Player Discussion Patrice Bergeron

[BruinsFanSince94]

An injury caused by him wanting to play the meaningless 82nd regular season game for personal reason.

His personal reasons are important.

 

[maswe12]

Don't blame Bergeron.

Blame management for thinking that you could win using 37-year old centers like they were still 25.

Blame coaches for using 37-year centers like they were still 25.

Boston found out in this series what Pittsburgh learned a couple weeks ago. The golden era of those 2003-2006 drafts is over.

At this point in his career, he should be a 3rd line defensive forward with a maintenance schedule. I also thought everyone played harder when he was out. I love the guy as a player and leader, but maybe he is a bit of a crutch for some of the guys and it’s time to see what they do without him.

 

[UncleRico]

His personal reasons are important.

Sure his personal reasons are important, but he chose himself over his team and cost his team a playoff series.

 

[BruinDust]

At this point in his career, he should be a 3rd line defensive forward with a maintenance schedule. I also thought everyone played harder when he was out. I love the guy as a player and leader, but maybe he is a bit of a crutch for some of the guys and it’s time to see what they do without him.

When he's fresh and healthy Patrice Bergeron is still an elite-level hockey player.

He's been in the NHL since he was 18. He's played a lot of hockey outside of the regular season in the playoffs and internationally.

I just don't think it's realistic to expect a center at his age and mileage to be an elite-level two-way center for 82 games and then through 4 rounds of playoff hockey. Even just managing his workload down the stretch and getting his games played down will only go so far.

 

[maswe12]

When he's fresh and healthy Patrice Bergeron is still an elite-level hockey player.

He's been in the NHL since he was 18. He's played a lot of hockey outside of the regular season in the playoffs and internationally.

I just don't think it's realistic to expect a center at his age and mileage to be an elite-level two-way center for 82 games and then through 4 rounds of playoff hockey. Even just managing his workload down the stretch and getting his games played down will only go so far.

I agree…Not sure there is a solution other than luck and a lot of scheduled rest. It just seems like he is a like a God to so many guys in that locker room, and I wonder at what point it keeps them from stepping up into his role and position.

 

[EverettMike]

Sure his personal reasons are important, but he chose himself over his team and cost his team a playoff series.

HE DIDN'T PLAY BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER HE ALREADY DEBUNKED THAT MADE-UP BULLSHIT. IT WAS MONTGOEMRY'S DECISION TO "RAMP UP" FOR THE PLAYOFFS.

 

[BruinDust]

I agree…Not sure there is a solution other than luck and a lot of scheduled rest. It just seems like he is a like a God to so many guys in that locker room, and I wonder at what point it keeps them from stepping up into his role and position.

I think it's one of a coaches most challenging situations. You have HOF-level players who are still valued contributors, but to get the most out of them when it counts, maybe they need to take a reduced role. Many a HOF player went too long before the coach or GM took the keys to the bus away. It's a tough decision and tough conversation as most guys at that level are uber-competitive and have a hard time accepting less than what they expect for themselves. Zdeno Chara is a great example of this.

 

[maswe12]

I think it's one of a coaches most challenging situations. You have HOF-level players who are still valued contributors, but to get the most out of them when it counts, maybe they need to take a reduced role. Many a HOF player went too long before the coach or GM took the keys to the bus away. It's a tough decision and tough conversation as most guys at that level are uber-competitive and have a hard time accepting less than what they expect for themselves. Zdeno Chara is a great example of this.

Yeah I think there are multiple points where the keys could have been taken away. Obviously the last game of the regular season. In hindsight, maybe he should have stayed out game 5 and until the Bruins lost a 2nd game. Montogomery is obviously a players coach and deferred to the leaders which probably resulted in most of their regular season success.

At the same time, Bergy had his reasons to play the last game. In the scheme of things, that may be more important to him than a longer playoff run….it was just really bad luck to get nicked up. You need luck and health for a good run, no matter how much depth…we didn’t have that this year.

 

[DangleCity]

Bergeron/the organization put himself/the player above the team that last regular season game. You can say he earned the right to do whatever he wanted, but from a player we have constantly put on a pedestal for being a leader and always doing the right thing, he made an extremely selfish call

 

[UncleRico]

HE DIDN'T PLAY BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER HE ALREADY DEBUNKED THAT MADE-UP BULLSHIT. IT WAS MONTGOEMRY'S DECISION TO "RAMP UP" FOR THE PLAYOFFS.

Ya I dont believe that for one second, that was them trying to save face after the story leaked and it looked bad due to the injury and kind of selfish.

 

[DangleCity]

Let's also not forget that management had him play the most games he's played in 6 years. Another mind boggling decision

 

[BruinDust]

Yeah I think there are multiple points where the keys could have been taken away. Obviously the last game of the regular season. In hindsight, maybe he should have stayed out game 5 and until the Bruins lost a 2nd game. Montogomery is obviously a players coach and deferred to the leaders which probably resulted in most of their regular season success.

At the same time, Bergy had his reasons to play the last game. In the scheme of things, that may be more important to him than a longer playoff run….it was just really bad luck to get nicked up. You need luck and health for a good run, no matter how much depth…we didn’t have that this year.

Can I be honest here when I say I don't care one bit about Bergeron playing in that final game and injuring his back. That type of injury could of happened in a practice, or in the gym, or in Game 1 of the series. Just so happened in Game 82 against our age-old rival. The entire thing was blown out of proportion. It's not like Monty could place Bergeron in some chamber in between games where he does zero physical activity.

 

[maswe12]

Can I be honest here when I say I don't care one bit about Bergeron playing in that final game and injuring his back. That type of injury could of happened in a practice, or in the gym, or in Game 1 of the series. Just so happened in Game 82 against our age-old rival. The entire thing was blown out of proportion. It's not like Monty could place Bergeron in some chamber in between games where he does zero physical activity.

It’s just bad luck and age. HIndsight is 20/20. All just signs that it wasn’t meant to be.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Can I be honest here when I say I don't care one bit about Bergeron playing in that final game and injuring his back. That type of injury could of happened in a practice, or in the gym, or in Game 1 of the series. Just so happened in Game 82 against our age-old rival. The entire thing was blown out of proportion. It's not like Monty could place Bergeron in some chamber in between games where he does zero physical activity.

I don´t care either that he played Game 82, but the point is that he shouldn't have come back vs the Panthers because he completely sucked ass and was a liability.

 

[UncleRico]

Can I be honest here when I say I don't care one bit about Bergeron playing in that final game and injuring his back. That type of injury could have happened in a practice, or in the gym, or in Game 1 of the series. Just so happened in Game 82 against our age-old rival. The entire thing was blown out of proportion. It's not like Monty could place Bergeron in some chamber in between games where he does zero physical activity.

Doesn’t need to place him in some chamber. Just had to sit him. The injury happened on the ice and it compromised the rest of the playoffs.

Are you trying to say it was just as likely he got injured going through his normal, far less physical activities as it would be playing hockey?

 

[NDiesel]

Don't think Bergy's done. After he signed I got the impression we would be back next year as well. Time will tell.

Truthfully I'd prefer he hangs it up. All him coming back ensures is that we will likely sneak into the playoffs then lose yet another 1st round series or 2nd round if we're lucky

 

[BruinDust]

Doesn’t need to place him in some chamber. Just had to sit him. The injury happened on the ice and it compromised the rest of the playoffs.

Are you trying to say it was just as likely he got injured going through his normal, far less physical activities as it would be playing hockey?

Is practicing not playing hockey?

Do you think it would be realistic to only use Bergeron for games and never practice for a 2-month playoff run?

 

[Therick67]

HE DIDN'T PLAY BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER HE ALREADY DEBUNKED THAT MADE-UP BULLSHIT. IT WAS MONTGOEMRY'S DECISION TO "RAMP UP" FOR THE PLAYOFFS.

I believe Monty said the players decided they wanted to play.

Seems this guy let everyone else do the coaching. Bergeron, goalie Bob...

 

[veganbruin]

Love him forever. Time to stop clinging to the past. Let him and Krejci retire or just plain move on.

 

[UncleRico]

Is practicing not playing hockey?

Do you think it would be realistic to only use Bergeron for games and never practice for a 2-month playoff run?

He’s not getting hit while practicing so no I wouldn’t even come close to pumping those two together as the physical element is almost completely negated in practice and the physical element is what got him injured in the game.

 

[whatsbruin]

Thank you Patrice for everything you have done, and been for this franchise.
It seems like yesterday you were drafted.
The B's have gone through a lot in your career, and it was a pleasure following your career.
Best wishes where ever you end up and what ever you end up doing.

 

[BruinDust]

He’s not getting hit while practicing so no I wouldn’t even come close to pumping those two together as the physical element is almost completely negated in practice and the physical element is what got him injured in the game.

You don't think there is any physical element when NHL players practice? Sure they aren't out trying to take each others heads off with open ice hits. But to think that there is no physicality in practice? There is a reason why they wear contact and non-contact jerseys.

No physical element in practice? That may be the funniest thing I've heard all morning and I needed a good laugh.

 

[UncleRico]

You don't think there is any physical element when NHL players practice? Sure they aren't out trying to take each others heads off with open ice hits. But to think that there is no physicality in practice? There is a reason why they wear contact and non-contact jerseys.

No physical element in practice? That may be the funniest thing I've heard all morning and I needed a good laugh.

Let’s put it this way. How many injuries happen in practice compared to in game.

Now be reasonable and honest and you’ll say there is an exponentially higher number of players who get injured in games than practices.

 

[Therick67]

He didn't get hurt in practice, he got hurt in a meaningless game, because they didn't want to be 'rusty'. I'm glad they weren't rusty...

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

He’s going to retire. I think he costed us this cup run and is going to come to the conclusion that his health just isn’t where it needs to be in order to win another cup—which is a logical conclusion. He was a -6 in two games, which is completely uncharacteristic of him.

Had a great year, but a herniated disc is hard to recover from without surgery and he already almost retired last year.