Bergeron is expected to need 10-12 weeks to recover, which would have him ready to play by the end of August should he decide to return to Boston for a 19th NHL season.
Speaking on Sunday after being
awarded his record fifth Selke Trophy
as the best defensive forward in the NHL, Bergeron, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 13, said he still hasn't decided on his future, but that if he does return, the only team he will sign with will be the Bruins.
"What [the surgery] did only is it just delayed my decision-making process," Bergeron said. "I had some MRIs and meetings with them and talks with them about what I should do and whatnot. That's the only thing I can say about that.
"I've said I needed time, and I still think I have a lot of time in front of me to make that decision, and I'm going to make sure that I take all the time that I need to make the right one."
Bergeron had 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games this season and seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Bruins were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round.
Given that his game has yet to drop off, Bergeron was asked what is playing into his thought process regarding his future.
"It's the fact that my whole career I've had contract extensions, or I've had long-term contracts. I would head into the summers with that in the back of my mind that I know what I'm doing next year," Bergeron said. "Now I'm 36 and I don't have a contract, and I can actually take a step back for the first time in my career, first time in my life.
"I can just reflect on what I do want, looking forward for the future. Talk with my family, with my wife. It's just more that, the fact that I have the opportunity to do that, just take a step back and take some time for myself and really know what I want. I don't think we have to look further that that, to be honest with you. That's the only reason."
Bergeron, who was selected by Boston in the second round (No. 45) of the 2003 NHL Draft, has 982 points (400 goals, 582 assists) in 1,216 regular-season games. He also has 127 points (49 goals, 78 assists) in 167 playoff games, including helping the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Bergeron is the latest Bruins player to have surgery this offseason. Forward Brad Marchand (both hips, May 27) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (left shoulder, June 3) each is expected to be need six months to recover; defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (right shoulder, June 3) has an expected recovery of five months; and defenseman Mike Reilly (right ankle) is expected to to need three months.
"It comes down to another challenge," Bergeron said. "I think this organization and this team have seen many challenges over the past many years and decades. To me, it's one of those things where it is what it is. There's been many years where there's been a lot of doubts and question marks around the Boston Bruins and how the team's going to look and what's coming. I think those things are handled in time, and that's how I see it."
