Milan Lucic is back in the NHL

According to multiple online reports, the Buffalo Sabres have hired former NHLers Milan Lucic and Derek Dorsett. Lucic will join the team as a scout, while Dorsett will serve in a development coaching role.

One of the defining—and most controversial—moments of Lucic's career came on November 12, 2011, during a game against the Sabres. Chasing a loose puck on what appeared to be a breakaway opportunity, Lucic collided violently with Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller after Miller left his crease to play the puck. The impact knocked Miller's helmet off and eventually forced the Vezina Trophy-winning netminder out of the game with a concussion. Officials assessed Lucic only a minor penalty for charging, and after a disciplinary hearing, the NHL decided not to suspend him, concluding there was insufficient evidence that he intentionally targeted Miller.

The incident immediately became one of the NHL's biggest talking points. Miller angrily condemned Lucic after the game, calling the play "gutless" and saying he had lost respect for the Bruins forward. Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff also criticized both the hit and the league's disciplinary decision, arguing it sent the wrong message regarding player safety. Perhaps just as memorable as the collision itself was the Sabres' lack of retaliation. Aside from a brief scrum immediately following the play, Buffalo never meaningfully challenged Lucic physically during the remainder of the game. That perceived failure to defend their franchise goaltender drew widespread criticism from fans, media members, and former players alike, with many viewing it as an indictment of the team's identity.

Years later, the Lucic-Miller collision remains one of the most polarizing plays of the 2010s. Bruins fans have often argued it was an unfortunate hockey play involving a goaltender far outside his crease, while many Sabres supporters continue to view it as a reckless hit that changed the trajectory of both Miller's season and Buffalo's franchise. Regardless of which side of the debate someone falls on, the collision has become an enduring part of Lucic's legacy and one of the defining moments of his long NHL career.

As for Dorsett, the rugged winger carved out a respected NHL career by doing all of the little things that coaches and teammates value. Despite being selected in the seventh round of the NHL Draft, Derek Dorsett refused to let his draft position define him, earning his way to the league through relentless effort, physical play, and a willingness to stand up for his teammates. Over parts of 10 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, he became known as an energetic fourth-line forward who could change the momentum of a game with a big hit, a timely fight, or a strong penalty-killing shift. Unfortunately, Dorsett's career was cut short by recurring neck injuries, forcing him to retire in 2017 at just 30 years old. While his playing days ended sooner than anyone hoped, Dorsett left behind a reputation as one of the NHL's toughest and most dependable role players, proving that determination and heart can be just as valuable as elite skill.