Joe McDonald, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Lucic still adapting after wrist surgery

BOSTON -- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia dealt with a left wrist injury for the entire 2014 season. He played through the pain until having season-ending surgery on Sept. 11.

During the season, he tried everything in order to be effective at the plate. He even tweaked his bat size, dropping a few ounces to make it easier to swing.

Bruins forward Milan Lucic had surgery on his left wrist last May and spent 12 weeks in a hard cast. He made sure he was ready for the start of training camp despite not being able to perform his normal offseason routine.

Lucic continues to strengthen the wrist and, like Pedroia, Lucic is looking for any edge he can gain, so he’s changed the flex on his stick. Normally, Lucic uses a flex of 120, but he dropped down to 105, which is a significantly more flexible and less stiff, helping him get more behind his shot even with the weakened wrist. For comparison, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara uses a flex of 160, but because of the power he generates, you can still see the torque in his incredible shot.

“Because of the torque and everything that goes into [shooting with a sore wrist], I couldn’t handle it,” Lucic said in explaining his switching sticks. “I still can’t handle what I was able to handle before. A lot of people can overlook it and say, ‘Oh, it’s just a hand.’ But you don’t realize how much you use it until it’s taken away from you.

“I remember when I broke my toe [during 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs], I never realized how much you’re actually up on your toe and use your toe, especially skating when you’re pushing off and how painful it was going through that. You do whatever you can to give yourself an advantage, and I’ve gone down the flex on my stick, just so things feel normal again. You want to do everything you can to build your strength back, so you can get back to what you were using before and what you’re comfortable with.”

Pedroia also had surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament last November and couldn’t work out as he normally does during last offseason. It was one of the reasons his power numbers were down this year. Lucic is trying to regain his strength too.

“You’ve got to be selfish when you do get healthy and you’re able to start lifting again and do a little bit extra,” Lucic said. “For myself, starting a season and going through training camp, I’ve had to mix in a lot more lifts and spend more time at the rink than I usually do. It’s helped me regain that strength again. I need to keep that up as the season goes along, so my strength keeps getting better and back to where I want it to be.

“You have to take the extra time and be selfish and do what’s best for yourself to be healthy because your livelihood is your sport. That’s the way you’ve got to view it.”

Pedroia doesn’t need advice when it comes to dealing with offseason surgeries. He’s had plenty during his career and hasn’t had a normal offseason in a few years. Lucic knows first-hand what Pedroia will deal with again this winter.

“The main thing is getting your rest and making sure everything is healing right,” Lucic said. “Sometimes it can get really frustrating, but you really have to trust and listen to the doctors and the advice that they give you. Obviously, we know what kind of competitor he is and what kind of teammate he is. He plays with energy and that’s why he’s loved here in Boston and he’s respected here, not just by the fans but also the other players on the other teams.”

Lucic has played all eight games to start the 2014-15 season, but only has five assists and no goals. On Tuesday, the top-line winger had three assists to help Boston to a 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Rehabbing his wrist remains a work in progress.

“I’m thinking about it a lot less, as far as reinjuring it again,” Lucic said. “From a mental standpoint, it’s becoming more positive.”

^ Back to Top ^