Maybe he will operate a marathon. He in all probability will not likely be coaching. For now, Patrice Bergeron is content to be the "Uber driver for the household," and which is a really very good sensation.

"It’s been an amazing experience, 20 many years, but also hockey provides you a whole lot of pressure and worry," he reported on Wednesday at a TD Backyard garden news meeting a day after he declared his retirement. "So, it will be a great change to just be ready to be the Uber driver for the family for a very little bit and just rest."

A quickly-to-be Corridor of Famer who centered the initial line on the very best crew in hockey during his ultimate year, Bergeron declared on Tuesday that he would not return future year.

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Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins waves to admirers before exiting the ice soon after Florida Panthers defeat the Bruins 4-3 in additional time of Match 7 of the Initial Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Back garden on April 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs)

It was not that his skills have been slipping: He gained his 2nd straight Selke Trophy as the league's prime forward— and sixth over-all — and led the Bruins to the most wins and most factors in NHL heritage. But his need to put together for the game titles was.

"It was using a whole lot lengthier now. I couldn’t just put the devices on and jump on the ice," he stated.

"I wished to perform the activity at the best degree that I could, and felt like I needed to variety of leave on leading of my match," Bergeron informed a accumulating of reporters, with associates from possession and the front office also in attendance for the news convention in the aptly named Legends restaurant. "I just understood it was time."

Bergeron scored 427 plans with 613 helps in 19 seasons with the Bruins, who picked him in the next round of the 2003 draft. He added 50 far more objectives and 78 points in the playoffs, major the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Ultimate a few instances, and scoring 2 times — just one of them brief-handed — in the Activity 7 clincher from Vancouver. The French-speaking native of the Quebec City suburbs also won two Olympic gold medals with Canada.

BRUINS CAPTAIN PATRICE BERGERON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Right after 19 SEASONS IN BOSTON

Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins hugs Brad Marchand #63 before exiting the ice just after Florida Panthers defeat the Bruins 4-3 in overtime of Match Seven of the Very first Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Yard on April 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Illustrations or photos)

Bruins president Cam Neely said the team hadn't produced any plans but to honor their former captain, but retiring his No. 37 is "a no-brainer." "We’ll figure out a time to do that," Neely stated.

The front office environment and coaching staff members will also discuss the new captain. Brad Marchand is the longest-tenured member of the roster, and he has worn the alternate's "A" since 2020, when Bergeron was elevated to the captaincy with the departure of Zdeno Chara. (Bergeron pointed out that Chara did not specifically enable himself go, managing the Boston Marathon last calendar year.)

Neely said he and the relaxation of the Bruins management experimented with to discuss Bergeron out of retiring, with no luck.

"The recurring topic was normally that you’re likely to know when it’s time. And it just felt like it was," Bergeron mentioned. "I’m a quite intuitive dude. I feel like I generally listen to my instincts and my coronary heart, and it just felt like it was time for me to transfer on. Sad to say, I would like I could perform permanently and never have to do this. But, as you know, inevitably you have to move on. The overall body tells you a thing in some cases."

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Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) hug after Sport 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-spherical playoff collection, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. The Bruins gained 3-1.  (WHD Picture/Nick Wass)

Bergeron, 38, led the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship and two other outings to the Remaining. He regarded retirement previous summer months, but came back on a 1-yr deal and served Boston get the Presidents Trophy with the NHL's most effective history ever.

But following a 1st-spherical decline in the playoffs, while, he went by way of the thought course of action all over again.

"When the wound is new, you just cannot make rational decisions. You have to really make confident you think about matters or at minimum give on your own time to enable it occur to you, and I felt like which is what I did," Bergeron explained. "There was a aspect of me that, certainly, required to come back again early on. ... After I took a step back again and I understood every thing that I was fortunate to encounter and dwell as a hockey participant and as a person, I felt incredibly fortunate and grateful."

Bergeron didn’t spend a lot time reminiscing about his occupation highlights. But he was requested about 1 second that proved to be formative: The concussion that finished his 2007-08 time right after 10 video games and still left him appreciating the sport even a lot more.

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Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins skates towards the Vancouver Canucks through the initially time period at the TD Yard on November 13, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 5-2. (Richard T Gagnon/Getty Visuals)

"Factors materialize for a reason," he said. "Of class, I’d like to adjust that moment, but at the same time I wouldn’t due to the fact it created me stronger and manufactured me notice how grateful I am and grateful to be ready to play. It took that away from me for quite some time, so for every single time in more durable days or puppy times of wintertime when it is dark, I always attempt to go and value follow, or a work out, or naturally the games. So it’s taught me a lot."

Bergeron's retirement brought tributes from the Boston locker place and across the league.

"What you’ve built listed here is special," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy mentioned in a video posted by the staff. "I promise I’ll do anything I can to take treatment of it. I enjoy you. I know we’ll be mates without end, and I want to desire you the finest of luck in your subsequent chapter with your attractive loved ones."