“I’ll leave if he’s not fired.” Due to their major miscommunication, a key player for the Boston Bruins has stated he will leave the team if his colleague is not dismissed.
On Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Tampa, Florida, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) slapshot past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for a goal. (AP/Chris O’Meara)
You would think there would be a noticeable decline in a team’s performance if your captain, the fourth player in franchise history to record 1,000 career points and a five-time Selke Award winner as the best defensive forward in the NHL, decided to retire.
When center Patrice Bergeron made the decision to give up skating this offseason, who didn’t think that would happen to the Boston Bruins?
However, it doesn’t stop there.
The Bruins will be without their two best centers from the previous campaign with the retirement of center David Krejci. Three players who had combined for 2,519 career points were gone from the Boston Bruins going into this season when you factor in the trade of forward Taylor Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Given the amount of talent that had been cut from the roster, some regression was anticipated, even though the Bruins finished the previous season with an NHL single-season record of 135 points.
Rethink your guess.
The Bruins (13-1-2) lead the Eastern Conference in points (28), having played 16 games. The NHL record for the fewest regulation losses is one. They have an 82-game schedule and are on pace to score 144 points.
Due to the circumstances, practically everyone in the hockey world is shocked to some degree by this explosive start.
nearly all of them.
In a recent phone interview, Bergeron said to NHL.com, “I’m not surprised.” “That locker room’s character is someone I know.” I am familiar with the guys. I am aware of them as capable individuals.
“When they hear “no,” as they have this season, there are guys in there who are constantly in need of a fresh challenge. It’s kind of the way they’re constructed.
Bergeron praised Jim Montgomery, the coach, profusely. Despite their brief season together, he was sufficiently convinced that the coach could make a significant impact.
He remarked, “They’re well coached.” “I have a lot of respect for the way ‘Monty’ handles things and conducts business.
“I’m so thrilled for them. I think it’s fantastic to see, especially with the large number of participants. I believe that what you want to see from a team is how they’re growing and how they’re coming out of their own end.
I inquired as to whether Bergeron was second-guessing his decision to retire from the game less than two months into the campaign.
Regarding missing it, the 38-year-old described it as “kind of weird.” I mean, I thought I was prepared. And the last month or so, I believe, proved that.
“I attended the centennial celebrations and opening night.” As a player, I had experienced numerous opening nights, and I was always nervous. This time, too, I did. I was unsure of how I would respond.
It was not long before he found out.
“I believe I was absent for five to ten minutes before realizing that I couldn’t follow such a strict schedule again. That physical grind is something I don’t think I could handle. My physical form is not here.
Mentally, I believe I was also elsewhere. I spent almost 20 years playing, which is a long time.
Despite this, he questioned whether he should go back because of “unfinished business” after being upset by the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup First Round the previous season. That’s definitely not how he feels anymore.
“I’ll admit you wonder about it when it’s still fresh and raw,” he said. “Do I really want it to end like that?’ is a question you ask yourself. That cannot be how it ends. Not after that heartache. Not after that letdown.
But what about now? Not in a way. You stand back and consider your career from a broad perspective. You are unable to make a decision.
