Bergeron likely next Bruins captain: report

Patrice Bergeron is likely to be captain of the Boston Bruins someday, coach Claude Julien told CSN New England on Tuesday.

"It's probably undeniable that down the road when [current captain Zdeno Chara] is done with his career, if Bergeron is here it would be pretty hard to not make him the next captain," Julien told CSNNE.com. "So I think he feels comfortable in dealing with issues that maybe he didn't two or three years ago.

"I think that's just a player being a little more of a veteran player every year, and that we've got some young players that need some leadership. So he's kind of taken over a little bit."

Chara, a defenseman who turns 38 on March 18, has been Bruins captain since the 2006-07 season. He has three years remaining on his contract.

Bergeron, 29, debuted with the Bruins on Oct. 8, 2003 and is an alternate captain. His contract runs through the 2021-22 season. Julien was asked if the forward has expanded his leadership this season.

"I think he has ... it's a fair assessment," Julien said. "But I think he has always done it without stepping on the toes of his captain. If anything he's worked really well with [Chara], and I'll see them chatting about different things."

Bergeron was part of the Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup championship team and has won the Selke Trophy twice.