Former Bruin Milan Lucic hired by Buffalo as a pro scout

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Former Bruins player Milan Lucic has gone from being a one-time Buffalo Sabres opponent to landing a job as a professional scout, the team announced as part of a series of hirings and promotions Tuesday.

Lucic joins the Sabers weeks after announcing his retirement, ending a 17-year NHL career. The 38-year-old spent his first eight seasons with Boston, where Lucic won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

And it was with the Bruins where Lucic angered the Atlantic Division rival Sabers and their fans. He was particularly maligned for bowling over Sabers goaltender Ryan Miller during a game in Boston in November 2011.

Miller missed several weeks with a neck injury, and after the fight, he called the 240-pound Lucic “braveless” for hitting a player 50 pounds lighter. Meanwhile, the Sabers players were criticized for not stepping in to defend their star goaltender.

In the fall of 2023, Lucic was charged on suspicion of assault and battery on a household member while he was under contract with the Bruins. He took a leave of absence, which the team said he would remain on, after prosecutors dropped the charge in early 2024 when his wife invoked spousal privilege.

He tried to return to hockey last season, agreeing to a professional tryout with the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds. It was terminated in November, prompting Lucic’s retirement.

The Sabers announced additions to their front office made under first-year Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Buffalo pro scout Stacy Roest has been promoted to director of player personnel and general manager of the Sabers’ secondary affiliate in Rochester.

Sabers development coach and former player Tim Kennedy has been promoted to director of player development. He will be joined by Derek Dorsett, who has been appointed as forward development coach.

Former NHL player Jarkko Ruto takes over as the team’s European development coach, rejoining Kekalainen after the two previously worked together in Columbus.

Neil Komadoski has been named assistant director of pro scouting, after 16 seasons working in a scouting role for the Vancouver Canucks.