Is Patrice Bergeron retiring? Bruins captain’s career status up in the air after early playoff exit

By | April 30, 2023
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There is a possibility that Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron has played in his final game. 

Bergeron and his Boston club were eliminated by Florida in the first round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, as the Panthers stunned the Bruins in Game 7 of their first-round series.

While many of the questions in the postgame were about Boston’s historic collapse, much of the discourse surrounding the end of the Bruins’ season is about the future of Bergeron. 

There was speculation last year about a potential Bergeron retirement given his free agency status and his age. However, he re-signed on a one-year deal with the club, coming back on a mission to bring another Cup to Boston. 

MORE: Bruins loss to Panthers extends Presidents’ Trophy curse

The Bruins were unable to get Bergeron his second Stanley Cup, and the same question from last summer arises again. 

Is Patrice Bergeron retiring?

Bergeron said after the Game 7 loss that he is going to take a step back and discuss with his family before making a decision on his NHL future. 

“Take some time, talk with the family, go from there,” Bergeron said after the game “Right no it’s hard to process anything. We’re shocked and disappointed. So that’s it.”

Bruins forward Brad Marchand, who has played the majority of his career as Bergeron’s left wing, was also asked about his longtime teammate as well. 

“Regardless of what he decides to do, our bond will last a lifetime,” Marchand said. “It’s just something we’ve built here for years.”

Bergeron’s one-year contract expires at the end of this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

How old is Patrice Bergeron?

Bergeron is 37 years old. He will turn 38 this summer. 

Bergeron was among the oldest players in the league this year. Craig Anderson, 41, was the oldest NHLer to play in the 2022-23 season. 

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