By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
The National Hockey League announced the Boston Bruins’ Quarter-Century Teams today, naming the starting lineups for the First and Second teams. In honor of entering into 2025, the NHL has been naming the top forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders for the 32 franchises and the Arizona Coyotes to celebrate the top players since the turn of the millennium.
Six forwards, four defensemen, and two goaltenders were named to the two teams. The players must have played for the franchise from Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2024. The committee that selected the teams included broadcasters, media members, NHL.com writers, and select former players.
The First Team consists of four 2011 Stanley Cup Championship team members, including forwards Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Krejci, defenseman Zdeno Chara, and Conn Smythe-winning goaltender Tim Thomas. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy rounds out the First Team. All five skaters have worn a captaincy letter for the Bruins, with Bergeron, Marchand, and Chara donning the “C” for the oldest American franchise.
The Second Team comprises forwards Milan Lucic, David Pastrnak, and Joe Thornton, defensemen Torey Krug and Dennis Seidenberg, and goaltender Tuukka Rask. This team is a combination of a current star in Pastrnak, three members of the 2011 Cup-winning team in Lucic, Seidenberg, and Rask, a future Hockey Hall of Famer in Thornton, and a fan favorite in Krug.
These 12 players were deemed the Bruins’ most valuable players from 2000 to 2025 and are some of the most impactful during the team’s 100 years of hockey. Eight of the 12 players were on the 2011 Bruins team that ended the 39-year Stanley Cup drought, one of the most iconic moments in Boston sports in the 21st century. Every player except for Thornton appeared in at least one Stanley Cup final as a member of the Bruins.
The six Bruins’ First Team members will be put on a ballot for the NHL’s All-Quarter Century team. This ballot will be given to the fans who will determine this team. The league announced that voting will begin in February.
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