BOSTON — One of the first things everyone seems to say about newly acquired Boston Bruins defenseman Steve Montador is that he’s willing to do anything to win.

He tried to prove that just last week, when with his old team the Anaheim Ducks trailing 3-0, he tried to coax Boston burly winger Milan Lucic into a gloves-off bout.

“I was planning on doing that. I asked him and then he said let’s let the shift get going a little bit. … I just figured we needed a spark because there was still an opportunity to win the game,” Montador, who never did get to duke it out with Lucic, recalled today during a conference call in the aftermath of his trade to Boston. “I know ‘Looch’ because I met him in the summer and I consider him a friend now. … It’s just one of those things.”

Montador can play defense, he can chip in on the offense, he can move up to play forward and, yes, he can fight. Although if you watch this bout with Bruins tough guy Jeremy Reich from last year, his form might need some work:

Nonetheless, the Bruins were thrilled to acquire the veteran.

“He’s a good story. He was signed as an unrestricted free agent out of junior and he’s really worked his way out of junior — one by being versatile but two, first and foremost, but being gritty,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. “And he’s a thick kid. He’s 6 feet and 210. He’s got a good stick. He was a guy that was on our radar in the summer. I like his compete level.”

Montador talked about keeping things simple at the defensive end and using his size to play physical. He also allowed that if asked, he would move up to play some forward — a position he played a lot for Florida last year before moving on to Anaheim.

“I certainly feel I can contribute up front in a fourth-line or third-line role but it’s not my No. 1 position. That’s the reason I was traded (from Florida). Nonetheless, I can play forward too. And I certainly welcome that opportunity,” he explained.

Regardless of where the Bruins ask Montador to play, he adds an element of versatility and depth the club lacked thus far this season.