Wednesday's announcement that the Bruins had not offered longtime captain Zdeno Chara a new contract, leading to his decision to ink a deal with the Washington Capitals was a shocker to say the least.
Now, with Chara moving on to the next chapter in his career, there really only seems to be one candidate for the Bruins captaincy moving forward. That individual has been wearing an invisible "C" on his sweater for the vast majority of his career in Boston. His leadership qualities are plenty and the example he sets for players both in his own locker room and around the league is shining.
Patrice Bergeron represents the epitome of greatness in the hockey community. An elite 200-foot hockey player who has achieved success at every level. He is a Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a World champion, a World Juniors champion, and a four-time Selke Trophy winner. Now, finally, he is poised to become an NHL captain.
Bergeron was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the 45th pick. In 1,089 regular season NHL games, Bergeron has racked up 869 points. His playoff totals are equally impressive, with 111 points in 149 playoff games.
At 35 years old, Bergeron is poised to get his first kick at the can with a "C" on his sweater, and truthfully, there is no one more deserving of that honour.
Though the official decision has not been made, I fully believe it is just a formality at this point.
