Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic received significant legal relief as a domestic violence charge against him was dropped on Friday. The case faced a setback when Lucic’s wife, Brittany, invoked marital privilege, choosing not to testify against him. Lucic, a 35-year-old NHL forward, had initially pleaded not guilty to an assault and battery charge stemming from a November 18, 2023, altercation at their North End condo. While his legal troubles may be over, there are questions about his future in the NHL.
The decision to drop the charges came after a judge denied the inclusion of a crucial 911 call as evidence, coupled with the absence of testimony from Lucic’s wife. The legal proceedings were effectively halted due to the lack of substantial evidence. Milan Lucic’s attorney, Gary G. Pelletier, expressed Lucic’s relief and eagerness to move forward, stating, “Milan is very happy. He’s looking forward to getting his life back on track and his career back on track.”
Prosecutors faced a common situation in domestic violence cases, where the spouse chooses not to testify. James Borghesani, chief of communications for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, commented, “This situation is something prosecutors encounter quite often in matters involving domestic violence charges. We handled this case exactly as we would any other presenting a similar set of circumstances.”
The November incident that led to Lucic’s arrest involved a 911 call reporting an attempt to choke the caller. Since then, Lucic has been on indefinite leave from the Boston Bruins, with the 6-foot-3 forward rejoining the team on a one-year deal during the past offseason. The dropped charges clear the legal cloud hanging over Lucic, allowing him to focus on resuming his career. That said, his NHL career may be over.
Bruins Not Bringing Lucic Back This Season, NHL Future Uncertain
While the Bruins’ willingness to ever welcome Lucic back remains unclear, the veteran forward, signed to a one-year, $1 million deal, will not be back with the team this season. Instead, he has an opportunity to rebuild both personally and professionally and his contract will likely expire and he’ll become a UFA.
In a statement, the Bruins announced, “Milan Lucic will remain on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation.” Of note, the Bruins’ commitment to him as a player ends after this current campaign.
The pending unrestricted free agent, with no goals and two assists in four games played, now faces a chance to move forward from the tumultuous incident. It seems unlikely a team will want to bring in a player who was both unproductive but is older and just went through a very public situation. Even though the charges were dropped, it feels like a stretch that a team would openly welcome in that dramatic situation.
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