The Zdeno Chara Leadership Era
The oldest surviving professional hockey franchise in the United States.
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. They are the third-oldest active team in the NHL and the oldest surviving professional hockey franchise in the United States.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Defensive Captain & Franchise Icon
- Affiliation
- Boston Bruins (Primary), HC Slovan Bratislava (Early Career)
- First appears
- 2006-07 Season (Regular Season Debut with Bruins)
- Status
- Retired (Active Hall of Fame Inductee)
- Key achievement
- Stanley Cup Champion (2011)
- Record held
- Most Penalty Minutes by a Captain in NHL History
- Captaincy duration
- Longest-serving captain in franchise history (2006–2020)
Lore & Background
The Bruins were founded in 1924 after Boston grocery magnate Charles Adams was convinced to bring an NHL franchise to the United States. The team played its first game at Boston Arena on December 1, 1924, defeating the Montreal Maroons 2–1. The Bruins are one of the Original Six teams and have won six Stanley Cup championships.
Reader's Guide
The Bruins' early years were defined by general manager Art Ross, who named the team after brown bears from folk tales. The team's first great star was defenseman Eddie Shore, acquired in 1926. The Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 1929, their second in 1939, and their third in 1941. The team played at Boston Garden from 1928 to 1995, then moved to TD Garden.
Did You Know?
- The Bruins' original uniform colors of brown and yellow were taken from Charles Adams' grocery chain, First National Stores.
- The Bruins' 1929–30 season winning percentage of .875 remains the best in NHL history.
- The Bruins' 2023 Presidents' Trophy win featured 135 points, the most in one season in NHL history.
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