Milan Lucic Says Goodbye to Boston’s North End

And although he said Saturday that he wants to stay in Los Angeles beyond the remaining year on his contract, Lucic also said he and his agent have not begun talks with Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi. “Now at 27, I must say goodbye to this special city”. He scored 18 goals last season, his lowest total in a full National Hockey League season since 2008-09.

Instead, the Kings acquired the Vancouver native last month by dealing away goalie Martin Jones, defenseman Colin Miller and the 13th-overall draft pick. Lucic will make $6.5 million this season (an National Hockey League salary-cap charge of $6 million), according to war-on-ice.com.

As for the pressure of playing for a new team during a contract year, Lucic said he doesn’t expect that to be a problem. “I’m just kind of coming here to add more to it”.

It probably was a bit jarring for Lucic as well, who hasn’t said much about the trade since it went down.

For Lucic and the Kings, it means bouncing back from a frustrating season. The Kings have finished in the middle of the pack when it comes to penalty minutes and fights in the last few years, but Lucic said that style of play is essential to his game.

Lucic hasn’t yet played a game for the Kings, but at this time, he claims he isn’t opposed to the idea of re-signing with the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup champions. While he knows that’s important, he just wants to focus on doing the best job possible for his new team.

After his move was initially announced, Lucic tweeted a sentiment similar to his note.

“I’m definitely leaving my [snow] shovels back in Boston”, he said. “I think the intimidating factor is still a big part of the game. But obviously, yeah, this is going into a UFA season, and I do always set high standards for myself regardless if it is a new contract or not, and that’s no different going into this season”. I play with that mean streak. “So it’s not like I’m coming to change the culture of the team”.

Today, former Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic received his new jersey as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

“My game is built off of emotion”, Lucic said. “I got to win a Stanley Cup there on an Original Six franchise and bring it back where greats like Bobby Orr got to play”.

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To the people of Boston…