Milan Lucic is about to join the AHL.
The Springfield Thunderbirds announced Tuesday that they have signed the 17-season NHL veteran to a professional trial contract. Lucic, 37, participated in a training camp tryout with Springfield's parent team, the St. Louis Blues, in September. He played in four preseason games before missing due to injury. The move to Springfield will be his first time playing in the AHL.
Springfield will play Friday night and the Bridgeport Islanders will visit the MassMutual Center. The Thunderbirds are off to a 1-6-1-1 start, second-worst in the AHL.
2025 Bridgeport Islanders vs Springfield Thunderbirds
Lucic has played 1,177 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. The 2011 Stanley Cup champion returns to play four games with the Bruins in the 2023-24 season. That same season, he joined the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program. He missed the 2024-25 season but has completed the program. Overall, he scored 233, 353, and 586 games in the NHL regular season and 29, 48, and 77 games in 136 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Given their start, the Blues have been busy reshaping Springfield's roster this week. On Monday, they acquired guard Calle Rosén from the Washington Capitals in exchange for guard Corey Schueneman. Springfield also sent Sam Bitten to Hershey for consideration on a future separate deal with Washington's AHL affiliate.
Rosen, 31, is familiar to Blues management during his three seasons in the St. Louis organization, playing 73 regular-season games at the NHL level and 108 in Springfield. Rosen, who signed from the Capitals in the offseason, has a record of 1 win, 6 draws and 7 losses in nine games with the Bears. The goal came in overtime in a 3-2 win over the Bears on Friday night at Springfield Ice Arena. He is a consensus No. 1 defenseman at the AHL level and can also be a top-tier powerhouse contributor. He also won the 2018 Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies.
The Thunderbirds enter a tight November schedule with a 0-4-1-1 losing streak and last place in the Atlantic Division. They picked up just two points from a best-of-three weekend match against Bridgeport last Sunday, losing 2-1 on penalties. They return to Bridgeport on Saturday after playing the Islanders on Friday. They will play a total of 12 games in 29 nights this month.
How to watch AHL
AHL broadcast live worldwide on FloHockey. Watch every game from the regular season to the Calder Cup playoffs, plus key events like the AHL All-Star Classic and AHL Outdoor Classic. Subscribe to FloHockey now so you never miss a moment. All games can be watched on FloHockey.tv or through the FloSports mobile and connected TV app.
NHL FloHockey Prospect Report
The best, most complete coverage of NHL minor league hockey and the NHL Draft can be found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
Hockey matches get more intense on Flo
every game. Every goal. Every hit. All season long. FloHockey lets you watch the best hockey games anytime, anywhere, including leagues like the AHL, ECHL, OHL and QMJHL. Follow your team, follow your top prospects and stay on top of everything going on. Subscribe now to the annual plan and get 7 months free.
Watch AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, OHL and more on FloHockey
FloHockey is the streaming home for some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule for more hockey games.
Join the hockey conversation on FloHockey Social
