The ‘Hart’ of a Bruin: Patrice Bergeron
There is no denying Patrice Bergeron is having the best season of his career and is a huge reason as to why this Boston Bruins team is in the position they are.
Bergeron leads the team in game-winning goals with five, goals with 27, is tied for second 51 points and is third in plus/minus with a +24 rating.
There has been plenty of chatter about the 32-year-old being a candidate for the Selke Award, which he has won four times – but Bergeron has been making quite the case for himself to be considered for the Hart Trophy.
🎥 Patrice Bergeron speaks with the media after potting two goals in a 5-2 win over Calgary: pic.twitter.com/1Zu4iBrDxc
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 14, 2018
It is a fact the black and gold are a better team when Bergeron is on the ice. The center missed five games this season and the team posted a 2-3-0 record. After looking that up, I was intrigued to see how the team performed without Brad Marchand – who leads the team in points with 54.
Without Marchand on the ice through 13 games this season, Boston posted a 10-3-0 record. One can make the argument the team is playing much better hockey recently and was playing a much better 60-minute game while Marchand was out compared to when Bergeron was out.
That may be true – but Bergeron’s presence on the ice and being able to be a defensive forward as well as score 20-plus goals shouldn’t be overlooked.
Now I’m not saying Marchy isn’t valuable to this team or isn’t a force on the ice – he obviously is. But he’s not the most valuable player on this team.
Number 37 is.
Bergeron has been the most consistent player on this Bruins team this season and it just so happens to be the year he’s having the best season of his career. He’s on pace to score 41 goals and if he accomplishes that, it would be a career-high for him.
A big reason he’s having a career-year is due to the coaching change. Bergeron would always put up points each season, but when he was under Claude Julien, Bergy took a lot of defensive-zone shifts where scoring wasn’t a number-one priority.
But under Bruce Cassidy, Bergeron is a scoring machine and having the best year he’s had in his career. It’s nearly impossible to overlook how he’s played for the B’s this year. He’s been consistent, he attacks the zone and finds the back of the net…frequently.
Patrice Bergeron of the @NHLBruins has recorded at least one point in 14 of 17 games in 2018 (14-10—24), including six multi-point performances. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/zvIvMpzGFh
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 12, 2018
Bergeron is dominant in the faceoff circle and on the power play and this team would not be where they are in the standings if it weren’t for him.
If he does eclipse the 40-goal mark and gets close to 80 points, it still won’t put Bergeron with the league leaders – but that’s why they have the Art Ross trophy. If Boston wins the President Trophy this year, or comes close to winning it, then Bergeron should not be overlooked for MVP.
It’s likely he’ll get his fifth Selke at the end of the year, but it’s time we start talking about Bergeron for the Hart trophy – and it’s time he’s considered for it.
Lauren Campbell (@lalalalaurrrren)