Bergeron's Legacy
Boston Bruins will retire Patrice Bergeron's No. 37 during 2026-27 season
Key Points
Bruins owner/governor Jeremy Jacobs’ announcement package also recaps Bergeron’s early rise: he was Boston’s second-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft (from the QMJHL), broke camp to make the 2003-04 roster, and produced 16 goals and 39 points in 71 games as a rookie—followed by four playoff points in seven games.
The Bruins’ materials highlight a key mid-career obstacle and turnaround: Bergeron’s 2007-08 season was cut short when a head injury ended it after 10 games, and he later returned for 2008-09, posting 39 points in 64 games as he worked back toward his earlier scoring pace.
MassLive reports Bergeron is “expected to be honored as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s next induction class” when that class is announced, and notes his Selke streak’s sixth win came in 2023 (his final season).
A separate Bruins-focused analysis notes Bergeron remained involved with the club post-retirement, including appearances at practices during the 2025-26 season and hosting an NESN show with Andrew Raycroft and Tuukka Rask—adding context for how the franchise may keep him visible after the ceremony.
The Boston Bruins will retire Patrice Bergeron's No. 37 during the 2026-27 NHL season, the team officially announced on June 18, making him the 14th player in franchise history to have his number raised to the TD Garden rafters. Reuters confirmed the ceremony will take place next season, though a specific date has not yet been set.
Bergeron, who retired in July 2023 after 19 seasons and 1,294 games — all with Boston — called the honor deeply personal. "The relationship I've built with the people of New England and Bruins fans worldwide is something I will cherish forever," he said in a statement issued through the club. "This honor is as much theirs as it is mine."
From Second-Round Pick to Franchise Icon
Bergeron's path began when the Bruins selected him 45th overall in the 2003 NHL Draft out of Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL. He was just 18 years old. Against expectations, he made the opening night roster and posted 16 goals and 39 points in 71 games as a rookie — finishing as the youngest player in the NHL that season, according to The Big Lead.
His rise hit a hard wall in 2007-08. A grade-three concussion from a hit by Randy Jones ended his season after just 10 games and threatened his career. He fought back, posting 39 points in 64 games the following year. By 2011, he scored two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver, helping Boston end a 39-year championship drought. He finished that playoff run with 20 points in 23 games.
Six Selke Trophies and a Record No One Else Holds
Bergeron won the Frank J. Selke Trophy — awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward — six times: in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023. No player in NHL history has won it more. He finished his career with 427 goals, 613 assists, and 1,040 points, all ranking third in Bruins franchise history, according to WABI TV.
He was named the 20th captain in Bruins history in January 2021, following Zdeno Chara's departure. Chara, whose No. 33 was retired last season, appeared in the announcement video for Bergeron's honor — a deliberate nod to the back-to-back retirements closing out the club's 2011 championship era, per The Big Lead.
Hall of Fame Induction Expected to Follow Later This Year
The jersey retirement is timed to align with another major honor. MassLive reports Bergeron is "expected to be honored as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame's next induction class" when the 2026 class is announced. The Bruins' ceremony is set to serve as a local celebration following the national induction in Toronto.
Bergeron's agent, Kent Hughes — now the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens — described him as a leader who was ahead of his time, according to The Boston Herald. Hughes was with Bergeron from the very start of his career and watched him transform the Bruins' locker room culture alongside Chara through the mid-2000s and into a championship run.
Bergeron Stays Close to Boston After Hanging Up His Skates
Retirement has not meant a quiet exit. Bergeron attended Bruins practices during the 2025-26 season and co-hosts an NESN show alongside former teammates Andrew Raycroft and Tuukka Rask. The Bruins are leaning into that visibility as a way to connect a rebuilding roster with the franchise's recent championship past.
Secondary market ticket projections suggest retirement night prices could triple the average 2026-27 face value, making it one of the most valuable regular-season gates in TD Garden history. A ceremony date will be announced once the NHL releases its 2026-27 schedule. Bergeron will become the 14th number retired by the club — joining legends like Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, and Cam Neely in the rafters.
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