Milan Lucic Signed In Scotland And People Are Quitting Their Jobs Over It | Defector

"The Elite Ice Hockey League, the top level of hockey in the U.K., doesn't get a lot of big names. NHLers who have washed out of North America tend to head to the Continent: Sweden, Finland, Russia et al., all offer more money, better facilities, and a bigger spotlight for a pro to, perhaps, play their way back to the NHL. So it's a rare day when an EIHL team signs a 17-year NHL veteran."

"Lucic, after stints in Boston, Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary, hasn't played in the NHL since November 2023, when he was arrested and charged with assault and battery of his then-wife, who told police he had pulled her hair and choked her. Lukic was placed on indefinite leave by the Bruins, and remained on it for the rest of the season, even though charges were dropped in February 2024 after Lucic's wife refused to testify. (She filed for divorce two months later.)"

"This past Wednesday, the Flyers, based in Fife, Scotland, announced the signing of Lucic with as much pomp as a 3-16-1 club can muster. It was poor timing for an EIHL team to jump in bed with an accused domestic abuser; just the day before, the Sheffield Steelers had cut former Sabres draft pick Clifford Pu after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman on two occasions. The reaction from Fife fans to Lucic's signing was swift and negative. The team's social media channels were swamped with criticism. On Thursday, one of the team's sponsors announced it was ending its deal with the Flyers. "[w]e will have no further association with the club," Skyhook Helicopters wrote in a statement. "This decision has not been taken lightly and reflects our commitment to professionalism, integrity, and our wider responsibilities as"

The Elite Ice Hockey League rarely attracts major NHL names because players seeking continued professional opportunities typically go to stronger European leagues. Milan Lucic, a 17-year NHL veteran with previous stops in Boston, Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary, has not played in the NHL since November 2023 after an arrest on assault and battery charges. Charges were later dropped when the alleged victim refused to testify and then filed for divorce. Lucic signed tryout deals and was released twice before joining the Fife Flyers, whose signing prompted swift fan backlash and a sponsor withdrawal.

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