Welcome to LWOS Hockey’s summer series, Call to the Hall, where we take a look at the next great player from each NHL franchise to get called to the Hockey Hall of Fame. There are a few caveats, the player must be active, and must have played 300 games (or 150 for goaltenders) with the franchise.
Call To The Hall: Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins organization has 49 former players that have been inducted into the NHL Hall Of Fame. Choosing who should be the 50th to achieve such a honor is no easy task. Between two of the Bruins captains, Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, both have accomplished a lot so far in their career. They both were huge assets to the Bruins Stanley Cup Championship in 2011, and have always been leaders in the locker room. However, considering the fact that only one player can be chosen, the next Bruins Hall Of Fame player will have to be center Patrice Bergeron.
PATRICE BERGERON
Before being drafted by the Bruins 45th overall in 2003, Patrice Bergeron played with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL where he posted 23 goals and 50 assists for 73 points in 70 games. Bergeron didn’t play long in the minors, as after one season in the QMJHL, the Bruins drafted Bergeron where he would go on to be a major asset to the Bruins offense. As of today, Bergeron has played in 740 career NHL games. In those games, he has recorded 206 goals and 344 assists for 550 total points. While those numbers are in no way comparable to that of Alexander Ovechkin, who has played 20 more games with 895 total points, Bergeron’s greatest attribute is his two-way game.
Bergeron finished the 2015 season in first place for face-off percentage by winning 1175 face-offs, losing 776 face-offs for a percentage of 60.2%. Bergeron is the only player in 2015 to have an above-60% face-off percentage, and has dominated this category since 2010. Additionally, Bergeron has ranked top-5 in points for the Bruins in 8 of the 11 seasons he has participated with organization.
In addition to Bergeron’s stats, it’s also important to take a look at all of his awards and recognitions over the years. Below is a list.
- Won gold in the 2004 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship
- Won gold, MVP and All-Star team in 2005 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship
- Won gold in the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Became 25th member of the Triple Gold Club
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2010
- Lead the NHL in plus-minus in 2012
- Won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2012
- Won the Spengler Cup in 2012
- Won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2013
- Won gold in the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2014
- Won the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2014
- Official cover athlete of EA Sports NHL 15
- 2015 NHL All-Star
- Won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2015.
Patrice Bergeron has won a lot in his career, and the best thing about it is, at only 30 years old, Bergeron still has a lot left in him. There has been no indication of decline in his game – quite the opposite, actually. Looking back at 2014, when the Bruins were on the verge of being eliminated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bergeron’s performance can only go down as a valiant and courageous effort. Despite being down 4-1, the Bruins continued to fight back, and the lionhearted Bergeron scored not only the game-tying goal, however the game-winning goal as well.
Over the years, some have labelled Bergeron as “old” and “slow”. Some even have the audacity to suggest that Bergeron’s style of hockey is not supported by the fast-paced offensive game that is now being adapted by the league. These labels are advocated by individuals who decide that because Bergeron doesn’t make the highlight reel on a weekly basis, he must not be able to compete with those who do. However, in reality, Bergeron is often the single-force that can detain anyone from making the highlight reel in every single game he plays in. As the current-greatest two-way forward in the league, Bergeron has a much bigger job than to score fancy goals. Instead, Bergeron needs to go above and beyond and ensure that the opposing team doesn’t have the opportunity to score, while at the same time creating a play in transition that will ultimately lead to a scoring opportunity at the other end. This is the type of effort that is rare and cannot be taught. You have to have an immense amount of dedication to the game to play with that type of effort night in and night out, which is why Bergeron should be considered a Hall of Fame player.
Additionally, Bergeron’s dedication can be seen off the ice as well. Despite the fact that Bergeron is an active member of the New England community participating in countless charitable events, he is also the founder of his very own charitable organization known as “Patrice’s Pals”. Bergeron’s organization brings patients from local hospitals and other children associations and gives them the experience of a Bruins game in luxury seats. Additionally, the patients will also see their name on the TD Garden jumbo-tron as well as meet Bergeron after the game for pictures and autographs.
They don’t call him Perfect Patrice for nothing.
Main Photo:
SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 16: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammates after scoring a first period goal against the Florida Panthers on January 16, 2012 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
