In a move that was merely a matter of time, the Bruins announced Thursday morning that they’ll be retiring Patrice Bergeron’s #37 during the 2026-2027 season.
Bergeron’s jersey retirement comes on the heels of the B’s retiring Zdeno Chara’s #33 last season, and the Bergeron honor likely isn’t the last one from that golden (modern) era of Bruins hockey.
The B’s released the graphic below along with their announcement, one that they’ll use to promote the retirement in the run-up to the actual ceremony:
The graphic has plenty of nice details, including a silhouette of the Selke Trophy at the top and six gold stars, a nod to his six Selke Trophy wins.
The image of Bergeron used in the graphic comes from a famous photo of what was arguably Bergeron’s most memorable Bruins goal, the game-winning OT goal in Game 7 against Toronto back in 2013.
Bergeron was a lifetime Bruin, spending his entire 19-season NHL career in Boston. He was drafted by the B’s in 2003, making his NHL debut at just 18 years old.
Over the course of his career, Bergeron played 1,294 regular season games for the Bruins, recording 427G-613A-1,040PTS totals.
It’s worth noting that those totals would likely be significantly higher had Bergeron not missed the equivalent of just about a full season between 2007-2009 as he dealt with the effects of multiple concussions, most notably the one that came via a dirty hit by Randy Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Bergeron also had 119 points (44G-75A) over the course of 163 playoff games.
One of the most complete two-way players of his generation, Bergeron was recently inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame, and an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame isn’t far off.
From a press release from the Bruins:
“To have my number retired by the Boston Bruins is an honor that is difficult to put into words,” said Patrice Bergeron. “When I arrived in Boston as an 18-year-old, I could never have imagined receiving this recognition one day. I have always believed that any success I had was only possible because of the people around me. I was fortunate to play alongside incredible teammates, learn from outstanding coaches and staff and be supported by an organization that believed in me from the very beginning. I am especially grateful to my family for the sacrifices they made that allowed me to pursue my dream. This honor belongs to all of them as much as it belongs to me. To Bruins fans across New England, thank you for welcoming a young French Canadian and making this place feel like home. Every time I stepped onto the ice, I felt the privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing the Spoked-B, and I always tried to represent this organization and community the right way. I am deeply humbled and grateful to be connected to the history of the Boston Bruins. To know that No. 37 will forever be part of that history is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Bergeron’s #37 will be the 14th number retired by the Bruins.
The date and time for the retirement ceremony hasn’t been set yet, but will likely be announced as we get closer to the start of next season.
If you want to experience a wave of nostalgia, here’s a sampling of highlights from Bergeron’s storied career:
