Patrice Bergeron says he would consider playing for an NHL team in his hometown of Quebec

QUEBEC CITY — Former Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, proud son of this charming city located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, was honored during a ceremony at the Videotron Center, then he threw the puck for the exhibition game Thursday night between the Bruins and the Kings.

Bergeron, 39 and as fit as he was during his playing days, met with the media around 5:30 p.m. for a few minutes and said he would consider being on an NHL team here if the league ever considered to restore a stake in the field with a second franchise in the province of Quebec.

The Nordiques, one of four WHA teams that merged with the NHL in 1979, moved to Denver in the summer of 1995.

“Are you making a comeback? » Bergeron said with a smile, after a Boston reporter jokingly asked him if he could become a center or even a goalie. “I don’t know, uh, that’s a good question. It’s something you would definitely consider – you know, I was a big fan growing up and it would definitely be special.

Bergeron was treated to a pregame video tribute, including appearances from former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara and frequent Team Canada teammate Sidney Crosby. Bergeron also received a large oil painting, the center of which depicts him hoisting the Stanley Cup when the Bruins last won the title in 2011.

A potential owner of an NHL club in Quebec would likely be eager to recruit Bergeron as the face of the franchise, whether as team president or in another key front office position. He would be ideally suited to a myriad of roles, including the most vital of roles, that of identifying and developing player talents.

“That being said,” Bergeron continued, reflecting on his Boston roots and the breadth of his two-decade playing career, “I’ve been a part of the (Bruins) organization for 20 years, which is a big place in my heart too. I don’t know what the real answer to this question (Quebec question) is, but it’s certainly something I would consider.

Now more than a year since announcing his retirement, Bergeron said he’s been busy being a father and noted his wife is back in school. All of this has eased the itch, he said, to perhaps return to the day job market.

“You know, I miss the game, obviously,” he said after flying here on the Bruins charter. “Hockey is a passion, it’s something I will always love, I will love watching it and I will love talking about it. So, you know, obviously, later there will be a chance that I would like to be involved again somewhere, in some way, in the game. But for now, I’m happy, I I’m in a good place and it’s good for me to really step back and think about what I want to do and also spend some time catching up with family.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in the days following Bergeron’s retirement announcement that he would look forward to seeing him return one day.

“We’re talking,” Bergeron said, acknowledging Sweeney’s open-house invitation. “Whenever they call, and there are questions or whatever, I’m happy to answer. As I said, I really like talking about hockey and the organization is close to my heart. Questions here and there. Phone calls here and there. But nothing specific. And respectfully, I think they understand that right now, I’m with the family.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be contacted at [email protected].