The Boston Bruins and captain Patrice Bergeron have started to discuss an extension as the star forward enters the final season of his current contract.

"Patrice and Kent Hughes, his representative, and I have had discussions about where Patrice is at," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, according to NHL.com's Tracey Meyers. "We'll keep those private as we do all the others and let him decide what path he wants to take.

"Obviously, it's a completely open door for how long Patrice wants to play the game for us, and we'll leave it at that."

Bergeron signed an eight-year, $55-million pact with Boston in 2013. His modest $6.875 million cap hit throughout the deal has paid tremendous dividends for the Bruins in terms of production and setting the bar for teammates to ink-team friendly contracts.

The 36-year-old remains one of the NHL's elite two-way centers. Bergeron registered 48 points over 54 games this past season, and he was a Selke Trophy finalist for the ninth consecutive year.

The veteran has spent his entire 17-year career with the Bruins after being drafted in the second round in 2003. Over 1,143 contests he's notched 917 points, and Bergeron won a Stanley Cup in 2011.

The Bruins are currently projected to hold over $20 million in cap space for the 2022-23 campaign to accommodate a new deal for Bergeron, according to Cap Friendly.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.