It has now been over three years since Patrice Bergeron last suited up for the Boston Bruins, and the team is finally giving him a much-deserved honor to cement his place among the immortals.
On Thursday, the Bruins announced on Instagram that they will officially retire Bergeron's No. 37.
"The Boston Bruins have announced that they will bestow the club's highest honor upon former captain and forward Patrice Bergeron (2002-2023) by retiring his No. 37 jersey, becoming the 14th number raised to the Garden rafters," the Bruins wrote in their statement on Instagram.
During Bergeron's press conference a few days after his retirement in 2023, team President Cam Neely said it was "a no-brainer" that the six-time Selke Trophy recipient (which is an NHL record, by the way) would eventually get his jersey number retired (h/t Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now).
“That’s a no-brainer,” Neely told reporters after Bergeron’s press conference on Tuesday. “We’ll figure out a time to do that. He has certainly earned that.”
Retiring Patrice Bergeron's jersey number is a no-brainer for the Bruins
This really shouldn't be a debate. Bergeron spent his entire 19-season NHL career in Boston and was instrumental to its success, particularly in the 2010s. He played a big part in the Bruins' Stanley Cup victory in 2011, and he was a part of the team's appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019.
Bergeron was also the captain of the historic 2022-23 team, whose 65-12-5 finish (and 135 points) is an all-time record. (Clearly that season was a success... right?)
The Canadian native is one of the greatest Bruins in franchise history. He's not on the level of players like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, or Ray Bourque, but he certainly made his mark on the franchise during his lengthy tenure with the team.
Bergeron was a big part of some of the Bruins' most successful seasons in history. He ranks third in franchise history in games played (1,294), goals (427), and points (1,040). He also ranks fourth in assists (613).
While nothing is official just yet, there are reasons to think the soon-to-be 41-year-old is also about to head for the Hockey Hall of Fame this year (I guess we'll officially find out on Monday, but it would be a bit of a surprise if he doesn't get in). Bergeron made an impact on the game, and given that he did it all in a Bruins uniform, it's only fitting that the team gives him the honor of retiring his jersey number, which is reserved for the best of the best.
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