(Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images)

Stanley Cup winner Milan Lucic announced his retirement on his 38th birthday Sunday following 17 NHL seasons.

The bruising forward helped the Boston Bruins capture the 2011 Stanley Cup, capped by a Game 7 victory over his hometown Vancouver Canucks. Lucic has not played in the NHL since his four-game second stint with Boston during October 2023.

'Looking back on my career, I feel truly grateful to have fulfilled my dream of playing professional hockey, culminating with a Stanley Cup win in 2011 with the Boston Bruins,' Lucic said in a statement, per the National Hockey League Players Association.

'I want to especially thank the Bruins for giving me my start in professional hockey and for instilling the confidence to reach new heights as a player. Later in my career, I had the privilege of playing with some exceptional organizations in Los Angeles, Edmonton and Calgary. I look back with fondness at the time I spent with each organization and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure of playing alongside.'

Lucic recorded 586 points (233 goals, 353 points) and 1,301 penalty minutes in 1,177 regular-season games with the Bruins (2007-15, 2023), Los Angeles Kings (2015-16), Edmonton Oilers (2016-19) and Calgary Flames (2019-23).

He attempted to come back ahead of the 2025-26 season after signing a professional tryout agreement with the St. Louis Blues. He was released in November following five games in the American Hockey League.

--Field Level Media