Turns out the tearful goodbye between Patrice Bergeron and his Boston Bruins teammates after their loss in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs wasn’t a goodbye after all.
It looks like Bergeron, 36, won’t be retiring just yet. According to a Thursday night tweet from Boston hockey reporter and insider Joe McDonald, Bergeron has decided to return to the Bruins, likely on a one-year contract.
Hearing Patrice Bergeron has decided to probably go back on a one-year contract with the Bruins.
—Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) June 24, 2022
The terms of the agreement are not yet known. But the return of Bergeron, who just set an NHL record by winning his fifth Selke Trophy, could change the dynamics of Boston’s near-term future. The Bruins will open the 2022-23 season minus some of their biggest stars, as top left winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy are set to miss the start of the season after undergoing hip surgery. and shoulder, respectively. Assuming Bergeron retired, it looked like the Bruins would be seriously burnt out to start next season and possibly head for a rebuild, especially after they fired coach Bruce Cassidy despite leading them to six spots. consecutive playoffs. Now, even though they will be further weakened, they will at least have their No. 1 center and captain.
