The Bruins’ offseason is just a week old, but it’s likely that what they do this summer will be dictated by Patrice Bergeron’s decision to either stay in Boston or retire from hockey or even play elsewhere.
In the event Bergeron returns for year 19 with the Bruins, Boston’s offseason plan seems pretty straightforward: Equip the roster for one last possible playoff run with the current core.
But if Bergeron leaves, some difficult decisions might be made. Bergeron’s departure would slam the door shut on any hopes the Bruins would have of contending in 2022-23, if they already weren’t shut after their first-round playoff loss.