skeptic view :
bergeron made a point of not discussing his future with team before season begins. Will not talk about an extension or if he plans on retirement etc...
during the season. it will be put off until end of season so not to be a distraction. Wants to concentrate on trying to win a stanley cup. if things go well
i could see him staying for 3 more years if he see's a downward trend with team performance it is his right to go to free agency and being underpaid the
past 6 seasons for bruins. they will have to anty up if they want to keep bergeron or he will test the free agent market.
opinion only ( thinking he did not appreciate how management handled Chara situation and will not allow that to happen to him )
bergeron wants to hold all the cards thus allowing his contract to expire and let bruins management decide if they want to keep him at his price
at the end of the year.
Smart move by Bergy for a lot of reasons
- might force the Bruins hand in looking for an heir to the Bergeron throne ( potential Hertl trade )
- players will be more motivated to " win it for Bergy " if they feel it's his last season
- motivate himself to elevate his play, thinking that this might be it
- voters might give him the Lidstrom treatment and he'll get his 5th Selke that's been rightly his for a couple of years now
I think he'll play for another three years as well and do the Bruins a solid by taking team friendly, veteran deals.