Fellow All Stars Praise Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron is routinely recognized as the best current player on the Boston Bruins roster. He is the best technical player for the Black and Gold, and is one of the best three-zone, two-way hockey players in all of the NHL. He’s certainly got the hardware to prove it. Three Selke Awards in the last four years. Two Olympic gold medals. World Championship Gold, and of course the Stanley Cup in 2011.
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Nashville and Patrice Bergeron have a little history. Back in 2003, the Boston Bruins were in the city for the NHL Entry Draft. In the second round, the Bruins used their pick to acquire Bergy. Now thirteen years after he was drafted in that arena, Patrice Bergeron returns to Nashville.
Bergeron is one of only 26 players to be a member of the triple gold club. He’s universally respected by everyone in the league, and even those who once were his bitterest foes have nothing but praise for the Bruins forward and alternate captain. The same holds true as some of the best active players in the league take to the ice in this weekend’s All-Star Weekend. Bergeron participated in three events and helped his Eastern Conference teammates handily beat their Western opponents in the skills competition.
“He’s probably one of the most complete players in the league,” said Florida Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe. Luongo won Olympic gold with Bergeron as part of Team Canada. “He’s so smart. Not only is he good offensively, but he does so many little things that people don’t see as far as D zone or faceoffs or just little intangibles, as far as being in the right place with the puck. All these things that people don’t really notice.”
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Nothing says respect like the ringing endorsement of a man who lost his best chance at a Stanley Cup because he played against Bergeron.
“Obviously he’s one of the more respected players around the league,” said Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop. “It seems like he’s won everything. So it’s a good thing he’s on our team this weekend. Maybe we can add this to his list.”
Patrice Bergeron has earned that respect by playing solid, clean hockey. He was rewarded for his hard work with his second straight All-Star appearance. His fellow Bruins have often joked about how perfect a player (and person) Bergy is. Other teams believe in his near-perfection, the only difference is that they know better than to joke about the future Hall of Famer.
“I think the one thing you notice with Bergy, just the guy doesn’t make a mistake,” offered Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene. Duchene also took home Olympic gold while playing with Bergeron.
“I think he’s as close to the perfect hockey player as you could ever find. Especially this year, too, his numbers are real high this year, he’s producing a lot offensively (19 goals in 49 games)— and that’s not even really regarded as the best part of his game,” Duchene said. “It’s just his all-around game, his faceoffs, his offensive ability, obviously his defensive ability.
“Like I said, the guy doesn’t make mistakes. He’s a pretty impressive player.”