Boston Bruins: 5 current players most likely to have number retired

Sam Minton

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 29: Former Boston Bruins player Rick Middleton has his No. 16 jersey retired prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on November 29, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

With Rick Middleton getting his No.16 retired on Thursday night let’s see what current Boston Bruins player could have their number in the rafters one day.

Thursday was a great day for Boston Bruins fans. Before the game they got to see a well deserving player have his number retired. Then there was a game to be played and Boston was victorious in a shootout.

The Boston Bruins have some amazing players on their roster. Some have already cemented their place in Bruins history while some are definitely on their way there.

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Rick Middleton put up some amazing numbers. It is still shocking that he hasn’t been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Middleton spent 12 seasons in Boston and racked up 402 goals and 496 assists. That is pretty “nifty” if you ask me. Hopefully, soon enough we will see Middleton get the honor he deserves up in Toronto.

Some Bruins are nearing those numbers which makes them virtually locks to get their numbers retired. There will definitely be some more jersey retirements coming in the near future.

Boston Bruins fans have been lucky to witness such a quality stretch of hockey with some great players. With a young crop of stars showing that they have great potential, it looks like it won’t be stopping any time soon.

So let’s take a look at 5 current Boston Bruins who are most likely to have their numbers retired when their career ends.

1. Zdeno Chara

Zdeno Chara didn’t start his career with the Boston Bruins, but he has made the biggest impact while in Boston.

2. Patrice Bergeron

Patrice Bergeron may be the most well-liked person in all of Boston. There isn’t really anything bad you can say about the guy.

First off Bergeron is a complete player. He doesn’t just score goals. Bergeron is a great two-way player. Something that seems less and less common with the number of snipers in the league today.

Along with getting his number retired, Bergeron should get an award named after him as well. He has won 4 Selke Awards and will probably win a 5th before his career is over.

Bergeron is currently 6th in goals and 7th in assists and points in Bruins history. With a few years left in his career, it isn’t that far fetched to think that Bergeron will pop into the top 5 in at least one of these categories.

In a similar way to Zdeno Chara, Bergeron is also a great leader in the locker room. When you are a great player like Bergy you have plenty of knowledge to pass down.

After Patrice Bergeron retires no one will be wearing the No. 37 ever again in Boston.

3. David Krejci

David Krejci doesn’t get the shine that Patrice Bergeron gets, but he has had a pretty stellar career with the Boston Bruins.

Krejci isn’t a flashy player and has had to deal with constant turnover on the 2nd line. It finally seems like Krejci is feeling good with Jake DeBrusk by his side.

Everyone remembers how dominant Tim Thomas was in the 2011 Stanley Cup run, but David Krejci and the 2nd line played great. He had 12 goals and 11 assists.

Krejci has snuck up the Bruins all-time rankings. He will be in the top 10 for points by the end of the season and is already 8th in assists.

With Patrice Bergeron playing great every night you can forget how good of a player Krejci is. Given the shot, he could probably be a team’s 1st line center.

So I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some chatter about David Krejci getting his number retired when his career is over.

4. Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand has played phenomenally in his 10 NHL seasons. If he can manage to not get suspended and stay on the ice, he will rocket up the Bruins all-time rankings.

Marchand plays the game like a Bruin. He isn’t afraid to get in a scrap but also knows how to put the puck in the net with style. Since Marchand is a Bruin we love him, but he is hated around the league. Bruins fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

As of late Marchand has been the Bruins star. He has scored 85 points in two straight seasons. I wonder if he will be able to continue the streak or even surpass that point total in the 2018-19 season.

Marchand will crack the Bruins top 10 in goals and should do the same in points. He always seems to find a way to put up amazing numbers.

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If Brad Marchand is able to maintain his scoring pace he will have his number in the rafters one day.

5. David Pastrnak

David Pastrnak hasn’t even entered the prime of his career and is already doing amazing things. Pastrnak has one of the dirtiest shots in the entire NHL.

Pastrnak has been playing so well it’s easy to forget that he is 22 years old. Pasta has plenty of good years of hockey ahead of him.

This season has been Pastrnak’s best season of his career. He is proving that he is a special winger. In just 25 games this season he has 19 goals and 10 assists. Pastrnak is putting himself on the map with his performance.

It’s still very early in Pastrnak’s career, but if he keeps playing as he has so far in his NHL career he will make a great case to have his number retired.

There is still plenty of room in the TD Garden rafters so I would expect a decent amount of jersey retirements in the near future.

Sam Minton

Sam Minton is a graduate of Salem State University where he majored in Communications with a concentration in Journalism. He is a passionate sports fan with his favorite teams being the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, New England Revolution and New York Yankees.