Captain Patrice Bergeron expected to re-sign with Boston Bruins on 1-year deal
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Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron will return for the 2022-23 season likely on a one-year deal, according to multiple sources.
The 36-year-old forward just completed an eight-year deal worth $55 million. After the Bruins lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Bergeron said he would take some time to decide his future.
It’s likely it will be an incentive-laden contract similar to what the Bruins agreed upon with former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. Bergeron earned $6.875 million last season, so it’s likely he’ll earn a similar base salary, including incentives.
Team president Cam Neely was asked about Bergeron’s future at the end of the season.
“He understands that we have decisions to make coming up here. So, with him in the lineup is different than without him,” Neely said. “Obviously, the year that he had, I hope he feels good about his game still, because he had a pretty damn good year. So hopefully he’s mentally prepared to have another one. You’ve got to give him some time to digest all that and talk with his family about it. But we have decisions to make coming up as well.”
Bergeron recently won his record-breaking fifth Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward. In 73 games this past season he scored 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points. Known as one of the best centers of his generation, Bergeron led the NHL with 991 faceoff wins in 2021-22.
During his year-end press availability Bergeron explained he had surgery to repair a tendon in his left elbow soon after the season ended. He said it wouldn’t impact his decision whether or not to return.
Some believe former Bruins forward David Krejci, who played last season in Czech Republic, could return to Boston this season if Bergeron decided to stay. Bruins GM Don Sweeney admitted recently that he has had discussions with Krejci’s representatives and believes the two sides will talk again soon.
The Bruins are currently interviewing candidates for the vacant coaching job. Jim Montgomery, Jay Leach, Joe Sacco, Spencer Carbery and David Quinn are all in the mix.
Bergeron is a future Hall of Famer and his No. 37 will one day hang from the rafters at TD Garden, but it appears those plans are on hold for the near future.
—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Captain Patrice Bergeron expected to re-sign with Boston Bruins on 1-year deal
