Boston has no shortage of modern legends, and Bleacher Report’s 21st-century Mt. Rushmore for the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins leans into that reality by naming one player from each franchise since 2000.
For the Patriots, the pick was the obvious one: Tom Brady. B/R pointed to his six Super Bowl rings in a 20-year run with New England and called him “not only a lock for this Mt.
Rushmore conversation, but also an easy choice in the all-time debate alongside guys like Ted Williams, Larry Bird, Bill Russell and Bobby Orr.” The three-time MVP also sits atop the NFL’s all-time lists in passing yards with 89,214 and passing touchdowns with 649.
The Red Sox selection went to David Ortiz, a choice built on October moments and a Boston legacy that still looms large. Bleacher Report highlighted his role in the Red Sox’s comeback against the rival New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, along with the fact that he hit 483 of his 541 career home runs in a Red Sox uniform. Ortiz also posted a .975 OPS and 17 home runs in 76 playoff games while winning three World Series rings.
Boston’s Celtics spot belonged to Paul Pierce, who got the nod over Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and current star Jayson Tatum. B/R described Pierce as “The only homegrown member of Boston's 'Big Three' alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen,” and noted that he won 2008 Finals MVP while leading the Celtics to their first title since 1986. In 15 seasons with Boston, he averaged 21.8 points per game and made 10 All-Star teams.
On the Bruins side, Bleacher Report chose Patrice Bergeron. The case starts with defense: “With six Selke Trophy wins, Bergeron is widely regarded as one of the best defensive centers in NHL history,” B/R wrote. He spent all 19 of his seasons in Boston, won a Stanley Cup in 2011 and finished third in franchise history with 1,040 points.
There are other names with strong claims in this era, including Pedroia for the Red Sox, and Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand for the Bruins. But on this list, the four picks were Brady, Ortiz, Pierce and Bergeron.
In Other News...
Bruins Front Office Shakeup Just Sent A Bigger Message
The Bruins offseason has already started to take shape on more than one front, with the club lining up its 2026-27 schedule and giving fans an early look at the opening stretch. Boston will begin at home against the New York Rangers on September 29, then head out for a quick road swing through Winnipeg and Minnesota, a compact start that should tell plenty about how the roster is expected to look when the season arrives.
Just as notable, the organization is also making changes upstairs, the kind that usually says as much about direction as any lineup tweak. Add in Matej Blumels decision to head back to Czechia on a four-year deal with HC Sparta Praha after four seasons in North America, and it is clear this is a Bruins offseason with more moving parts than usual, even before the bigger questions around the roster and front office fully settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Just Got A Concerning Sign About This Offseason
Bostons summer has had the look of a team trying to patch holes while staying in the hunt, with the Bruins adding JJ Peterka, Will Borgen and Connor Clifton while moving on from Viktor Arvidsson and Joonas Korpisalo. Even with those changes, the early read on the roster is that Boston has not done enough to clearly separate itself in a crowded Atlantic Division, especially after a failed swing at a major defense upgrade left the blue line picture still unsettled.
The bigger concern is what the offseason still does not answer. A recent ranking of the leagues offseason improvements placed the Bruins 17th, a reminder that the work done so far may not be enough if the team is serious about pushing back into contention. Boston still looks like it could use more help at right-shot defense and down the middle, and unless those gaps are filled, the Bruins may enter the season with more questions than the moves have solved. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Bring Back Connor Clifton And Fans Know This Debate Too Well
Connor Clifton is back in Boston on a two-year deal, a familiar kind of move for a Bruins blue line that has long leaned on players the staff already knows. Cliftons first run with the club gave him a reputation as a depth defenseman who could handle playoff minutes, and his history here still matters because Boston has seen him in bigger moments than the average bottom-pairing option.
The question, of course, is whether this is the kind of familiarity that actually moves the needle or just another safe bet from a front office that has often preferred the known quantity. Cliftons path through Buffalo and Pittsburgh only sharpened that debate, and his return leaves the Bruins once again weighing experience against the possibility of a younger, higher-upside answer on the back end. [Read more 🡒]