Lucic gives terrible explanation for his terrible season.

Milan Lucic isn't just one of the most controversial players in the league, he also viewed by many as a tough player capable of being an emotional leader. However this season Lucic was more often than not invisible on the ice, and the excuse he gave for his poor play on Monday will have many questioning just how tough he really is. Lucic tried to explain his poor performance this season by  stating that he was "not in right frame of mind going into season."  Why was he in a bad frame of mind? Well according to Lucic all the hate he received after his actions during last years playoff loss to the Habs got to him mentally. Lucic made the comments to CSNNE's Joe Haggerty:

“At the start [of this season] I was overly conscious about [playing with an edge] because there was a lot being said about me with how last year ended. It was hard on me at the start. I shouldn’t have let it be as hard on me as it was. I was mad. I was angry. I was bitter that we lost…everything just piled up into one big thing, and it took me too long to get over it."

It's hardly the kind of response you would expect form a guy who's usually an emotional leader, and it speaks to the possibility that Lucic may be far more easily rattled than many believe. All in all it seems like an unacceptable excuses for a very down year from the bruising forward. This certainly won't help his trade value, something the Bruins are reportedly considering.