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Fitness no issue this time around for Lucic

Buffalo Sabres v Boston Bruins

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins reacts after he was called for high sticking Adam Pardy #27 of the Buffalo Sabres in the third period at TD Garden on April 17, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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Milan Lucic fully admitted he wasn’t in the best shape coming out of the lockout in January. This time around, however, fitness doesn’t sound like an issue for the big Bruins winger.

From CSN New England:

He spent much of the offseason in Vancouver working out with Vancouver Giants strength and conditioning guru Ian Gallagher, along with fellow Giants alums Brendan Gallagher and Calgary Flames forward Lance Bouma. Lucic had to work feverishly to catch up to the other NHL guys in their regimented off-season workouts after he’d played so deep into the summer with the Stanley Cup Final rolling into deep June.

Lucic says he found offseason motivation in not wanting to disappoint people again. And for 2013-14, his coach is expecting big things.

“There’s no doubt he came in good shape [this year],” said Claude Julien. “He’s got a good focus. He’s a guy that’s been a leader on every team that he’s been on, so there’s no doubt he wants to be a good leader for our hockey club. He’s a guy that’s going to be very good for us this year. I’m very confident about that.”

Lucic, 25, had a tough regular season in 2013 -- he was even a healthy scratch once in April -- but he found his game in the playoffs, scoring seven times with 12 assists in 22 games as the B’s made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.