Lucic is a big talented forward who can contribute on the scoresheet. Laracque was a big untalented forward who could fight and do little else. If Lucic drops the gloves there, the Bruins are at a total disadvantage because he's in the box for five minutes or more, even if he were to knock Laracque out and make him eat out of a feeding tube for the rest of his career. It's the same thing with John Scott. He didn't refuse to fight Scott because he was afraid of him. He didn't fight John Scott because doing so would be the most moronic thing he could do. I disdain Lucic as much as the next guy, but to say he's a wimp for refusing to fight goons is just plain idiotic.
- buffalofan19

See that's the thing: other people like Subban are chickens when they do this, but when he does it's because he's of more value in the lineup? See the issue here isn't what he does, it's how he is hypocritical about what he does versus what he says.

Lucic is a big talented forward who can contribute on the scoresheet. Laracque was a big untalented forward who could fight and do little else. If Lucic drops the gloves there, the Bruins are at a total disadvantage because he's in the box for five minutes or more, even if he were to knock Laracque out and make him eat out of a feeding tube for the rest of his career. It's the same thing with John Scott. He didn't refuse to fight Scott because he was afraid of him. He didn't fight John Scott because doing so would be the most moronic thing he could do. I disdain Lucic as much as the next guy, but to say he's a wimp for refusing to fight goons is just plain idiotic.
- buffalofan19

Oh I'm not saying he's a wimp. I'm saying he's not a true tough guy, which is okay, but he trash talks and acts like he is one, which is not.

That's exactly what it's said in the blog. It says Lucic is a fraudulent though guy, not that he's a wimp.

Wait a second, Meltzer? What happened here? *melts back into the underbrush*

Great blog, gonna have to read these more often..

Lucic is not the sharpest knife in the drawer

Wait a second, Meltzer? What happened here? *melts back into the underbrush*
- CH1909-2009

He posts them for Stew.

Lucic...sigh...what boils my blood about this cheap shot bully/punk the most is that people routinely use him as the comparison to explain what kind of a player Paul Holmgren was to younger people.

No

Homer was a big tough fair player. He was not a cheap, selfish immature punk.

Homer kept it on the ice or at least in the locker room hallway ;-) and he let his actions do the talking. I commend Paul for this OpEd.

Lucic...sigh...what boils my blood about this cheap shot bully/punk the most is that people routinely use him as the comparison to explain what kind of a player Paul Holmgren was to younger people.

No

Homer was a big tough fair player. He was not a cheap, selfish immature punk.

Homer kept it on the ice or at least in the locker room hallway ;-) and he let his actions do the talking. I commend Paul for this OpEd.
- wbon22

What's worse is people who compare him to Neely

Lucic is an opportunistic thug. He picks his spots (usually against smaller opponents he expects to rough up) and really doesn't play the tough guy role like Thornton. When there is "pay back" situation, Lucic is no where to be found. Usually Thornton handles this role or Chara. The Bruins have too many theatrics. They sell themselves as tough guys but really are closer to drama queens (i.e. Marchand, Lucic, etc.)

great words of wisdom for all the tweeters in Btown that take to the web after Ward/Subban end a game... Get a life Bostonians.
- Stu17

Yup because the majority of the tweets came from outside of Boston... Jesus, Im from canada so it doesn't really matter but it's just stop being a tool and generalizing when there is no need. Especially when it comes to a topic of race...

Sorry I see you are from California, nothing but honest and outstanding citizens there im sure... My apolgies

What's worse is people who compare him to Neely
- CH1909-2009

This I agree, there will never be another Neely lol

Good call ref!

You think patch likes shaking charas hand? Or Subban thorntons? You do it like a man and salute your fans. If you absolute can't stomach the other team or player then you can skip the handshake or skip the player. Don't be a sore loser whiney b!tch about it. Some ppl giving weise crap for mentioning it are idiots too, the talking heads were showing those clips before anyone spoke to the players yet so we all know what he said anyways. Cherry and Neely blasting Weise are just more examples of bullies that don't like being called out and sore losers.

When I talked hockey with friends before game 7 I told them that regardless of that outcome it has been a strong season for the club and the future looks good. I just hoped there wouldn't be any huge elbows to star players knocking them out, or necks broken into the boards, or knees blown out type events.

In all honesty, it was a good, hard series. It's just that most of the bruins gameplan is structured D, drop passes to the point for lob shots into legs, and being very antagonistic. Habs have seen the act before and laughed most of the antics off and fed off it instead. Then the all blocked point shots because they rarely had any gas on them. Price was steady as well.

There is a lot of talk of missed chances by the B's but the Habs had many many good looks too and couldn't capitalize. The fact that they led for insane amount of time shows that the Habs gameplan worked against a extremely skilled team. Credit to the coaches for making adjustments and the players for digging deep.

Iginla's face after watching Lucic talk to weise says a lot. He looked sheepish and was obviously embarrassed. Gutless move by a guy whose season will be remember for spearing guys in the nuts from behind, doing nothing in the playoffs, and being a baby in the handshake line.

Wait a second, Meltzer? What happened here? *melts back into the underbrush*
- CH1909-2009

Paul had me post the blog for him. I logged in on my account and then had to switch it to his, which is my name is at top. of thread.

Gutless move by a guy whose season will be remember for spearing guys in the nuts from behind, doing nothing in the playoffs, and being a baby in the handshake line.
- SmielmaN

This sentence should be engraved on this year's Cup under "miscellaneous varia".

This sentence should be engraved on this year's Cup under "miscellaneous varia".
- CH1909-2009

If rather engrave on Lucic!

If rather engrave on Lucic!
- SmielmaN

NOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR

Great article, Paul. I am a Montreal Canadiens fan living in Boston and this is what many of the knowledgable/reasonable people here (who play hockey, or are dedicated fans and understand the game) think of Milan Lucic. So disregarding the droves of morons that this team seems to amass every year come the playoffs, I don't think that Milan Lucic is a very well liked player in this city.

When Milan Lucic plays physical and within the rules, he's a valuable asset to the Boston Bruins. His skating, puck handling, and shooting deficiencies can be overlooked when he plays within the Bruins system. And he's generally a likable player in that regard. However, its becoming increasingly common for Milan Lucic to piss and moan about "the code" and perceived cheap shots in the media, all the while engaging in actual dirty conduct (like the instances you've mentioned). Over the past few seasons Milan Lucic has lost any moral high ground or credibility that he may have established when he began to rise as a player in this league by playing a tough, physical brand of hockey. He has become another hypocritical DB (much like Brad Marchand, Sean Avery, or Max Lapierre, etc). He may not represent the old-school Boston Bruins in your opinion based on how he plays the game, but he has become the Boston Bruins personified - big, dumb bears that are too easily poked/distracted and had their honey stolen by a smarter opponent.

You have to wonder how much of his fraudulent tough guy bullcrap is based on him being a poopty person and how much of it created within the culture of the "Big, Bad Bruins". Milan Lucic has always reminded me of Dave "Killer" Carlson from Slapshot - a phony tough guy, who gains all his confidence on and off the ice from being a bully and picking his spots.

NOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR
- CH1909-2009

I've only done that like 2, or 3 times in my commenting career. Lol

See that's the thing: other people like Subban are chickens when they do this, but when he does it's because he's of more value in the lineup? See the issue here isn't what he does, it's how he is hypocritical about what he does versus what he says.
- CH1909-2009

Subban would be a moron to do that as well. Whoever is saying otherwise is just plain wrong.

This is the best and most concise write-up on the megalomaniac that Milan Lucic is.

Mr. Stewart, you have my utmost respect and admiration for publicly calling him out.

If rather engrave on Lucic!
- SmielmaN

Luckily for Lucic he already has his name on Lord Stanley

truth.

Subban would be a moron to do that as well. Whoever is saying otherwise is just plain wrong.
- buffalofan19

That person is Lucic. That was my point.

Great article, Paul. I am a Montreal Canadiens fan living in Boston and this is what many of the knowledgable/reasonable people here (who play hockey, or are dedicated fans and understand the game) think of Milan Lucic. So disregarding the droves of morons that this team seems to amass every year come the playoffs, I don't think that Milan Lucic is a very well liked player in this city.

When Milan Lucic plays physical and within the rules, he's a valuable asset to the Boston Bruins. His skating, puck handling, and shooting deficiencies can be overlooked when he plays within the Bruins system. And he's generally a likable player in that regard. However, its becoming increasingly common for Milan Lucic to piss and moan about "the code" and perceived cheap shots in the media, all the while engaging in actual dirty conduct (like the instances you've mentioned). Over the past few seasons Milan Lucic has lost any moral high ground or credibility that he may have established when he began to rise as a player in this league by playing a tough, physical brand of hockey. He has become another hypocritical DB (much like Brad Marchand, Sean Avery, or Max Lapierre, etc). He may not represent the old-school Boston Bruins in your opinion based on how he plays the game, but he has become the Boston Bruins personified - big, dumb bears that are too easily poked/distracted and had their honey stolen by a smarter opponent.

You have to wonder how much of his fraudulent tough guy bullcrap is based on him being a poopty person and how much of it created within the culture of the "Big, Bad Bruins". Milan Lucic has always reminded me of Dave "Killer" Carlson from Slapshot - a phony tough guy, who gains all his confidence on and off the ice from being a bully and picking his spots.
- Do_a_Ritual

So painting the entire organization by the actions f a few DB momemnt... Marchands at has gotten tired, plain and simple, he's become a detriment... Lucic, I really thought was turning a corner, and was playing t riht way and really well for a long time, until the last few months of the season, it all turned.

Other than that the org has some great and classy players and players that represent the game int he right way... Thornton, Marchand and Lucic doesn't paint the entire team, and outside those 3 there is a vast difference... and those who paint Chara in that mold are assinine to be honest

So painting the entire organization by the actions f a few DB momemnt... Marchands at has gotten tired, plain and simple, he's become a detriment... Lucic, I really thought was turning a corner, and was playing t riht way and really well for a long time, until the last few months of the season, it all turned.

Other than that the org has some great and classy players and players that represent the game int he right way... Thornton, Marchand and Lucic doesn't paint the entire team, and outside those 3 there is a vast difference... and those who paint Chara in that mold are assinine to be honest
- MrBeanTown

Chara is just old and uncoordinated. But his hissy fit was amusing, if somewhat justified. Anyone who thinks there are no classy guys like Bergeron on Boston are dumb but at the same time a guy like Iginla goes there and becomes an instadouche. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, I think while it doesn't apply to every guy there is an overall team philosophy that favours d-bags and cheaters because agitation and intimidation is considered primary to playing hockey.

Chara is just old and uncoordinated. But his hissy fit was amusing, if somewhat justified. Anyone who thinks there are no classy guys like Bergeron on Boston are dumb but at the same time a guy like Iginla goes there and becomes an instadouche. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, I think while it doesn't apply to every guy there is an overall team philosophy that favours d-bags and cheaters because agitation and intimidation is considered primary to playing hockey.
- CH1909-2009

If that statement, were true, than I highly doubt they are a team who wins the Pres Trophy and had as much success as they ave in the last few years.

Not sure, as well, how Iggy because a douche once in Boston?