WILMINGTON — For some Bruins players, the changes in the offseason must have been jarring. It’s not every season the general manager gets fired and two top-six forwards and a top defenseman get traded.
But Patrice Bergeron has lived through upheaval like this before. Even more drastic upheaval, in fact. In his second NHL season (2005-06), franchise center Joe Thornton was traded, GM Mike O’Connell and coach Mike Sullivan were fired and club icon Harry Sinden was kicked upstairs.
Compared to 2005-06, this offseason seems like a simple retooling. But Bergeron knows how to deal with transition, no matter how subtle the moves.