Bruins’ Bergeron Named First Ballot Hockey Hall of Fame – Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins

It’s been a good June for Patrice Bergeron. The Boston Bruins legend was informed Thursday that the team will retire his jersey number next season. Just four days later, he learned he would join Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Cindy Curley, Keith Tkachuk and Brian Burke as inductees in the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Bergeron enters the Hall of Fame as a first-round candidate, a difference that is not surprising to anyone who has watched his career unfold. Taking the 18-year-old NHL as a second-round pick was a good indication that something special was coming. The only reason Bergeron ever played in the AHL was because of the NHL Lockout during the 2004-05 season. Besides, he started and ended his career as a full-time NHL player without a trip to Providence.

Bergeron scored 427 goals and 1,040 points in 1,294 regular season games. He also added another 50 goals and 128 points in 170 NHL playoff games. Bergeron ranks third all-time in NHL history with 15,182 faceoff wins, making them 57.9% of the time throughout his career. He led the NHL in wins eight times in his 19-season career and led the league in save percentage (minimum 1,000 faceoffs). He also won 60% or more of his faceoffs in five different seasons. In terms of awards, Bergeron would win the Selke Trophy a record six times, while also winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2012-13 and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2020-21.

Since this is the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bergeron’s accolades outside the NHL also added value to his application. The 40-year-old Bergeron won multiple gold medals with Canada, including the 2004 IIHF World Championship, 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2012 Spengler Cup, 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2010 and 2014.

Bergeron would have been on Canada’s 2004 World Junior team if he had been loaned to the team, but he was already entrenched on the Bruins NHL roster and was not loaned out. His 2005 draft coincided with a shutout that allowed him to emerge as the leading scorer (13) and MVP.

Bergeron Is Well-Regarded in Boston

It’s no surprise that Bergeron has become one of the most respected athletes to ever play well in Boston. It’s also no surprise that he was heavily talked about by the Bruins when the news was announced on Monday.

“Patrice Bergeron’s career epitomizes what it means to be the first Hall of Famer,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. “From the moment he arrived in Boston at the age of 18, he devoted himself to his work and never stopped trying to improve throughout his 20-year career. He was a unique player, the best player in the team against the killings and in the penalty kill, and he continued to change his game, he contributed a lot in the power play and became a leader of icendous as he grew and Patrice grew as a leader of icendous. He led with commitment, confidence and humility. He succeeded at all levels. game, winning Triple Gold with Team Canada and capturing the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins Today, we congratulate Patrice on this well-deserved honor as he takes his rightful place among the greatest players in NHL history as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bruins president Cam Neely noted what a blessing it has been to watch Bergeron up close for so many years.

“We were lucky in Boston to have a front row seat to Patrice Bergeron’s 20-year career, seeing him grow from an 18-year-old kid learning a new language to one of the best players in the world,” said Neely. “As he amassed a list of awards – including a record six Selke Trophies, two Olympic gold medals, and, of course, the 2011 Stanley Cup – Patrice has also become one of hockey’s most respected leaders, representing our organization with dignity and quality in all that he does. Patrice’s election to Hockey as part of the Class02 Hockey Hall of Fame is more deserving than Class26 of the Hall of Fame Class02 and I am now proud to call him a fellow Hall of Famer.”

Charlie Jacobs, CEO of the Bruins, also made it clear how important Bergeron was not only to the success of the Bruins, but to the city of Boston and its community.

“For 20 years, Patrice was a pillar of the Boston Bruins; a valuable two-way player who made an impact on both ends of the ice and guided his team with integrity and respect,” said Jacobs. “Although he is credited with scoring the game-winning goal in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and his six Selke Trophies, he will always be remembered in Boston for his demeanor and commitment to giving back to the community. It’s no surprise to the Bruins organization that Patrice was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and it’s not the best announcement for Patrice today. The Spoked-B, but one of the greatest players you’ve ever seen.”

Bruins owner and Governor Jeremy Jacobs also had words for Bergeron.

“The Bruins announced that 37 will retire because Patrice’s leadership and ability will not be the same,” said Jacobs. “It is fitting that his peers elected him to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.”

Bergeron becomes the 54th player and 62nd person overall with the Bruins to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.