Boston Bruins fans are already well aware that Patrice Bergeron is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, two-way hockey players in NHL history and as close to a perfect hockey player as you can find. He did everything the right way, scored some clutch goals for the Bruins over the years, was a hero in some of his performances for Canada at international tournaments, and is a deserving Hall of Famer in the 2026 class.
Bergeron will get plenty of praise over the next few months as he enters the Hockey Hall of Fame and also gets his number raised to the TD Garden rafters. That praise will come from old Bruins teammates, international teammates, coaches, and even rivals because of how respected he was as a player. Nevertheless, recent praise from his former coach Mike Babcock was a shocking development.
Babcock, who admittedly hasn't been too active in the media since taking on the head coach job with the Edmonton Oilers, surprisingly appeared on the "Jake's Takes" podcast, hosted by a 16-year-old who started his now-popular show when he was 11. It was the comment about one of the players who taught him the most as a coach that caught my eye, considering some of the legends Babcock coached in his career.
"“I coached Bergeron. I’m thinking 04 at the World’s 2010, 2014 Olympics, 2016 [World Cup]. Like this guy did everything right. He knew. Great man. Just knew how to do (things). They’re teaching you stuff. Like I don’t care if it’s Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, all these guys over the years that taught you a ton… I think that’s what it’s all about.”"Mike Babcock
The Boston Bruins get a chance to celebrate with Patrice Bergeron
Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Paul Kariya, Sidney Crosby, and Jonathan Toews. Those are only some of the names that Babcock has won Stanley Cups and International tournaments with over a long and successful career.
However, it was Bergeron whom Babcock thought to bring up during his interview, which really tells you everything you need to know about how people view him around the league.
Zdeno Chara's Hall of Fame induction and jersey retirement were special for Bruins fans, but this upcoming season with all the Bergeron acknowledgments could be even greater. If Babcock's comments are any indication, we could all be given a crash course on just how legendary Bergeron's career is seen through the eyes of some of the NHL's greatest players and coaches.
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