With Patrice Bergeron recently announcing his retirement and David Krejci possibly doing the same, it made me think back to some of the greatest Boston Bruins I remember being able to watch play. Below is my list of the greatest Bruins I’ve had the pleasure of watching play!
*This list is compiled with players who I can actually remember watching play on the ice. It does not include players that played during my lifetime that I can’t remember playing.
10. Charlie McAvoy
Apr 13, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) prepares for a face off against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Some may feel that Charlie McAvoy is too young to make this list. However, through just six NHL seasons and seven Stanley Cup Playoff runs McAvoy has already proven his worth to being one of the greatest players I’ve seen wear the spoked-B. From watching McAvoy make his NHL debut in the 2017 playoffs and immediately making an impact, to him evolving into one of the best defenseman in the NHL, the 2016 first round pick is one of my favorites to ever wear a Boston Bruins jersey.
9. Milan Lucic
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 27: Nathan Horton #18 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Milan Lucic #17 after Horton scored the winning goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 27, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Milan Lucic made an immediate impact with the Bruins when he made his NHL debut in 2007-08 as the big power forward was a prototypical big, bad Bruin. Lucic played a major role in helping the team become a contender and ultimately win the Stanley Cup in 2011. His consistency of being one of the best power forwards in the NHL from 2007-2015 made him one of the best Bruins I’ve ever seen in my life.
8. Joe Thornton
SUNRISE, FL – FEBRUARY 1: Joe Thornton #19 of the Boston Bruins is introduced during the NHL All-Star SuperSkills competition at the Office Depot Center on February 1, 2003 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)
Joe Thornton didn’t spend too many years as a member of the Boston Bruins from what I can remember, but what I remember from Thornton helps him make my list. Thornton was the best forward on the team when I started watching games and him being traded broke me as a kid. I wish the prime years of Jumbo Joe were in Boston, but he’s still one of the best players I’ve seen in the black and gold
7. Tuukka Rask
May 10, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) handles the puck during the first period against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
If Tuukka won a Stanley Cup as a starter he’d be much higher on this list. I’ll defend any Tuukka Rask wall that I can defend, but the reality is that he never won it all as a starter. However, he has the most wins all time by a Boston Bruins goalie and he was consistently one of the best goalies in the NHL for almost a decade. He also played a pivotal role in 2010-11 by being an extremely reliable backup for Tim Thomas, who was a 37-year-old goalie that was coming off hip surgery. Rask will forever be one of the greatest goalies in Bruins history and one of the best Bruins I have ever seen.
6. David Pastrnak
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 30: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Brandon Carlo #25 after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The greatest goal scoring Boston Bruin I’ve seen in my lifetime. David Pastrnak has been a goal scoring machine and one of the best offensive producing forwards in the NHL in recent seasons. The 2014 first round pick has been worth the high selection in Boston.
5. Tim Thomas
Apr 22, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30) makes a glove save in the overtime period against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs at Verizon Center. Boston won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The 2011 Stanley Cup run by Tim Thomas will forever be remembered by Bruins fans who were along for the ride. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner was unreal between 2008-2012 in the black and gold and will go down as one of the greatest players I’ve seen in Boston.
4. David Krejci
Dec 9, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
David Krejci has been one of the more under-appreciated Boston Bruins of my lifetime. Krejci was a reliable top-6 in Boston for parts of 16 seasons. He also led the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring during the 2011 run to a Stanley Cup victory and in 2013 where the team fell just two wins short of a cup. I’m not convinced his number will go up in the TD Garden rafters, but he is without a doubt one of the best Bruins I’ve ever seen play.
3. Brad Marchand
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 26: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 26, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
I don’t think I ever envisioned Brad Marchand being the player he became. After 20 games during the 2009-10 season, Marchand carved out a full-time role in Boston during the 2010-11 season and went on to become one of the best Bruins in history. From being one of the biggest pests in the league to producing at or near a point per game rate, Marchand has been one of the greatest Boston Bruins of this recent generation. I also feel that he should become the next captain of the Boston Bruins.
2. Zdeno Chara
VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 15: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Seven of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4 to 0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Zdeno Chara was signed in the 2006 offseason by the Boston Bruins and immediately became the captain of the club. Chara would go on to change up the culture of the Bruins locker room with his leadership and helped make the team in to what it is today. Along with being a leader off the ice, he was one of the best defensemen in the NHL during his 14 seasons in Boston. With a Stanley Cup and a Norris Trophy, along with 14 years of solid play and captaincy in Boston, Chara will go down as one of the greatest Boston Bruins of my lifetime.
1. Patrice Bergeron
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 26: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 26, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
I don’t think this one needs too much describing. Third all time in team history in points. An NHL record six Selke’s as the leagues best defensive forward. A Stanley Cup in 2011. A leader on and off the ice in Boston for two decades. Patrice Bergeron is one of the greatest Bruins in the 100 year history of the team and he’s the greatest Boston Bruin that I can remember in my lifetime.
