Milan Lucic to take ‘indefinite leave’ from Bruins after incident, team says

Milan Lucic rejoined the Bruins in the offseason.Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Bruins winger Milan Lucic was involved in an unidentified incident on Friday and will be taking a leave of absence, the team announced on Saturday.

“The Boston Bruins are aware of an incident involving Milan Lucic Friday evening,” the team said in a statement. “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.”

A Boston Police spokesperson said the department could neither confirm nor deny any investigation into an incident involving Lucic.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he was aware of the situation.

“As an organization it’s something we take extremely seriously,” said Montgomery, who had not spoken to Lucic as of Saturday morning. “Looch is taking a leave of absence from the team right now and we support the Lucic family, and we will continue to provide support and help for the Lucic family and out of respect for their privacy, that’s all I’m going to comment on the details right now.”

The Bruins selected Lucic in the second round (No. 50) of the 2006 NHL Draft. He played his first game in a spoked-B sweater in 2007 and stayed with Boston until 2015. He was a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team. From 2015-23, Lucic spent time with the Kings, Oilers, and Flames.

Team captain Brad Marchand, who like Lucic was drafted by the Bruins in 2006, said he had not talked to his longtime teammate as of Saturday morning.

“The biggest thing for us is we care a lot about their family. We’re a family in here. We’re all very, very close, so we’re also very concerned and upset for them and what they’re going through,” said Marchand. “But we have a lot of support for [his wife] Brittany and the kids and Looch himself. And because of that, out of respect for them, that’s got to be it for now. We don’t really have any details. We don’t really know a whole lot of what’s happened, what’s gone on, so it’s very hard to comment on much of it.

“But obviously I’ve known Looch for a long time, he is a very good friend and it’s tough to see your teammates and your friends going through stuff like this and their family. So yeah, definitely worried about Brit and the kids and Looch himself, but they have all the support in the world. Anything they need, we’re going to be here for them.”

Lucic signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Bruins on July 1, a contract that includes an additional $500,000 in performance-based incentives.

Lucic has not played since Sept. 21 when he suffered a foot injury after taking a shot off the boot of his skate in a game against the Kings in Los Angeles.

Lucic was officially eligible to return Saturday night against the Canadiens, but Montgomery said earlier in the week that the 35-year-old was behind in his rehab and that it was unlikely Lucic would see the ice.

Sean Cotter contributed to this report.