Captain Browns’ situation reflects a strong team culture – Hockey writer – Boston Browns

The Boston Brown Bear has entered unfamiliar territory this season. After Brad Marchand, team trading captain for the Florida Panthers, heading for the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the team is not expected to name a replacement for veterans anytime soon. In fact, it is entirely possible for the Bruins to choose the entire 2025-26 season without a formal captain. Nevertheless, the brown bear will not be without proper leadership in the locker room. This is due to the team’s history of fostering a strong culture for decades.

Over the years, the Boston Brown Bears operated differently in leadership than most NHL teams operated. When Zdeno Chara wore the captain’s “C”, he made it clear that the job was never his solitude. Patrice Bergeron is one of the most respected players in the league, and in practice they are the co-captains, Chara openly admits.

“At that time, it was a good balance between me and Berge. Patrice was just an incredible leader, an incredible person, a man, coming from the forefront,” Chara said. “It’s great for me to have him because he’s not mine. I said, we’re colleagues. Not me this Man. I welcome the guys from the leadership group. We have about five and six of us make the decision together. ”

In discussing who is part of the team’s leadership group, Chara will name Shawn Thornton, Mark Recchi, Andrew Ference. It is also possible to assume that David Krejci is included. Bergeron doesn’t need a “C” on his chest to define his character. His voice, professionalism and presence set the tone in the locker room and throughout the league. Brown Bear’s leadership structure is built on trust and culture, not on hierarchy.

Related: 2 areas of improvement for the Brown Bears entering the 2025-26 season

So when Bergeron finally gets the chance to wear a “C”, it’s a seamless transition. It is no accident that the convoy did not miss any rhythm. This promotion is just formalizing the fact that it has become true over the years.

This continuity also made Brad Marchand’s ascension so natural after a few seasons. Early in his career, Marchand was a talented instigator known for pushing boundaries rather than setting examples. But as time went by, under the guidance of Bergeron and Chara, he learned how leadership looked at the highest level. When the opportunity came, he was already qualified to carry the mantle – despite who he was earlier in his career, but because of how far he had gone.

McAvoy and Pastrnak are new defenders

So it makes sense for the Brown Bear to have both Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak perform as the Brown Bears as alternative captains, showing the team that the letter system is more form-forward than anything. The Bruins want to operate as a team, and that’s not just playing on the ice, but their leadership team.

“Going into this year, we both will have A. That’s all I know. I don’t think there’s any fire below them to do anything. Guess what this is? It’s totally good.” “I spent time with pasta and I found it incredible and learned more about his leaders. What I said in that respect is that I love that we were able to do it together. Anyway, we all know that this is our team, me and him. Over the years, we’ve been with other people, this is my two, this is my two, and it’s the other people, but, this is a good guy, but, this is a good guy, but, this is a good guy. I’d rather do it with it, and I know we’re going to get better on the ice and on the ice.” (From Bruins star Charlie McAvoy, who is eager to resume his career, shortening the “Boston Pioneer” after the season – 7/29/2025).

McAvoy and Pastrnak both knew they were the de facto leaders of the team. Give them any of the “Cs” on their jerseys more important than anything else. This season will be the identity building of the Brown Bears and allow these two seasons as real tandem performances, which makes sense. It also sets the tone for any future leader in the locker room to see how the team is doing things behind closed doors.

While one of Pastrnak and McAvoy will undoubtedly win the official captain title next season, it is unfair to say that the other person is not making money. From here, the team will grow in the image of Pastrnak and McAvoy, who have the opportunity to learn and grow from Chara, Bergeron and Marchand. While it is not clear how the Bruins’ season will unfold, there are questions about how the team will lead the team from Game 1 to Game 82 and beyond.