It’s been two weeks since the initial report from Joe McDonald that Patrice Bergeron was planning to return to the Bruins for the 2022-23 season, but there has not yet been any official word from Bergeron or the Bruins.
On Wednesday, general manager Don Sweeney and team president Cam Neely met with reporters in Montreal ahead of the NHL Draft, but still weren’t ready to officially confirm Bergeron’s return.
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In a quote tweeted out by the team, Sweeney said his conversations with Bergeron “have gone well,” that they’re “excited that he’s considering playing,” and that there’s “a positive mindset.”
The pessimist might wonder what’s taking so long and note that “considering playing” is not a confirmation that he’s actually coming back. The optimist would point out that this still sounds pretty positive overall, that Sweeney is not going to officially announce anything until Bergeron wants to, and that an official announcement probably won’t come until a contract is finalized.
For his part, Neely said he is also "starting to feel a little more confident that he’s leaning in the direction we want him to lean in."
Bergeron is not the only veteran center Bruins fans are waiting to hear from. David Krejci has left the door open to possibly returning to the NHL and the Bruins after taking a year away to play at home in the Czech Republic.
Sweeney was also asked about Krejci. He said he has been in touch and that those conversations have also “gone well,” but that Krejci is still deciding what he wants to do.
That last part -- “if we’re gonna be the place that he chooses” -- could mean that Krejci is considering other NHL teams, or it could mean he’s just considering another year in the Czech Republic. After the 2020-21 season, Krejci said he wasn’t interested in playing for another NHL team, but it’s possible things have changed.
That would be discouraging news for the Bruins if they have, because another team would almost certainly be able to offer Krejci more money than Boston could. The Bruins currently have just $2.38 million in cap space, and that’s even before an expected new deal for Bergeron. They will need to free up money if they plan to make any additions, including Krejci.
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