NHL Notebook: Examining next wave of Bruins jersey retirement candidates, Paille seeks justice for career-ending hit

As his No. 16 sweater rose up the rafters on Thursday night, Rick Middleton joined some elite company.  

“Nifty” became the 11th player in Bruins franchise history to have his jersey number retired, joining Lionel Hitchman (#3), Dit Clapper (#5), Eddie Shore (#2), Milt Schmidt (#15), Bobby Orr (#4), Johnny Bucyk (#9), Phil Esposito (#7), Ray Bourque (#77,), Terry O’Reilly (#24) and Cam Neely (#8).

It was a long time coming for Middleton — and the first time that the B’s had retired a jersey number since Neely’s No. 8 was honored back in 2004.

Bruins fans might have to wait a few years for the next jersey to rise into the rafters, but there are quite a few intriguing candidates that might get their number immortalized by the Black and Gold.

Let’s take a look:



The shoo-ins

Patrice Bergeron, No. 37:  No question here. One of the top two-way forwards of his generation, there isn’t much that Bergeron hasn’t accomplished during his tenure with the Black and Gold.

One of just 28 players in pro hockey history to gain entry into the esteemed “Triple Gold Club” (Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Championship Gold Medal), Bergeron has played a key role in some of Boston’s most thrilling postseason triumphs — whether it be the tying and game-winning goals over the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs or his two tallies in the Cup-clinching Game 7 against the Canucks in 2011.

Already seventh on the B’s in career points with 760 and first in expected plus-minus (62.2), the 33-year-old pivot has plenty of time to add to his already extensive resume — including a chance to become the first player in league history to capture five Selke Trophies, given annually to the top defensive forward in the NHL.

When Bergeron finally decides to hang up his skates, this is a no-brainer.

Zdeno Chara, No. 33: One of the most physically imposing players to ever lace them up, the case could be made that Chara could even be underrated in terms of his contributions to the Black and Gold — especially during his heyday with the club, in which he only captured one Norris Trophy.

Already sixth in franchise history in games played, the 41-year-old blue line has been a rock on Boston’s D corps — averaging an absurd 24:59 TOI during his 13 years with the club. During that stretch, he posted a plus-195 rating with the B’s while finishing in the top five for Norris Trophy voting six times.

The second-longest tenured captain in Bruins history, Chara seems like another lock to get his number retired in due time — although the veteran blueliner seems intent on playing for at least a couple more seasons.

Missing the cut

David Krejci: An underrated man in the middle for the Black and Gold for over a decade, Krejci has played a key cog in the club’s latest renaissance in the late 2000’s — with the forward currently a point behind Cam Neely for 10th place in franchise history in total points.

A clutch contributor in the postseason, Krejci led the B’s in playoff scoring during both of the club’s runs to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011 and 2013.

Krejci, who has mentioned his willingness to close out his career back in Czech Republic once his current contract expires in 2021, has a chance to really rise up in the B’s record books. If he averages at least 50 points per season over the next three years, Krejci would close out his tenure in Boston in seventh place in points — ahead of players like Terry O’Reilly and Ken Hodge.

Still, much like Hodge, Krejci may not have quite enough on his resume to warrant a retired jersey.

Brad Marchand, No. 63: Marchand played a key role in Boston’s 2011 title and has emerged as one of the deadliest scorers in the league over the last couple of seasons — averaging just under 37 goals in his last three seasons.

Still, at 30 years old, Marchand may not have quite enough to build a resume worthy of a retired sweater — at least, in his own estimation.

“Nope,” Marchand said of No. 63 getting retired one day. “It’ll be cool, but I don’t expect it. The history here with this team and the guys that have played for this team, you don’t expect things like that to happen. You know it’s going to happen for guys like Z and Bergy, but it’s just great to be able to say you’ve played with those guys. That’s enough for me.”

Tim Thomas/Tuukka Rask, No. 30 & No. 40: It’s unlikely that either of these two eventually gets their number retired, with Thomas holding the edge between the duo thanks to his absolutely bonkers run during the 2011 postseason (1.98 goals-against average, .940 save percentage).

Still, there’s no denying that both of these netminders have more than made their mark with the club — combining for three Vezina Trophies and 440 victories. Thomas was the key cog in Boston’s first Stanley Cup title in 39 years, while also holding the team’s all-time record in regular-season save percentage (.938, 2010-11) and postseason save percentage (.933).

Meanwhile, Rask sits just eight wins behind Tiny Thompson for the most in team history, while also holding the franchise record in save percentage at .922. Currently second in both saves (11,781) and goals-against average (2.26), the 31-year-old goalie has plenty of time to pad his career stats.

Still, much like Gerry Cheevers, these two goalies might not have quite enough to enter into the vaunted space set aside for retired numbers.

Worth Revisiting?

Tiny Thompson/Frank Brimsek, No. 1 - Players like Shore, Clapper and Hitchman were the faces of the Bruins for over 20 years, but you can’t overlook the contributions of both Thompson (1928-39) and Brimsek (38-49) in net. 

One of the first superstars in team history, Cecil Ralph “Tiny” Thompson captured four Vezina Trophies during his time in Boston — helping the Bruins capture their first Stanley Cup as a rookie during the 1928-29 season. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 1959, Thompson still ranks first in franchise history in wins (252), shutouts (74) and minutes played (28,948).

The pride of Eveleth, Minnesota, Frank “Mr. Zero” Brimsek helped lead the Bruins to a pair of Stanley Cup titles in 1939 and 1941 while winning the Vezina Trophy twice. By the time he retired in 1950, Brimsek held the record for most wins and shutouts recorded by an American goaltender — marks that stood for 54  and 61 years, respectively.

Willie O’Ree, No. 22 - He only played 45 games with the Black and Gold, but one cannot overstate O’Ree’s impact on the game of hockey — becoming the first player to break the league’s color barrier back in 1958.

Overcoming prejudice and racism while trying to break into the league — along with the fact that he was blind in one eye — O’Ree’s efforts both during and after his playing career were recognized when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last month as a “Builder”.

Paille heads to court

After suffering a severe concussion last year that ended his pro hockey career, Daniel Paille is heading to court.

While playing for the Swedish team Brynas in a Champions Hockey League on Nov. 7, 2017, Paille took a dangerous blindside hit from Thomas Larkin that dropped him to the ice. Upon getting up, Paille was taken to the emergency room and did not play for the remainder of the season before choosing to retire in order to focus on his rehab going forward.



Now, almost a year later, Larkin has been charged with assault for his hit on Paille, with the former Bruins forward standing as the plaintiff in the case. After a Swedish Supreme Court recently upheld an assault conviction on Jakob Lilja following a cross-check to the head during a game in 2015, Prosecutor Joakim Johansson said it made the decision to charge Larkin much easier.

No trial date has been set, with the penalties ranging from financial compensation to two years of jail time.

Maple Leafs get additional firepower

A loaded Maple Leafs team already ranked third in the league in goals per game (3.58) received another major boost Saturday after RFA holdout William Nylander opted to sign a six-year, $41.77 million contract and rejoin the club.

Nylander, who had yet to play this season while demanding a larger contract, had until 5 p.m. Sunday to sign a deal, or else he would have had to miss the rest of the season. While Toronto will have to navigate through the cap next season with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner set to become restricted free agents, Nylander’s addition can’t be understated after the winger tallied 135 points over 185 games while playing on Matthews’ line each of the past two seasons.

Charlie McAvoy, set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, gave his take on Nylander’s extended holdout.

“I haven’t really been paying too much attention to that, but just as a hockey player myself, you want to be there,” McAvoy said. “I’ll tell you from being out with an injury, you miss the guys. They’re gone; you’re skating by yourself; they’re skating as a group, and you kind of feel like you’re out of the loop, so to speak, so I can’t imagine how he was feeling being in a different country for that duration, so I’m sure he’s thrilled to get back with his team.”