Patrice Bergeron, a beloved player for the Boston Bruins, has recently retired from the NHL after a remarkable 20-year career. While Bergeron’s legacy includes numerous accolades and a place among the top 100 players of all time in various categories, his greatness extends far beyond these statistics.
Originally drafted as the 45th pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, Bergeron exceeded expectations and became one of the biggest steals in draft history. Throughout his time with the Bruins, he played a total of 1,294 games, won a Stanley Cup, and earned six Selke trophies. Additionally, Bergeron ranks among the top 100 players in major statistical categories:
- Games Played: 1,294 (T-70th)
- Goals: 427 (T-84th)
- Assists: 613 (90th)
- Points: 1,040 (79th)
While these numbers are impressive and coveted by most NHL players, they only scratch the surface of Bergeron’s impact. Throughout his career, he consistently contributed offensively, although he never accumulated massive point totals.
Although Bergeron scored 20 or more goals 14 times and reached the 30-goal mark in six seasons, he never surpassed 32 goals in a single season. Additionally, he achieved a point-per-game average in only one season, despite coming close several other times.
What truly sets Bergeron apart may not be fully evident when looking solely at box scores and point totals. His exceptional defensive prowess is where he truly excelled, solidifying his status as one of the best two-way players in the history of the NHL.
With Bergeron on the ice, the Bruins became a formidable offensive force, while their opponents struggled to generate offense. Over his career, Bergeron amassed an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-289. Since his rookie season in 2003-04, only two players have achieved a better plus-minus rating: Zdeno Chara (plus-303) and Brad Marchand (plus-290), both fellow Boston legends who often played alongside Bergeron.
Although plus-minus can be a misleading stat, Bergeron’s dominance extends beyond just the overall rating. At five-on-five, Bergeron consistently outperformed his opponents. According to Natural Stat Trick, Bergeron boasted a career plus-237 when both teams were at full strength. This means that, on average, the Bruins outscored their opponents by 12.5 goals at five-on-five during each of Bergeron’s 19 seasons. Despite the limitations of plus-minus, these numbers are undeniably impressive.
In addition, Bergeron’s six Selke Trophy wins as the NHL’s best defensive forward further illustrate his defensive prowess. This includes winning the award consecutively to close out his career. The only other player in the same league as Bergeron in terms of Selke Trophy victories is Bob Gainey, who won it in the award’s first four seasons. Defensive specialists Guy Carbonneau, Jere Lehtinen, and Pavel Datsyuk could only manage half as many Selke Trophy wins as Bergeron. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the award eventually bear Bergeron’s name.
Despite not being the most physically gifted or feared offensive player of his time in the NHL, Bergeron’s hockey sense and ability to be in the right place at the right time set him apart. His remarkable career and contributions to the game will undoubtedly earn him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bergeron epitomized the “200-foot player” and may go down as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of skates. It may be a long time before we see another player like him.
