Jun 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) warms up before game six of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Patrice Bergeron is the Boston Bruins. He is everything Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli wants in a player and he has the kind of character makeup and talent that makes him a special.
Bergeron doesn’t get into trouble on or off the ice, he doesn’t start any problems in the locker room, he is a natural leader who leads by example, he plays a mean two-way center game, can play on the PK or PP and plays severely injured (see: 2013 NHL Playoffs). He also is one of the better face-off guys in the NHL, I mean what’s not to like? Did I mention he’s also incredibly good-looking?
Last year for the Bruins in the regular season, Bergeron tallied 10 goals and 22 assists for a very respectable 32 points in 42 games. As usual, Bergeron kicked his game up a notch in the playoffs and scored 9 goals (a couple HUGE ones against Toronto and New York) to go with 6 assists which gave him 15 points in just 22 games. Not to mention whenever the Bruins needed a big play, Bergeron was often in the mix.
So it’s no surprise the Bruins locked Bergeron up long term, he is their ideal player and he’s been a good soldier. Bergeron has seen some tough days in Boston but kept believing in the franchise, kept playing hard and was eventually rewarded with a Stanley Cup in 2011, a Selke trophy in 2012-13 and now he gets a nice, long contract extension.
Speaking of that extension it will be for 8-years, going into place after the 2013-14 NHL season. Its worth $52 million and he’ll receive roughly $6.5 million a season, nothing to sniff at, but for a franchise center like Bergeron he could’ve gotten more. Instead he did what he always does and tried to do what was best for the team, its a cap friendly contract and gives the Bruins flexibility. I mean obviously its a lot of money, but he’s worth more and everyone knows it.
I would be surprised if Bergeron didn’t play out his contract, Ilya Kovalchuk he is not, and I fully expect to see #37 floating above the Garden ice someday and in the rafters when he finally does call it quits. He has earned that right and continues to earn it everyday, nice to see one of the good guys get taken care of.