Patrice Bergeron Officially Retires
It appears that season number 19 will be the last one for Patrice Bergeron. The long time Bruins center will go down as one of the greatest players in NHL history. Boston’s captain has officially announced his retirement.
The announcement can be found on NHL.com:
“For the last 20 years I have been able to live my dream every day. I have had the honor of playing in front of the best fans in the world wearing the Bruins uniform and representing my country at the highest levels of international play. I have given the game everything that I have physically and emotionally, and the game has given me back more than I could have ever imagined.”
“It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player.”
The retirement speech is also written in French so Bergeron did double the work. It’s a really, really long announcement. He thanked just about everyone that he’s ever known in his life.
When you win the Selke Trophy six times maybe you get away with this but the news of retirement should have come directly after the Stanley Finals. Boston got knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. He’s had all the time in the world to make a decision. It’s kinda held Boston hostage as to what they’re going to do to replace him. If Boston takes the ice tomorrow, Charlie Coyle is your first line center. Yikes…
Bergeron, 38, was the consummate pro. He always took less because he wanted to win. Bergeron will go in the books as a Stanley Cup champion while carrying career 58.9% win rate in the faceoff circle. One of the best two way centers the game has ever seen and still at the top of his game even at an advanced age. The Bruins can’t replace him. That’s the truth.
