from themselves
- The Boston OT Party
- 'It's the worst feeling'
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- Blue surge forces Game 7
- Fast start for Hawks
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Grapes claims women have no place in locker-room
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Former Leafs GM Burke files defamation suit
- Slideshow: Things that didn't exist the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs
- Sens packing plenty of punch
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- Get it through your thick head, NHL
- From the rubble of disaster: Lokomotiv picking up pieces after entire team was killed in a 2011 plane crash
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- The Boston OT Party
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors sells hoard that brought him closer to game
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Slideshow: Things that didn't exist the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Classy group joining Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
- Tim Leiweke named president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Pesky Sens: Turris scores in OT as Ottawa beats Montreal to grab 3-1 series lead
- Sharks will be without injured F Adam Burish for 2nd round of playoffs
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- The Boston OT Party
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.