By: Joey Partridge | Follow Me On Twitter @joey_partridge
Boston Bruins fans have seen a lot of news regarding their team in the last week and a half. Former Captain Zdeno Chara signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals, leading the Boston Bruins to announce Patrice Bergeron as the Bruins’ 20th captain in team history.
Bergeron is entering his 18th season with the Bruins organization, and he has been world-class ever since his name was called in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Bergeron has amassed 869 points in 1089 career games while solidifying himself as one of, if not the best defensive forward in the National Hockey League.
More important than the on-ice performance, Bergeron has a reputation as one of the nicest and most respected players off the ice. He is one of the classiest players in the entire league and has been a leader in this organization for the last decade and a half. There has never been an easier decision in Bruins’ history than naming the next captain.
Where does Bergeron rank among players in Boston Bruins history? There is no doubt that Bergeron is a future Hall of Famer, and we fans will eventually see his number 37 swinging in the TD Garden rafters. He has absolutely earned the title of Boston Bruins legend, and his career is far from over.
In an Original Six franchise, it is extremely difficult to rank the top players as they all contributed to the history and success of the Boston Bruins. However, Bergeron absolutely deserves to be up near the top of the list with the likes of all the other legends.
In more of a personal sense, Bergeron was the single-player that got me into hockey and solidified my Bruins fandom. I have been waiting for the day he would get the captaincy for a very long time. That is not to say I wished Zdeno Chara would leave, but Bergeron has been my all-time favorite Bruins, and he has been a leader on this team ever since he stepped foot in that locker room.
A four-time Selke Trophy winner, one-time Clancy Trophy winner, 2011 Stanley Cup Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, IIHF World Junior Gold Medalist, one-time IIHF World Championship Gold Medalist, and a World Cup of Hockey Champion, Patrice Bergeron has quite the resume. Let’s hope that we will see Bergeron lift the Stanley Cup soon with that new “C” on his chest.
It is important to understand the importance of having a great leader. The Bruins were fortunate to have Chara for so many years. Bergeron is a player that gets the best out of every player that spoked B. Bergeron has the respect out of every player in that locker room. If you need to ask anyone about how much Bergeron means to the Boston Bruins, just ask his linemate of the past ten years in Brad Marchand.
The Boston Bruins were captain-less for about a week, and that itself is a testament to the leadership quality of Patrice Bergeron. Usually, teams spend weeks, if not months to years, looking for their new captain. Look at a team like the Detroit Red Wings. They just named Dylan Larkin their new captain this week, following Henrik Zetterberg. Henrik last played in 2018.
Through the first five games of the young 2021 season, Bergeron has amassed three goals and three assists. If he can stay healthy, he will be amongst the Bruins top point scorers this year, hopefully being a key piece to a Stanley Cup run. Congratulations to Patrice Bergeron on everything. We Bruins fans are spoiled to watch this guy regularly.
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