Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard is not ready to give up his fight to get back on the ice, but after reading a series of tweets he made on Monday afternoon, it doesn't look like the former All-Star center will return to the NHL anytime soon.

Even though he's going through a difficult time in his life, Savard is still able to have a great attitude, which is really amazing and helps illustrate the kind of person he is.

Multiple concussions have forced Savard to play in just 41 games during the 2009-10 season, 25 in 2010-11 and none last year.

While Monday's update from Savard isn't surprising at all, it's still sad for Bruins fans, because he has not been able to take part in a lot of the recent success the franchise has enjoyed, much of which he helped create after arriving in Boston as a free agent during the summer of 2006.

The Bruins have been one of the best offensive teams over the last four years, and they would be even more dangerous with Savard centering the team's first line.

He was one of the game's most productive players when he took a vicious hit from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke in March of 2010 that would ultimately lead to his current situation.

Take a look at Savard offensive numbers from his first three years in Boston (He also has 22 points in 25 career playoff games with the Bruins).

Year GP G A PTS
2006-07 82 22 74 96
2007-08 74 15 63 78
2008-09 82 25 63 88

The Bruins have not had a point-per-game player since Savard accomplished the feat during the 2008-09 season, although young forward Tyler Seguin is expected to become this type of player in the near future.

As he mentioned in his tweets, Savard will continue to make an impact on the game, and you can bet that he will always be in the minds of the current Bruins players and someone who motivates them to win championships.

It's always hard to see a player's career end because of an injury, but after more than a year away from the sport, plus the fact that he's 35 years old, Savard will probably never play for the Bruins again.

Even though it's hard to imagine Savard returning to the NHL, when you consider the toughness and strength he has, you have to give him a chance.

 

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins columnist at Bleacher Report. He was also B/R's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston and has covered the Bruins since the 2010-11 season. Follow him on Twitter.