Lucic Return Could Help 'Push' Boston Bruins

After lamenting the lack of playoff "push back" against the Florida Panthers, a return for one of the B's all-time tough guys could help address that in a big way

NASHVILLE -- The Boston Bruins mostly sat idle during the first night of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena home of the Nashville Predators. They were instead left to be entertained by Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens flailing away while making their top selection on the NHL Draft stage.

All name flubs aside, it was a quiet night for the Black and Gold after they were one of the headline acts for the 2022-23 NHL season.

There may have been some efforts to move back up into the first round after their original pick, No. 28 overall, was sent to the Washington Capitals in the Dmitry Orlov/Garnet Hathaway deal, and eventually moved on to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Rasmus Sandin deadline deal.

Boston’s original pick turned into the Leafs selecting London Knights winger Easton Cowan, who looks like a smart, solid forward selection for one of Boston’s Atlantic Division rivals.

As it turned there wasn’t a single trade made in the first round of the draft this summer, the first time that has happened since way back in the 2007 NHL Draft as teams are becoming more and more wary of trading away the rights to good, young, cost-effective players with the salary cap always a big-time consideration.

But there was still smoke emanating from the Boston Bruins situation room as reports are circulating that Milan Lucic is expected to return to Boston for next season with things coming full circle for him.