After the ominous buildup to Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli's media meeting this morning regarding Milan Lucic's(notes) injury, the news that it's a high ankle sprain brings the threat level down a few notches.

Despite having not played "Operation" in several years, we can tell you there's a world of difference between the ankle and the knee. (No word if he actually had butterflies in his stomach as well.) From the Boston Globe:

Lucic injured his left ankle Wednesday night in St. Paul, Minn., late in Boston's 2-1 win over the Wild, as he reached to gather in a pass from defenseman Dennis Wideman(notes). As he reached back, Lucic's left leg buckled from under him, sending him hobbling back to the Boston bench and then to the dressing room.

Speculation ran rampant after the game that Lucic suffered a knee injury and could be lost to the lineup for a much longer period of time. Chiarelli noted that the estimate of a one-month absence comes with some guess work. Lucic, he said, could be back earlier or later

Since signing his three-year, $12.25 million extension with the Boston Bruins at the beginning of October, Lucic has missed more games than he's played. He has 5 points in 10 games, and the Bruins were 7-3 with him in the lineup; without him (and center Marc Savard(notes)), it was panic time. Getting him back for only four games before this injury was a bitter tease for B's fans.

So his value to the Bruins can't be questioned, right? Well, the reaction to the injury news was interesting to that end, as hockey folks like Illegal Curve wondered if investing in Lucic (and over Phil Kessel(notes)) was a wise decision.

The deck's already stacked against Looch, because the "can he live up to the contract?" questions were flying around as soon as his pen hit the dotted line on that extension. Now along with whether his game is worth $4 million a season, there's the issue of Lucic's durability on top of it.

It all speaks to what's going to be an inevitable question in hockey circles: Is Milan Lucic overrated? We'd say "no," especially when these verdicts are being passed before his new deal even kicks in.

Unfortunately for him, there are now other questions, too: Can 10 games this season earn him an Olympic roster spot for Canada? And are hockey fans going to be deprived of Lucic vs. the Flyers in Fenway if this ankle injury goes longer than expected?