Boston Bruins: 5 Current Players Whose Numbers Will Be Retired

Currently, the Boston Bruins have 11 retired jersey numbers: 10 from former players and one league-wide retiring of the great Wayne Gretzky's No. 99.

From a number of generations, some of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold have been bestowed with the highest individual honor.

Men like Bobby Orr, Eddie Shore, Phil Esposito, Terry O'Reilly and Ray Bourque have had the honor to watch their name and number raised to the rafters inside the Boston Garden, never to be worn again. 

Although there are fewer players now who are as loyal to a particular franchise as they had been in Orr's day or in Bourque's, there are a select few that have a chance at immortality.

5) Tim Thomas

No player has had a rougher journey on his way to NHL success than the goalie from Flint, Michigan, Tim Thomas. 

Although he has only played on a full-time NHL squad since 2005, it has been entirely with the Boston Bruins. 

After graduating from the University of Vermont where he enjoyed a healthy four-year career, he struggled to find his place as he bounced between the AHL and a random assortment of leagues in Finland and America. 

Before he got a call in 2002 from the Bruins, he was ready to give up his dream of ever playing in the NHL. Soon after, he was working his way through their AHL system and in 2005, finally broke into a starting job at age 31. 

Now at age 37, Thomas has a resume that most goalies dream about—two Vezina Trophies, the Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup title. Although he may only be in the NHL for a couple more seasons, Thomas will retire, being in the same conversation as other Bruins back-stoppers and maybe get to see No. 30 worn for the last time ever. 

4) Tyler Seguin

Clearly, it's way too soon to worry about retiring No. 19, but it's hard to argue with Tyler Seguin's production in his young career. 

With one Stanley Cup title under his belt, including an impressive playoffs performance in what action he did see, Seguin is already considered one of the best young talents in the NHL. At age 19, he has years of future success.

The young center/winger has many years ahead of him and there's no guarantee that he'll be in a Bruins uniform his entire career, but he is the kind of talent that Boston needs to consider locking up long-term. 

If we are watching the Bruins 15-plus years from now, and Seguin is still sporting his No. 19 as an aged and decorated veteran, it would come as no surprise to see that number raised to the rafters shortly after his retirement.

3) Milan Lucic

He may not be the household name when it comes to scoring goals or creating highlight-worthy plays, but to say Milan Lucic is a contributor to the Boston Bruins' success is an understatement.

Since being drafted in 2006, Lucic has become one of the best two-way/power forwards in the league and isn't afraid of contact. Already established as a prize fighter, Lucic is now proving that he is pretty good with the puck on his stick too.

He jumped from nine goals in 2009-10 to 30 in 2010-11, on his way to winning the Stanley Cup. 

Lucic is only 23, so it's easy to say that his best years are still ahead of him and there's a solid chance that most of those, if not all, will be in a Bruins jersey. If all goes according to plan, he could very well end up much like another great two-way/power forward, Mr. Cam Neely.

2) Patrice Bergeron

Drafted in 2003—arguably one of the best classes in decades—Patrice Bergeron has been donning the black and gold ever since. 

At 26, he's one of the "old guard" veterans among a team of youthful talent, in particular, centering the No. 1 line with the young bullet Tyler Seguin on his wing. 

Besides missing a season due to a concussion, Bergeron is a consistent offensive playmaker and seems content to finish his career in a Bruins sweater.

1) Zdeno Chara

No list such as this can be written without the big captain himself, Zdeno Chara. It's true that his career had taken him to the Islanders and Senators before landing with Boston, but it can be argued that his best years have come with the Bruins.

A captain since signing a contract with Boston in 2006, Chara has shown what a defenseman is capable of.

At 6'9", 7'0" on skates, he's the tallest man in the NHL, which makes him one of the most intimidating, not only because of his size and defensive abilities, but also since Chara possesses the hardest shot in the league (105.9 mph), making him a formidable shooter from the point.

At age 34, he's one of the older statesmen on the Bruins squad, but unless injuries (because of his size and physical play) drag him down, he could have a few more spectacular seasons. If he does and wins another Stanley Cup title and maybe a couple more Norris Trophies, the No. 33 could go the same route as the No. 77.