The retirement of Patrice Bergeron is going to have a significant impact on the Boston Bruins this upcoming season and several years to come.
His absence will be felt on the ice, particularly on defense, but even more so in the locker room. Despite only officially being the Bruins Captain for three seasons, he was a de-facto co-Captain with Zdeno Chara for many more.
With training camp on the horizon, Boston has yet to name a successor, and the topic has been the subject of debate.
There are several candidates on the roster heading into 2023-24 who could fill the role.
Let’s take a look at the potential successors to try and answer the question: Who will be the next Captain of the Boston Bruins?
The Most Likely Candidate // Brad Marchand
With both Bergeron & Krejci’s retirements, Marchand is now the longest-tenured member of the Bruins. Marchand has played his entire career in Boston since being drafted in 2006 and debuting in 2010. He’s the last active Bruin to stay with the club since the 2011 Cup run and is still a premier playmaker.
Despite his early reputation as a pest, he grew out of those habits and became Bergeron’s Alternate Captain for three years. There really isn’t another player on the roster with a resume like his for the vacant role.
The Next in Lines // Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak
Both McAvoy and Pasta are cornerstone pieces of the Bruins for years to come. Each was drafted and developed in-house into an elite player at their respective positions. Both are signed to long-term extensions and have sported an “A” on their jersey from time to time.
They each have compelling arguments to be given the Captaincy to usher in the new era of Bruins hockey. At least one is guaranteed to assume the role before their contracts expire.
The Dark Horse // Brandon Carlo
Carlo has been on the Bruins for much longer than most people realize. Since his debut in 2016, he’s already played 478 games across seven seasons in Boston.
Carlo has filled in as an alternate captain on a handful of occasions and is the team’s Players Union Representative. He quietly has a strong resume of his own and could be a full-time alternate very soon.
Unlikely, but not Impossible // Milan Lucic
Lucic has always been a fan favorite during his first run in Boston and was brought back for veteran leadership. Over his years in Edmonton and Calgary, he grew into a locker room mentorship role as his ice time dwindled.
It would be an interesting curveball for Lucic to be awarded the “C’ for this upcoming season, but it wouldn’t come as the biggest surprise either.
Photo: Getty Images
