With each passing offseason the Bruins core that led them to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and then appearances in the Final in 2013 and 2019 gets smaller.

This past offseason it was Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara. This coming offseason it could be Tuukka Rask and David Krejci.

Although this core has won just one Stanley Cup, they’ve certainly had a ton of success.

They’ve won a President’s Trophy, appeared in two other Stanley Cup Finals and have made it to the playoffs for five straight years under Bruce Cassidy, winning six playoff series in that span.

Yes, at the end of the day Stanley Cup victories are what really matter, but I am sure you can name at least 20 teams who wish they’ve mirrored the Bruins success since 2011.

But your Bergerons and Marchands aren’t getting any younger. Rask—entering the summer without a new contract— is set for hip surgery in the coming days, keeping him out until January at the earliest. And Krejci—whose body language in his exit interviews suggested he’s realizing Boston may not be his home next season—is set to hit free agency, with playing back home in the Czech Republic an option.

Can this core, or what may be left of it come October go on one more cup run?

“Every year, as you don't achieve your goal and the further you go in your career, you get to realize it's a year closer to retirement,” said Bergeron.

“Obviously, it's tough. From one year to the next, it's always a missed opportunity and you want to keep going at it. It's hard. As you get older, you know that you don't have that many chances to achieve your goal and have a team that can actually compete for a Stanley Cup, so it's always disappointing.”

A week ago, Tuesday was the 10th year anniversary of the Bruins knocking off the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to capture their first title in 39 years.

When you see videos from that night on Twitter, or you’re watching NESN’s “Behind The B” Stanley Cup special, it’s hard not to notice a young Bergeron or a young Krejci drinking from the cup.

With it, no gray hairs and a young smile.

You see a young Rask, celebrating postgame wearing Nathan Horton’s helmet.

Heck, you even notice how team president Cam Neely and now general manager Don Sweeney look much younger than they do now.

10 years is not that long ago, is it?

But the issue remains: time is undefeated, and eventually, time wins.

Now, the question continues: can this Bruins core avoid father time for one more year and win another Stanley Cup?

“Well, we’ve dealt with disappointments many times. We’ve been very close a couple times. It’s never easy to lose. Obviously, we felt like we had the team to make a run, but it’s very small margins in the playoffs,” said Rask. “You play against really good teams and sometimes you’ve got to tip your hat to the opponent too and say, ‘Listen, they were that much better than we were and that’s all there is to it.’”

Given what the franchise went through for 39 seasons, one cup in 10 years is a blessing, but at the same time, given the opportunities the Bruins have had and missed since 2011, at times, one Stanley Cup victory seems like a failure.

“I think we have to continue to add to the group. I don’t think you can expect to bring the band back together if it wasn’t able to complete and accomplish the ultimate goal in the last couple years,” said Sweeney.

“And obviously, they’ve (the core) been extremely close on several occasions and having won it several years ago. They put themselves back into a position to compete for it and ultimately that’s really what they ask.”

The Bruins have a core of leaders waiting in the wings, waiting for the day that Bergeron, Marchand, Rask and Krejci are no longer in the picture.

Then, it will be Charlie McAvoy’s turn. David Pastrnak’s turn. Matt Grzelcyk’s turn.

But surely, they’re in no rush for that day to come. They’d like for Bergeron and Marchand, Rask and Krejci to depart Boston for good with another Stanley Cup to their name.

Their names on the Stanley Cup once again, I should say.

“With these guys here, they’ve meant so much to the organization,” said Grzelcyk. “We obviously want to win the Stanley Cup for them, so that’s a huge motivating aspect I think for some of the younger guys.”

Will that happen in the 2021-22 season? As always, only time will tell.

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