The 35-year-old center replaces defenseman Zdeno Chara, who was the longest-tenured captain in the NHL (2006-20) before signing a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on Dec. 30.
"To me, it's to be myself," Bergeron said. "I think leadership is all about making sure you're able to surround yourself with great people, which I am, and also being able to connect with guys and speak from the heart when it's needed, lead by example. I don't think I'm going to change any of that stuff. I think I'm going to try to communicate and make sure we connect as a team and we create something special moving forward. But that being said, I think there's a culture that's been established here for many, many years and there's been tremendous and amazing leaders and captains over the years. There's been a culture that's been in place. We're going to try to carry that on.
"I'm going to try to keep bettering myself and keep learning and leading by example, but also trying to be me. I think that's all I can really do and try to connect with my teammates. It's an historic franchise that's done so much. To be a part of it and actually be named captain is something very special."
Bergeron, who is the 20th captain in Bruins history, is entering his 17th NHL season, all with Boston. Selected in the second round (No. 45) of the 2003 NHL Draft, he was named an alternate captain in 2006 at 21 years old, the same season Chara was named captain.
"Absolutely, there's no question Patrice is going to be the next captain of the Boston Bruins," Chara said Dec. 31. "I think everybody knows that. I think he's absolutely the right person to have as the captain. He's been part of the Boston Bruins organization for I think 15, 16 years now and he's done so much for the team, for the organization, for the community. So he's going to be an unbelievable captain and leader.
"He's obviously well-proven in crunch time to deliver, and his impact he has on the players, teammates, coaches, fans and everybody in the community has been tremendous. So I can't imagine anybody else to be the captain and I'm truly very, very happy that he's going to be the next captain because he really deserves it and I can't thank him enough for everything he's done for the Bruins, for me personally, supporting our kind of vision and leading together in Boston. I'm very happy for him."
Bergeron is third in Bruins history in games (1,089), fourth in points (869) and fifth in goals (352) and assists (517). He has scored 111 points (42 goals, 69 assists) in 149 Stanley Cup Playoff games and helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final three times (2011, 2013, and 2019), including winning the Cup in 2011 when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.
"I think I've grown to appreciate just how ... you always hear how good of a stick he has, position, the work ethic," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I've seen that firsthand now. I think the ability to make plays in traffic and shoot the puck are things that until you're with him in practice every day, you learn the offensive side of things. And then, I just think the way he treats people. You read about it, but until you're living it and how he's good to the young people, good to his linemates, good to his teammates. There's days I get wound up on the bench and I know that he will try to calm me down in his way by encouraging the players and it's a kind of a message and a relationship we've built."
