"He was a big fan of mine," said Lucic. "He was someone who made me believe in myself when I was in Boston. He would just say certain things to me that would bring back my belief in myself. My dad just made me see that sometimes I didn't have things as hard as I thought."

Milan Lucic remembers it like it was yesterday even though it's been a few years since he was a Boston Bruin. When things weren't going well, when the puck wasn't bouncing his way and if the big bruising winger had any self doubt about his game, one man would make the difference: His father Dobrivoje "Dobro" Lučić.

It's part of being a dad to be there for a son and the long shoreman, who emigrated from Serbia at the age of 27, was there for his three boys including middle child Milan.

Dobro was the strong and proud leader of the Lucic family. His son had his role on the ice and dad had his off the ice. It was always that way until April 22nd of 2015. Dobro passed away unexpectedly. Eventually with some time and through an interview with Hockey Night in Canada, Lucic explained that his father had committed suicide.

"You always miss the person when they're gone," explained the Oilers alternate captain."People lose their parents through illness, sudden death and even if they live a long time it is just something you have to deal with."

Since that spring day more than three years ago Milan, his mom and siblings have been dealing with the passing of the father in their family. It's a lot to handle and always will be but Lucic took some steps forward in his healing process. He did so with the guidance of a lady who worked with the 30 year old this past summer.

"She really helped teach me certain mental techniques and techniques that help me focus," said the former Stanley Cup winner. "She also dealt with someone close to her who committed suicide so there was a real connection because she could understand what I was and am going through."

The mourning process never ends. There's no finish line to your feelings especially when one of the most important people in your life is gone suddenly and tragically.

"There are still tough times," admitted the Oiler. "There are times when it just comes and goes. You have to deal with it and try not reverting back to the past. It's more about thinking of the present and the future and the upcoming challenges in life whether it's personally or professionally."

Professionally speaking Lucic's biggest challenge came last season. The perennial 50-plus point man couldn't find the game he had crafted over the last decade. The one that made him a champion, the one that made him the most sought-after free agent in the summer of 2015. The harder he tried, the less everything worked. Throw that in with what he was carrying around with him away from the rink and it was time to seek out some assistance.

"I was just feeling like I was stuck in limbo," explained Lucic. "Now I just feel like I have more energy. I feel like I'm smiling more and I just feel happier."

It didn't go unnoticed by Oilers fans with his physical presence along with goal and assist performance versus New Jersey on Saturday. It also didn't go unnoticed by his biggest fan who watches over him from heaven.