July 1 has come and gone, and Bruins fans are still waiting to hear if their captain will be back in the black and gold in the fall.
Patrice Bergeron remains an unrestricted free agent as the Bruins await to hear his decision on retirement.
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.
The team fell short, losing in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs after a record-setting regular season. It made for a bitter and stunning end to what was a sensational season in Boston, and an even harder pill to swallow knowing that it might have been Bergeron's final game in a Bruins sweater.
If Bergeron were to retire, it may not be due to Father Time catching up to him. He is coming off his sixth Selke win as the league's best defensive forward, while contributing 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games.
However, Bergeron is 37 years old and revealed at the end of the season that he has a herniated disk in his back. No one would blame the center for hanging up the skates for good, putting an end to an illustrious career.
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The Sporting News is tracking all the latest updates on Bergeron in the offseason.
Is Patrice Bergeron retiring?
There has not been any news on if Bergeron is retiring, or signing another contract with the Bruins.
Bergeron initially said during exit interview at the beginning of May that he wanted to take time to discuss the future with his family, however, he did want to decide before July 1.
No timeline for Bergeron decision. Wants to decide before July 1.
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) May 2, 2023
That didn't happen, as Bergeron remains unsigned, but has not yet announced his retirement.
“I’ve had some conversations with Patrice, he’s taking his time and he’s going to take all the time necessary.," Bruins GM Don Sweeney said. "There’s no pressure from the organization.
"If and when Patrice makes a decision, we’ll respect it and welcome him back."
Bergeron isn't the only veteran center the Bruins are waiting to hear from. David Krejci is in a similar position to Bergeron. He's an unrestricted free agent and at 37 years old, it appears Krejci will either return to Boston, go back and play in the Czech Republic, or retire.
Patrice Bergeron career stats
If Bergeron does decide to hang up the skates for good, he would go down in history as arguably the greatest two-way center to play in the NHL, as well as one of the greatest Bruins of all time.
Bergeron's six Selkes are the most in NHL history and two more than Bob Gainey, who held the record for years. He is a Stanley Cup champion, a three-time All-Star, a King Clancy Memorial Trophy recipient and a Mark Messier Leadership Award winner.
On the international stage, the Quebec native won two Olympic gold medals and one IIHF World Championship gold. Along with the Stanley Cup, that makes Bergeron one of the few members of hockey's "Triple Gold Club." He also earned an IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal.
In Bruins' history, Bergeron ranks third all-time in games played, points and goals. He is fourth in assists, power-play goals and shorthanded goals, while he is second in game-winning goals and shots.
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- | PIM | Shots | GWG |
| 1,294 | 427 | 613 | 1,040 | 289 | 494 | 3,974 | 81 |