Bruins retiring Patrice Bergeron's No. 37 next season

The Boston Bruins will honor former captain Patrice Bergeron by retiring the forward's No. 37 next season.

The date and time of the number retirement ceremony will be shared at a later date, the team said Thursday.

Bergeron, 40, played his entire 19-season career with Boston (2003-04, 2005-23), winning a Stanley Cup in 2011 and collecting the Selke Trophy six times as the NHL's top defensive forward.

"Patrice was the kind of rare, generational talent that every team wanted," said Jeremy M. Jacobs, Bruins owner and governor. "He was a deftly skilled playmaker and the undeniable greatest defensive forward in the NHL's history. But it was the leadership he provided on the ice and in the locker room that made him truly stand apart and an all-time legend of the Boston Bruins."

Bergeron also won the 2012-13 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian work and the 2020-21 Mark Messier Leadership Award.

The Quebec native ranks third in Bruins history in games (1,294), points (1,040) and goals (427) and fourth in assists (613). He was a second-round draft pick by Boston in 2003.

"To have my number retired by the Boston Bruins is an honor that is difficult to put into words," Bergeron said. "When I arrived in Boston as an 18-year-old, I could never have imagined receiving this recognition one day. I have always believed that any success I had was only possible because of the people around me. I was fortunate to play alongside incredible teammates, learn from outstanding coaches and staff and be supported by an organization that believed in me from the very beginning.

"I am especially grateful to my family for the sacrifices they made that allowed me to pursue my dream. This honor belongs to all of them as much as it belongs to me. To Bruins fans across New England, thank you for welcoming a young French Canadian and making this place feel like home. Every time I stepped onto the ice, I felt the privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing the Spoked-B, and I always tried to represent this organization and community the right way. I am deeply humbled and grateful to be connected to the history of the Boston Bruins. To know that No. 37 will forever be part of that history is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Bergeron's number will be the 14th to be retired by the Bruins.

"Throughout his 20 years with the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron was the ultimate professional, demonstrating a unique blend of leadership, integrity, humility and class," Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said. "Patrice consistently set the standard on and off the ice, becoming one of the best players in the game while demonstrating for the next generation what it meant to be a Bruin. As one of the greatest to ever wear the Black and Gold, it is only fitting that his No. 37 makes its way to the Garden rafters."

--Field Level Media