The team needs and deserves a definitive answer on whether it can plug its captain and No. 1 center into the lineup or whether it has a giant hole in its heart and soul. Ideally, that answer would’ve been delivered before the July 1 start of NHL free agency. It’s not unfair or unreasonable to ask Bergeron to render a decision about tugging on a Bruins sweater for a 20th season in a time frame that gives the team its best chance to respond accordingly.

Instead, the Bruins remain in pucks purgatory. Are they reloading or rebooting? Are they Cup contenders again or a top-heavy team that will gladly park in a playoff spot and call that success?

-Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe on Patrice Bergeron. Read more on this at the Boston Globe.