Boston Bruins: Revisiting Tyler Seguin Trade

Rich Peverley – Forever Immortalized in Boston

When the Bruins acquired Rich Peverley, they were giving away a very talented player in Blake Wheeler and a capable defenseman in Mark Stuart in the process. Peverley, however, was a key cog in the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup run, so it’s hard to argue with the move to acquire him in retrospect. In his first full season with the Bruins, Peverley scored 11 goals and 42 points in 57 games. His second season, however, showed a significant regression when he scored just six goal and 18 points in 47 games. Still, his two-way game and ability to slot anywhere in the lineup were of value to the Bruins. He wasn’t a significant piece moving in the deal, but his contributions in Boston will never be forgotten – regardless of how short his stint was in Beantown.

After being acquired by the Dallas Stars, Peverley dealt with some very big life obstacles. He went on to play for 62 games with the Stars, recording seven goals and 30 points.

Peverley’s Collapse

Unfortunately, Peverley’s time in Dallas and the NHL was cut short. During a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Peverley collapsed on the bench. The Stars did their best to get the attention of the referees, but it was to no avail. Eventually, players had to hop over the boards and onto the ice to force the officials to see what was going on – a tragedy, for certain.

Peverley underwent surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, but he’s never played a game since. The situation was a scary one, and though Peverley was never able to lace up his skates again, his story has been told, and he was able to make a full recovery thanks to the work of the medical personnel in Dallas. Peverley will forever be immortalized as a Stanley Cup Champion, and he now works with the Stars as the Player Development Coordinator.