Patrice Bergeron spoke exclusively to The Hockey News about his retirement, 100 years of Bruins hockey, conversations with captain Brad Marchand — and dentist appointments.
BOSTON – The Boston Bruins, who are 8-8-3 through their first 19 games, have been undergoing some early-season struggles. But former captain Patrice Bergeron said "sometimes it takes a little longer to adjust" for the new players to adjust playing together.The Bruins legend, who remains close with the team even though he retired a year ago after 19 seasons with the Black & Gold, has been paying close attention to his former team, while keeping busy with his dad duties. Bergeron remains as humble as always, but his focus these days is his family.
He spent a few minutes recently with The Hockey News, discussing retirement, 100 years of Bruins hockey, conversations with captain Brad Marchand — and dentist appointments.The Hockey News: Well, Patrice, let’s get right to it. What do you think of the current state of the team at this point of the season?BERGERON: Right now, they have a lot of new guys, a lot of guys who are coming from different teams and sometimes it takes a little longer to adjust, or come together as a team, but they’ve shown a lot of great things through some stretches. They have a good team that I really believe in with a lot of experience with guys I played with and know what they’re all about. I believe in them.THN: The Bruins have struggled to start the season. You’ve been through similar situations like this during your career, so how important is it for the players to grind through, knowing the team has the potential and better things are yet to come?BERGERON: Sticking together and try to fix the things you feel like, as a team, you need to work on and fix, but also build from the good things and don’t listen to whatever is on the outside. Work together as a team to get better and create the results you want to get. THN: Obviously, you and Brad Marchand are close. What kind of conversations have you had with him, or what advice have you given him during his second season as captain?
BERGERON: We talk. We do have conversations, but it’s not necessarily just about hockey; it’s about life. We’re great friends with families, so at times we’ll talk about hockey, but he’s done such a great job, so he doesn’t need me or anyone else to help him along the way. We obviously both love the game so much that eventually we’ll talk hockey, which is a great thing to do to pick other peoples’ brain, guys he’s been around and I’m one of them, but he’s handled it tremendously well and I’m proud of him. THN: Speaking of other guys, Marchand’s been around, there’s an impressive alumni game coming up with a star-studded lineup of mostly players from the 2011 Stanley Cup team, including yourself, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell, Adam McQuaid, Tuukka Rask, Andrew Ference and Tim Thomas. How pumped are you to be back on the ice with all those guys?BERGERON: I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a lot of fun just to see the guys and be able to hang out for a couple days, do dinner and it’ll be a nice little 24-hour plus get-together. THN: The game will also feature Bruins alumni Kevan Miller, Andrew Alberts, PJ Stock, Mark Mowers, Bryan Smolinski and Tim Schaller. It will benefit the Warrior for Life Fund and will be played Dec. 7 at Warrior Ice Arena. How did this event come together?BERGERON: Kevan Miller was the one who made it happen. He’s connected with Warrior for Life Fund and we’re playing that game for that charity and the SEALS, so he wanted to find a way to do some sort of small reunion, but also do it for a great cause. I thought it was a great idea to try to bring some of the guys back for a quick weekend and have fun with it. THN: The ’11 Stanley Cup-winning team participated in a bit of a reunion during COVID on Zoom in 2021 and was made available to fans. It went viral and was hilarious, so how often does the group stay connected?
BERGERON: That group text is still kicking. Guys are still involved on it, having a good laugh and chirping each other. We’ve talked about doing a reunion, getting together somewhere at some point, but it seems like there’s always something that gets in the way. This charity game on Dec. 7 will be good to do it and hopefully as many guys can make it. Sometimes if you wait for the perfect moment, it’s just not going to happen. I hope we’re going to be able to have another reunion at some point in the near future, but until then I’ll enjoy the group chat and that game on Dec. 7. THN: The Bruins will complete a year-long celebration on Dec. 1, honoring the organization’s Centennial. It’s only fitting the Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden, so how much fun has it been to celebrate 100 years of Bruins hockey?BERGERON: It’s going to be amazing. Just the fact that it’s 100 years of the franchise is pretty historical. We always talk about the Bruins being an Original Six and the history behind the logo and organization and the players who have been through the organization, they’re legends, and it’s pretty special. To say that I was a very small part of that and be able to experience being a Boston Bruin is something I’ll never forget. I’m looking forward to that game, especially against Montreal. I think it’s very fitting we’re going to end the Centennial Year against the Montreal Canadiens. THN: A “very small part,” Patrice? Bruins fans would say you had a much bigger impact on this organization during your career. Why do you think that way?BERGERON: I don’t know. There are too many instrumental players and things that have happened over 100 years, so to say I had a big part in it I’d say ‘definitely not.’ I feel privileged just to be part of it. THN: Let’s discuss the future. You’ve hinted that you would want to come back and serve some role with the organization once your children are older. How much have you thought about coming back in some capacity?
BERGERON: I love hockey and eventually I would like to get involved, or at least try and see how I like it, but for now it’s definitely family first. It’s my priority. My wife’s back in school and that’s something she’s wanted to do as a goal and a dream for herself, so it’s great for the kids to see both of parents [accomplishing] their passions in life and it’s a great example for them. I’ll be here to support her and be there for my family. Once that slows down, I guess, in a few years from now I’ll have time to think about what I really want to do. Eventually, of course, I would want to do something [in the game]. I don’t know what yet, but we’ll see. Slowly but surely, I trust life that it’ll happen when I’m ready, but for now I’m going to appreciate every moment with family. THN: You have been on NESN with Andrew Raycroft and Tuukka Rask as part of the new broadcast called “Unobstructed Views” and it’s been getting great reviews. How does it feel to be on our side of the game now?BERGERON: It’s fun. It’s definitely a different type of show. There’s no structure with Tuuks and Razor, who are two great guys and friends, so they definitely make it a lot easier. They’re the ones who talked to me about it. I was on the fence, but the fact that I’m doing it with them I thought let’s try it. It doesn’t hurt to try. I should be open to whatever. When you say you don’t like something, or don’t try it, to me it doesn’t make sense. You should at least try and see if you like it and go from there. I really enjoy it. It’s once a month, so it’s not taxing for the family’s schedule. It’s a perfect situation to experience it and have fun with it.THN: You’ve also had an impressive international career, winning two Olympic gold medals, a World Championship, a World Junior Championship, a Spengler Cup, along with the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team Canada. The 4 Nations Face-Off will be coming to Boston in February, so what do you think about the NHL hosting this type of championship again?BERGERON: It’s great. It’s how it should be. I’ve always been for these types of tournaments. It’s important for the game. It’s important for the players. It only helps the league, too, to grow the game and helping other people appreciate it, having best-on-best tournaments. I feel very blessed I was able to experience myself and I’m happy other guys of a new generation will have that chance.
