After 19 NHL seasons, many of which were seemingly spent tormenting the Leafs and their fans, Patrice Bergeron has decided to hang up the skates.
One day after his 38th birthday, the Quebec native announced his retirement through a statement from the Boston Bruins.
A statement from Patrice Bergeron.
📰: https://t.co/UWDGPWtDX9 pic.twitter.com/XNrczEVnJO
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 25, 2023
In 75 career outings against the Maple Leafs, Bergeron tallied 25 goals and 67 points to go along with a plus-minus of +26. Furthermore, highlighted by Toronto’s crazy third period collapse of 2013, Boston went 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Toronto in the Bergeron era.
In addition to winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, Bergeron is one of just 26 members of hockey’s so-called “Triple Gold Club.” Those are players who have won Olympic gold (two – 2010, 2014), World Junior gold (2005), and World Championship gold (2004).
In terms of personal accomplishments, he had plenty of those, too. Most notably, the pivot finished his career with a ridiculous SIX Selke Trophies —including two in a row to wrap. Of course, that hardware is handed out annually to the league’s best defensive forward. Furthermore, in the coming years, it wouldn’t be shocking in the slightest to see the award name changed to the “Patrice Bergeron Trophy.” Additionally, Bergeron was also handed the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2013 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2021.
Lost in the shuffle of this announcement is the fact that the Bruins are coming off the greatest regular season in NHL history. They went 65-12-5 before blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Not only was he the epitome of class on and off the ice, but Patrice Bergeron was an incredible hockey player. On top of that, very seldom – at least in this day and age – do you see a player spend their entire career with one team. Next stop: The Hockey Hall of Fame.
It goes without saying but Leafs fans can sleep a bit easier tonight.
