(Boston) The training of the Boston Bruins draws to a close this Wednesday afternoon, in their grandiose complex on the outskirts of the city. A short exercise, the day after their 54e win of the season.
The session ends like everywhere else with stretching in the center of the ice rink. Quebecer AJ Greer is the lucky one in the middle of the circle, perhaps a harbinger of a return on Thursday, who knows.
The stretches finished, Patrice Bergeron begins his tour. He goes to each player, one after the other, for a fist-to-fist. Both goalies get some good slashing on the pads, and the aforementioned Greer gets a little more love than the rest.
“When you get older, you appreciate the little things even more,” Bergeron explained to the two Montreal journalists present in the Bruins locker room afterwards. I often talk about staying in the present moment. This year, it is a pleasure to come to the arena every day. »
A chapter in Bruins history could close this year.
Bergeron refuses to comment on his future, but the fact that he is now playing under a one-year contract, signed a month from the start of training camps, is a reminder that the Quebecer is now going. one year at a time. Ditto for his teammate David Krejci, whose return was also announced on August 8, also with a one-year contract.
PHOTO BY DERIK HAMILTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
David Krejci
At 37 and 36 respectively, Bergeron and Krejci come to the 7e and 10e ranks among the NHL’s oldest forwards. Like Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr 50 years ago, they will be associated with a Bruins golden age. Since teaming up, they’ve led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011, two more finals in 2013 and 2019.
Bergeron established himself in the NHL in 2003, and Krejci joined him full-time in 2008. Since then, the Bruins have reached the 1er ranked in the league with a .649 record, ahead of the Washington Capitals (.638) and Pittsburgh Penguins (.634). In the playoffs, only the Lightning (95) have won more games than the Bruins (90).
Their impact on the group is immense. The respect, the professionalism, the way they help others be better… The Bruins have had success and it’s because of them. They created a culture and my work is facilitated by these two guys.
Jim Montgomery, Bruins head coach
Bergeron and Krejci have only known the Bruins in the NHL. Krejci left Boston last season, but it was to play at home in the Czech Republic.
A parallel with Montreal
Tom Brady, Kiss and Jacques Rougeau have announced their retirement before reconsidering their decision. In the Bruins locker room, however, we are not counting on such an outcome.
Their teammates seem well aware that this 2022-2023 season could be the last of the two centers.
“I’ve been thinking about it since the beginning of the year,” said Charlie McAvoy. It’s important not to waste time trying to be present at all times, not knowing what their plans are. If it’s their last season, it has to be as special as possible.
“So we want to play for those two, because of what they mean to this city and this team. They’re two guys who raise everyone’s level of motivation. »
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Bruins at practice Wednesday
“Nobody wants to let them down. It could be their last year and we are aware of the pressure they impose on themselves, adds striker Pavel Zacha, compatriot of Krejci. They accept this pressure and try to help everyone achieve the common goal. »
The situation is reminiscent of the Canadiens of the shortened 2021 season. From the outside, it was hard to believe that the end of Carey Price and Shea Weber was so close, but their teammates seemed to understand that they could offer a retirement gift to the two veterans. And that’s how a not-exactly-the-best-on-paper team got to three Stanley Cup wins.
The circumstances here are different, mainly because the two veterans in question don’t have a valid contract until 2026, but the spirit is oddly similar.
A captain who takes responsibility
Anyway, if Bergeron and Krejci are on their last miles, it doesn’t show on the ice.
Bergeron is keeping up the pace offensively (55 points in 70 games) and heading for a sixth Selke Trophy (top defensive forward) if we are to believe informal polls conducted by colleague Greg Wyshynski of ESPN since the start of the season. Krejci has 54 points in 64 games.
Bergeron also assumes his responsibilities as captain with the expected aplomb. Pavel Zacha knows something about it. The forward was traded from the New Jersey Devils to the Bruins on July 13. At that time, Bergeron had not yet announced his intentions for the coming season, but the Quebecer had nevertheless been “the first” to text him, and called him the next day.
“When he texted me, I asked him what his plans were and he didn’t know yet. It was announced a month or two later. He hadn’t told me much. Even if he hadn’t come back, I would have been glad to have had that call from a leader like him. It was nice that he thought of texting and calling me. »
The thrills of the coach
PHOTO CHARLES KRUPA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery
With 54 wins and 12 games to go, the Bruins are on course for one of the best seasons in NHL history. The 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning and the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings share the single-season win record (62), a mark the 1976-77 Canadiens, author of 60 triumphs, previously held. Tampa Bay and Detroit, remember, however, had not won the Stanley Cup, or even reached the final. “Our goal is the playoffs,” wisely reminded Patrice Bergeron. Jim Montgomery, head coach of the Bruins who grew up in Montreal, however flinched when the brother of the Montreal Journal Jean-François Chaumont reminded him that the Bruins could overtake the Canadian of Lafleur, Shutt and Nyrop. “Now that you mention it, I get chills thinking about it,” Montgomery admitted. It’s racking up wins at a pace that few teams have achieved. Are we going to succeed? That would be good. Are we going to chase after the record? No. But if we play the right way and stay true to our process, it should happen. »
Guillaume Lefrancois, The Press