Bruins addressing roster, unsure of Bergeron, Krejci plans next season

NASHVILLE -- The Boston Bruins are operating under the assumption that centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will not return next season, president Cam Neely said Tuesday.

"We've got to really plan that they're not coming back until we hear otherwise," Neely said.

Bergeron and Krejci can become unrestricted free agents July 1, but both are taking time to decide if they're going to return to the Bruins or retire.

General Manager Don Sweeney said the Bruins will have a place for them if they decide they want to play next season and will welcome them back at any point.

"We would not be doing the organization a service if we planned that they are coming back and then we're told that they're not," Neely said. "For us it's kind of going down two paths. Hopefully we'll hear something soon, but we certainly want to give those guys the time that they need.

"We've been very open. We've told them, 'We understand you're going to take some time to make decisions, but we have to do our jobs too.'"

Bergeron, who is 37, and Krejci, 36, also contemplated retirement last summer before each signed Aug. 8; Bergeron a one-year, $2.5 million contract with an additional $2.5 million in incentive bonus money and Krejci a one-year, $1 million contract with $2 million in performance bonus incentives.

They helped the Bruins set NHL records for most wins (65) and points (135) in a season. However, Boston lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round.

Bergeron had 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 78 regular-season games and one goal in three Stanley Cup Playoff games. He won the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL for the sixth time at the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Monday. Krejci had 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 70 games and four points (one goal, three assists) in four playoff games.

They hit their incentive bonuses, which means the Bruins will carry $4.5 million on their NHL salary cap next season.

Sweeney said Bergeron and Krejci are aware of the financial situation the Bruins are in and might have to sign similar contracts to play next season.

"I do believe that both players will be flexible in terms of what it is going to require financially to come back," Sweeney said. "They are fully comprised of how our cap situation is."

Boston cleared $6 million in salary-cap space for the next two seasons by trading forward Taylor Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Forward Nick Foligno also went to Chicago in the trade and he signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Foligno could have become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.

But the Bruins have 14 returning players under contract next season, including six forwards, and are still talking with their pending unrestricted free agents with the possibility that something could be worked out with one or more of them before the market opens.

In addition to Bergeron and Krejci, the list of Boston's pending UFAs includes forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Garnet Hathaway and Tomas Nosek, and defensemen Connor Clifton and Dmitry Orlov.

Goalie Jeremy Swayman, forward Trent Frederic and defenseman Ian Mitchell, who was acquired from the Blackhawks in the trade Monday, are pending restricted free agents.

"They're [Bergeron and Krejci] aware and they know what we're trying to accomplish as an organization," Sweeney said. "They were part of those discussions last year and they will continue to be part of them if they decide to play."

Sweeney said the current plan is to bring back goalies Linus Ullmark and Swayman, but that is subject to change.

"I think we're in a terrific spot if we do decide [to bring both back] and that's what our indications are right now unless something else materializes between now and then," Sweeney said. "I have to do my job as to what might present and the goalie market is an interesting one right now."

Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy voted as the League's best goalie this season. He is signed for two more seasons with a $5 million average annual value. Swayman is coming off his three-year entry-level contract and Sweeney said the Bruins are in discussions with him about a new deal.

"We've clearly indicated that we'd like to find the common ground," Sweeney said. "We know that there's a path of arbitration if it's necessary. It's not the path that either side wants so we'll just continue to talk. It might be the term that may dictate here so it may be shorter, but we're going to explore everything."