Kings' Lucic thanks Boston on eve of return

Milan Lucic says he'll be nervous in his return to Boston, but he's thankful for his time as a member of the Bruins.

"Coming back to the Garden for the first time this week, I'll be battling the butterflies, for sure," Lucic wrote in an article published by The Players' Tribune on Monday night.

The Los Angeles Kings forward will enter TD Garden as a visitor Tuesday night for the first time since the Bruins traded him to L.A. last June.

"Who knows, maybe I'll just go out there and drop the mitts just to get the blood flowing. For old time's sake," Lucic wrote. "Boston: Thank you. For everything."

Lucic spent eight seasons with the Bruins, scoring 139 goals and 342 points in 566 games. He was a key member of the Boston squad that won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

The 27-year-old has 12 goals and 18 assists in his first season with the Kings.