His journey began in 2003 when the Boston Bruins selected him in the second round, 45th overall. Throughout his 20 years with the Bruins, his accolades are staggering. He was voted six times as the Selke winner, an award given to the best defensive centerman in the league. He also holds the record for 12 nominations.
With one Stanley Cup win and several Stanley Cup final appearances, he played 1294 games, scoring 427 goals with 613 assists for 1040 points. He boasted an impressive +289, had 131 power-play goals and 326 power-play points, with 81 game-winning goals.
Following the retirement announcement, the Bruins put together a montage of all the current players to create a tribute video, offering Bergeron a chance to see what his teammates think of the 38-year-old superstar.
The video beautifully portrays the love and appreciation these men have for their teammates, recognizing the positive impact he had on both the team and them personally, making them better as individuals and hockey players. Close friends like David Krejci and Brad Marchand express their emotions freely as they describe what Bergeron brought to the game and the locker room.
The NHL will undoubtedly miss Patrice Bergeron, and as a fan of the game and the league, regardless of the jersey he wore, he was a special kind of player who changed the game and will be remembered for many years to come.
There's no shadow of a doubt that he will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible for the first time.
POLL | ||
Will Patrice Bergeron be in the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first eligible year? | ||
Yes | 152 | 83.5 % |
No | 30 | 16.5 % |
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