Has Boston Seen the Last of Patrice Bergeron?
Patrice Bergeron’s final hug on the ice on Sunday was reserved for Brad Marchand, his longtime linemate and friend. It was longer and tighter than the other hugs he shared with his teammates, and it brought Bergeron to tears as somber fans stood and cheered.
If it was Bergeron’s final moment in a Boston Bruins uniform, so ends a magnificent 19-year career that places him in the pantheon of great Boston athletes. He did not win as many championships as Bill Russell or Tom Brady. He was not a three-time most valuable player like Larry Bird. He was not as clutch as David Ortiz and did not change the game the way Bobby Orr did.
But somewhere on that glittering list stands Bergeron, one of the greatest two-way centers in hockey history. He is perhaps a few spots higher than he otherwise might be because of his unmistakable class and the fact that he played his entire career, at least, so far, for the Bruins.
“He is one of the best to ever play the game,” Marchand said in March, when the Bruins appeared invincible. “He’s also one of the best leaders ever. It’s hard for anyone to drag their feet when your best player and oldest guy is out there setting the example.”
Source: The New York Times
