Boston Bruins

The domestic assault case against Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic was dropped Friday, according to WCVB's Phil Tenser.

Lucic's wife declined to testify in court and a judge ruled that her 911 call could not be used as evidence in the case as it failed to specifically identify the Bruins forward as the suspect.

The 911 dispatcher who took the call confirmed in court that the caller was never asked to provide her last name or identify Lucic by name.

When Lucic's wife called 911, she said "her husband" tried to strangle her. She later identified herself as Lucic's wife while meeting with officers in the lobby of their apartment building.

The defense also "debated the admissibility of the call without the ability to question the caller in court," according to Tenser, and the judge ultimately sided with the defense and blocked the 911 recording from being used as evidence.

Lucic has been on leave from the Bruins since being arrested in November on an assault and battery charge following an altercation at their Boston apartment.

The incident occurred after Lucic allegedly could not locate his cellphone following a night out in the city and began yelling and demanding that his wife give him the phone.

The 35-year-old's wife told him she did not have his phone and didn't know where it was. When she attempted to walk away, Lucic allegedly grabbed her hair, pulled her backward and said she "wasn't going anywhere."

Officers responding to the scene noted that Lucic appeared to be intoxicated. When they escorted him back to the apartment to retrieve some of his belongings, they observed a broken lamp in the bedroom and what appeared to be shards of glass on the floor. Per WCVB, when officers asked Lucic's wife if he had strangled her, she said he didn't, though they observed redness on her chest.

The Bruins said in a statement afterward that Lucic would be taking "an indefinite leave of absence" from the team. The organization also said at the time that the forward was entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program

Lucic hasn't played in a game since Oct. 21, but he wants to return to the NHL, and defense attorney Gary Pelletier expressed confidence that Friday's decision would make that possible, according to Tenser.

Pelletier added that Lucic intends to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

However, the Bruins said in a statement he will remain on leave from the team through the remainder of the 2023-24 season, according to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald.

"Milan Lucic will remain on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season," the Bruins said in a statement. "The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation."

Lucic, who was a second-round pick by the Bruins in 2006, spent the first eight seasons of his career in Boston and won a Stanley Cup with the franchise in 2011.

The native Canadian had stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames before agreeing to a one-year deal to return to the Bruins ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He had notched two assists in four games this season before going on leave.

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery on a family member, according to the Associated Press.

The Boston Globe reported police arrested Lucic on Saturday after he had allegedly gotten into an argument with his wife, Brittany.

She had called 911 and said her husband "attempted to choke her," per the police report obtained by the Globe. While she denied the allegation when asked directly by an officer, the officer "observed redness" on her chest.

Lucic's wife said the argument began when he returned home after going out and couldn't find his phone.

"The victim stated that she did not have his cell phone and did not know where it was located," police wrote in their report, per the Boston.com's Abby Patkin. "She stated that she attempted to walk away from her husband, and stated that the suspect grabbed her by her hair and pulled her backwards. She stated that in doing so, the suspect stated to her that she was not going anywhere."

Officers observed a broken lamp and what appeared to be broken glass in the bedroom of the couple's apartment.

The Bruins issued a statement in the wake of Lucic's arrest.

"The Boston Bruins are aware of the situation involving Milan Lucic Friday evening," the team said. "Milan is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team. The organization takes these matters very seriously, and we will work with the Lucic family to provide any support and assistance they may need. We will have no further comment at this time.

According to the AP, Lucic was released on personal recognizance Tuesday and ordered to refrain from consuming any alcohol prior to his trial. He declined to speak with reporters upon leaving the courthouse.

Lucic signed a one-year contract with the Bruins the offseason. He started his career in Boston and spent eight years there before his trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 2015.

The 35-year-old has made four appearances in 2023-24, though he hasn't stepped onto the ice since a 4-2 win over the Kings on Oct. 21 due to a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark is breaking out another new mask in celebration of the franchise's centennial season.

Ullmark will wear a mask that honors Bruins legendary goaltender and Hockey Hall of Famer Gerry Cheevers during Saturday night's game against the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden.

The 30-year-old is wearing a special mask for Saturday's game as part of Boston's "Era Nights," which are spread throughout home games during the 2023-24 season as a way to honor the club's history.

Saturday's game honors the 1960-76 Bruins. Cheevers played for the Black and Gold from 1965-72 and again from 1975-80, backstopping Boston to two Stanley Cup titles (1970, 1972).

When the 2023-24 season began, Ullmark debuted a mask honoring Bobby Orr and Patrice Bergeron.

One side of the mask features Orr's famous diving overtime goal in 1970 that lifted Boston to their first Stanley Cup title in 29 years. The other side displays Bergeron's iconic overtime goal in Game 7 of the first round of the 2013 playoffs that clinched the Bruins a spot in the next round after trailing the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1.

The Bruins are currently 12-1-2 and have the best record in the Atlantic Division, which is something not many saw coming following the retirements of Bergeron and David Krejci.

The Boston Bruins announced Saturday that veteran winger Milan Lucic is taking "an indefinite leave of absence" from the team after he was reportedly arrested.

According to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, Lucic was involved in an "alleged domestic incident" on Friday, and the Bruins released the following statement regarding his status:

"The Boston Bruins are aware of an incident involving Milan Lucic Friday evening. Milan is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team. The organization takes these matters very seriously, and will work with the Lucic family to provide any support and assistance they may need. We will have no further comment at this time."

According to WCVB's Duke Castiglione, sources confirmed Lucic was arrested early Saturday morning in Boston because of a "domestic incident."

Tiffany Chan of WBZ in Boston provided details of the arrest:

Lucic signed a one-year contract to return to the Bruins this past offseason after previously spending eight seasons with the team from 2007 through 2015.

The 35-year-old Lucic was originally a second-round draft pick by the Bruins in 2006, and he went on to become a key player for Boston for nearly a decade.

During the Bruins' Stanley Cup-winning season of 2010-11, the Canadian forward set career highs with 30 goals and 62 points.

Boston traded Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings in 2015, and after one season in L.A., he played three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and four seasons with the Calgary Flames.

When Lucic hit free agency during the offseason, the Bruins signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal that includes $500,000 in incentives, per Cap Friendly.

Lucic appeared in four games this season and recorded two assists, but he has been out since Oct. 21 due to a lower-body injury.

Boston placed Lucic on long-term injured reserve, meaning he needed to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended four games for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.

The incident occurred during Boston's 3-2 overtime win over the Panthers on Monday night at TD Garden.

McAvoy won't be eligible to return until a Nov. 11 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. He'll miss games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars and New York Islanders.

The Bruins finished Monday's game with just four defensemen after losing Matt Grzelcyk to an upper-body injury and McAvoy to an ejection for the illegal check to the head.

In the third period, McAvoy collided with Ekman-Larsson in front of Florida's net with the puck nowhere in sight. Ekman-Larsson's head appeared to be the principal point of contact, and McAvoy was assessed a match penalty and ejected.

McAvoy had previously only been suspended once in his career. The Boston University product was suspended one game during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs for an illegal check to the head of then-Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson.

The Bruins selected McAvoy in the first round of the 2016 draft and he has become arguably the team's best defenseman. Through nine games this season, he has tallied two goals and six assists for eight points.

While the Bruins sit atop the Atlantic Division with an 8-0-1 record, losing McAvoy is a tough blow for Boston, especially if Grzelcyk also misses time with an injury.

As for potential replacements, Mason Lohrei, Ian Mitchell and Parker Wotherspoon could be getting called up. The trio didn't travel with Boston's AHL affiliate for a matchup with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday, per Mark Divver of New England Hockey Journal.

The Bruins will return to action on Thursday against the Maple Leafs.

Boston Bruins star David Krejčí announced Monday he's retiring from the NHL after 16 seasons.

"When I was drafted in 2004, I had no idea that I would be working with incredible and driven people who would lead us to three Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the ultimate goal in 2011," he said.

"I have made so many great friendships throughout the organization. You have always been there for me whenever I needed something and I will always be here for you."

Krejčí's decision doesn't come as a surprise.

Bruins president Cam Neely told reporters in June the team was working under the idea neither Krejčí nor Patrice Bergeron would return to the ice for the 2023-24 season. Bergeron then announced his retirement a month later.

With the two franchise legends now gone, almost the entirety of the Stanley Cup-winning squad from 2011 is no longer in Boston.

Krejčí walks away with the fifth-most appearances in Bruins history (1,032). He's also fifth in assists (555) and ninth in points (786), and his 57.5 offensive point shares are ninth all time for the franchise, per Hockey Reference.

Krejčí also delivered in the postseason. He led the team in points during the 2011 and 2013 playoffs and remained a key contributor (four goals and 12 assists) when Boston was back in the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

The general inevitability about Krejčí's retirement allowed Neely and general manager Don Sweeney to plan accordingly. The Bruins signed James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Geekie and Milan Lucic to fortify their forward lines.

But the front office might have hoped Krejčí would have a change of heart once Tyler Bertuzzi signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A lot of talent and experience went out the door this offseason.

After collecting 135 points a year ago, taking a step backward will be unavoidable for the Bruins, and some of their Eastern Conference rivals may have passed them by.

The sudden retirement of star center and team legend Patrice Bergeron left the Boston Bruins without an obvious replacement at the position.

The uncertainty of David Krejci's future, coupled with a lack of projected standout at the position, leave the Bruins looking at a season with Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha as the most prominent players down the middle.

They are more than capable of filling the role but considering the team has two quality goaltenders as potential trade chips, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, it is time the Bruins explore trading for genuine stars to fill the enormous void left by the future Hall of Famer.

Linus Ullmark is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and was rather inarguably the best goalie in the sport in the 2022-23 season. With a win-loss record of 40-6 and a goals-against average of just 1.89, he played the position at an elite level.

Jeremy Swayman was 24-6, had a save percentage of .920 and tallied four shutouts.

Both are superb in the net and either one would fetch quality in return, though Swayman would be the more likely option since trading away the best goalie in the game while he is on a relatively team-friendly deal (two seasons, $5 million) would be a silly move for any front office at this point.

Especially considering Ullmark's expansive, 16-team no-trade clause.

There are likely trade targets available to the Bruins, most notably Elias Lindholm and Mark Scheifele, as Conroy mentioned in his report. There is an under-the-radar possibility, though, in Vancouver's JT Miller.

There has not been a day in the last two seasons when Miller's name and trade discussions were not indelibly linked. Even after he signed a seven-year deal last September. Even as the deal went into effect July 1 and the Canucks lost all ability to move the veteran without his approval.

The Canucks need help in the net and the Bruins have it in Swayman, who could easily compete for the primary job or help provide depth at the position, as he does behind Ullmark.

The Bruins need a center and Miller, for his, at times, iffy defense and explosive demeanor, can score goals and tally points. He could provide a veteran presence down the middle and that is something the Bruins do not have in the wake of the Bergeron decision.

The tricky part will be Miller's considerably large deal and whether the Bruins would assume responsibility for it or they would insist on the Canucks assuming some of the $9.5 million due to him this season.

If that piece of the puzzle can be solved, the Stanley Cup-hungry Bruins absolutely must explore the deal, if nothing else. If it is not feasible, or if either side has hesitations, the team can fall back on Lindholm of Calgary or Scheifele of Winnipeg.

Regardless of how they do it, the team needs to make the necessary moves to deal for a center because their competitors in the East have spent the offseason getting better while the team with the most wins in NHL history in 2022-23 has lost key, crucial players.