Patrice Bergeron vs Zdeno Chara

[Felidae]

Two of the greatest bruins players of the century. One of the greatest defensive centers of all time vs one of the greatest shutdown defenseman of all time. who was better?

Take everything into account from peak, prime, to their entire careers.


Zdeno Chara

Norris record: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 19

Hart record: 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 25



Patrice Bergeron

Selke record: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5

Hart Record: 5, 15, 17, 17, 18


I think people that value peak play will take Chara here. He probably has a couple seasons better than Bergeron at his peak. But I think there's an argument that from start to finish, Bergeron's career was better in the sense that if you were to count how many seasons they played at a high level, Bergeron would come out on top, curious to see the result.

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[I am not exposed]

Bergeron quite easily.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Is this a joke ? Chara.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Voted Bergeron but good poll

 

[Felidae]

Bergeron quite easily.

You really don't like big, mean defenseman huh?

 

[I am not exposed]

You really don't like big, mean defenseman huh?

Just Weber. Chara is actually very good and deserves to be in the hall of fame. I just think Bergeron is better.

I would also prefer to have a beer with Chara more than Bergeron.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

I think people that value peak play will take Chara here. He probably has a couple seasons better than Bergeron at his peak. But I think there's an argument that from start to finish, Bergeron's career was better in the sense that if you were to count how many seasons they played at a high level, Bergeron would come out on top, curious to see the result.

7 all-star teams vs 0.

 

[TGWL]

I think Bergeron is better as the game moved in a different direction. I think Chara was more valuable, when considering the decade of 2000-2010. I voted Chara.

 

[tfwnogf]

Chara, he was the true leader of the team when they won the cup. Bergeron never won without him, though he came close. But Chara instilled the big bad bruin attitude into that team, by literally being big. Besides, how many 6'10 number one defensemen will ever exist? Bergeron, as good as he is, has peers in peak Toews and Kopitar. So I take Chara 100%.

 

[Felidae]

7 all-star teams vs 0.

Two way forwards almost never get All star recognition unless they also put up gaudy points totals.

Besides, he never really stood a chance against Crosby/Malkin then McDavid later into his career.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

Chara

 

[BrokenFace]

Both great, but I think Chara moves the needle more

 

[JaegerDice]

Bergeron AINEC.

Chara, he was the true leader of the team when they won the cup. Bergeron never won without him, though he came close. But Chara instilled the big bad bruin attitude into that team, by literally being big. Besides, how many 6'10 number one defensemen will ever exist? Bergeron, as good as he is, has peers in peak Toews and Kopitar. So I take Chara 100%.

Chara had peers. They were the other #1D in the NHL that out-performed him. Guys like Lidstrom, Pronger, Keith, Doughty, Hedman, etc.

Bergeron was the undisputed king of his niche (two-way center) for damn near a decade. Chara was essentially obsolete by the time the Blackhawks won their second cup.

 

[Mr Kot]

Chara for me, but im a sucker for giant defencemen.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Tough to decide but I think Chara made a bigger impact.

 

[Elvs]

I like Bergeron a lot more but Chara was ranked a better defenseman in the league than Bergeron was ever ranked among forwards.

 

[Leafs87]

Not a huge fan of comparing players of 2 different positions with arguably equal impact to the same team. I’d go Chara though. He recreated their identity and was the Captain during their peak years

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

Chara. He was the best at his position for a moment in time and Bergeron never has been. Don’t know if Bergeron was ever really top 3 in a season.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Chara ranks significantly higher on most all-time lists. The only thing surprising here is Bergeon's best finish for the Hart, is higher than Chara's.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Zdeno Chara

 

[SillyRabbit]

lol what are these "Bergeron AINEC" posts?

The answer is Chara.

By a pretty clear margin.