Team Canada's snub of Bruin stalwart a shame and a mistake.
I'm pretty sure Patrice Bergeron is a citizen of Canada. It even says right in the Bruins' 2009-10 media guide that Bergeron skated for Team Canada at the 2004 and 2006 World Championship and the '05 World Junior Championship.
But I have yet to find one projection of Hockey Canada's entry for the 2010 Winter Olympics -- some which have been quiet expansive and inclusive -- mention the Bruins' star center as a candidate to head to Vancouver in February. And that's a Canadian shame.
Now if you're a loyal Bruins backer, you probably want Bergeron to continue to float under Hockey Canada's radar. With Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Marco Sturm, and Tim Thomas pretty much guaranteed to have to work rather than take a two-week break during the Games, the Bruins' stretch run figures to be compromised enough without Bergeron also competing on the international stage. If you're looking at the situation from a Hockey Canada perspective, however, I don't know how you can overlook the 24-year-old.
It should be noted that Hockey Canada executive director Steve Yzerman, while understandably playing his cards close to the vest when it comes to specific players, has often stated that he's keeping every Canadian-born player in consideration for his squad's roster. That would put Bergeron in the running, even though he wasn't part of the Hockey Canada summer orientation camp. And the nonexistent national media attention toward the Boston mainstay would indicate that Randy Jones' hit in the fall of '07 not only cost Bergeron a season of his career but also knocked him a rung or two down the Team Canada pecking order.
Ottawa's Mike Fisher, Detroit's Dan Cleary, and Buffalo's Derek Roy are all fixtures in stories listing "others under consideration" for a final roster spot or two on the stacked Canadian roster. Even ESPN colleague John Buccigross listed second-year Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos and Dallas sophomore James Neal without giving Bergeron a sniff.
So where's Bergeron? I'll tell you where he is. He's right in the thick of the Bruins' early- season turnaround and back at the precipice of superstardom as Boston's best two-way player, right where he was before that ill-fated shot from behind against Philadelphia.
Other players have sexier numbers, but no one produces offensively and does all the things that don't show up on the score sheet the way Bergeron has. Every game, he gets better. Team Canada is sure to be a star-studded crew led by Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, and Dany Heatley. To win gold though, it takes a mix of studs and role players. Bergeron would be the perfect blend of someone who could hold his own on the attack while locking up snipers from the other loaded lineups. Bergeron is eighth in the league in faceoff percentage and only Crosby has won more draws to this point. He's only a minus-two on the season, but you have to take into account the Bruins' slow start (especially defensively) and the added ice time and opponents' attention he took on while Marc Savard was out with a broken foot.
Adding to his Olympic-worth resume, Bergeron can play the wing for a team that has way too many centers. And he showed in international competition -- back when Hockey Canada was showing him the love -- that he can forge chemistry with Crosby. Heck, in a Boston uniform Bergeron has managed to make music in the offensive zone with any number of teammates, including Sturm, Chuck Kobasew, and now Milan Lucic.
There's obviously a laundry list of All-Stars who will make Team Canada's roster, and few, if any, spots are still available with a little more than a month remaining before the announcement of players. Bergeron might not be able to crack that group of players, but his performance so far this season should at least have him in contention.
I'm pretty sure Patrice Bergeron is a citizen of Canada. It even says right in the Bruins' 2009-10 media guide that Bergeron skated for Team Canada at the 2004 and 2006 World Championship and the '05 World Junior Championship.
But I have yet to find one projection of Hockey Canada's entry for the 2010 Winter Olympics -- some which have been quiet expansive and inclusive -- mention the Bruins' star center as a candidate to head to Vancouver in February. And that's a Canadian shame.
Now if you're a loyal Bruins backer, you probably want Bergeron to continue to float under Hockey Canada's radar. With Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Marco Sturm, and Tim Thomas pretty much guaranteed to have to work rather than take a two-week break during the Games, the Bruins' stretch run figures to be compromised enough without Bergeron also competing on the international stage. If you're looking at the situation from a Hockey Canada perspective, however, I don't know how you can overlook the 24-year-old.
It should be noted that Hockey Canada executive director Steve Yzerman, while understandably playing his cards close to the vest when it comes to specific players, has often stated that he's keeping every Canadian-born player in consideration for his squad's roster. That would put Bergeron in the running, even though he wasn't part of the Hockey Canada summer orientation camp. And the nonexistent national media attention toward the Boston mainstay would indicate that Randy Jones' hit in the fall of '07 not only cost Bergeron a season of his career but also knocked him a rung or two down the Team Canada pecking order.
Ottawa's Mike Fisher, Detroit's Dan Cleary, and Buffalo's Derek Roy are all fixtures in stories listing "others under consideration" for a final roster spot or two on the stacked Canadian roster. Even ESPN colleague John Buccigross listed second-year Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos and Dallas sophomore James Neal without giving Bergeron a sniff.
So where's Bergeron? I'll tell you where he is. He's right in the thick of the Bruins' early- season turnaround and back at the precipice of superstardom as Boston's best two-way player, right where he was before that ill-fated shot from behind against Philadelphia.
Other players have sexier numbers, but no one produces offensively and does all the things that don't show up on the score sheet the way Bergeron has. Every game, he gets better. Team Canada is sure to be a star-studded crew led by Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, and Dany Heatley. To win gold though, it takes a mix of studs and role players. Bergeron would be the perfect blend of someone who could hold his own on the attack while locking up snipers from the other loaded lineups. Bergeron is eighth in the league in faceoff percentage and only Crosby has won more draws to this point. He's only a minus-two on the season, but you have to take into account the Bruins' slow start (especially defensively) and the added ice time and opponents' attention he took on while Marc Savard was out with a broken foot.
Adding to his Olympic-worth resume, Bergeron can play the wing for a team that has way too many centers. And he showed in international competition -- back when Hockey Canada was showing him the love -- that he can forge chemistry with Crosby. Heck, in a Boston uniform Bergeron has managed to make music in the offensive zone with any number of teammates, including Sturm, Chuck Kobasew, and now Milan Lucic.
There's obviously a laundry list of All-Stars who will make Team Canada's roster, and few, if any, spots are still available with a little more than a month remaining before the announcement of players. Bergeron might not be able to crack that group of players, but his performance so far this season should at least have him in contention.
I love Bergeron, but Kalman is overrating him wicked badly here.
Yeah, this article screams of homerism. No one outside of Boston would have written that or even think about having Bergeron on Team Canada. Not because he's not good, but because there are plenty of elite players ahead of him who won't get an invite.
Good to see Bergy getting some well deserved recognition. He certainly appears to be back to pre-concusssion level.
However, he's still a huge long shot for Team Canada. Mike Fisher is off to a great start for Ottawa with 10 goals (4 game winners) and 11 assists. He's even better defensively and more physical than Bergeron. But if Bergy gets red hot along with the Bruins, you never know.
If the concussion never happened, I believe that Patrice would very much be on Yzerman`s radar, truth be told, although we Bruin fans have seen him get better, stronger, more confident, this has been a process that has taken more than a year to get him to the stage he is at now (which still isn`t pre-concussion Bergy).
The truth of the matter is, at almost every position up for grabs within TC`s Olympic roster, there is guaranteed a minimum of 2, probably closer to 3 players who could easily be a very reliable and solid player for the country, unfortunately, not enough room for all the available talent. Any way you look at it, Yzerman will have fans from all teams angry that one of their own isn`t on the team. Still time left for Stevie to make decisions, and I don`t put Yzerman in the category as someone who holds past injuries/country representation snubs as a reason for roster decisions.
If Bergy is continues to play strong hockey, my opinion is he needs to bring it up a slight notch to make Yzerman really take notice, but if his strong play continues, there is plenty of evidence from his previous bodies of work with Team Canada that Bergeron has to be at least considered. Regardless of what happens, I am more passionate about my favourite team winning a Stanley Cup with Bergy`s contributions than the country I live in winning Gold in an event that I still believe should be participated in by amateurs.
This isn`t a "snub" by Yzerman and Co. it`s a situation that Canada has a huge pool of legitimate players who can equally represent their country, plenty of difficult decisions for SY.
Wasn't it two years ago that Gretzky said he thought Bergy was one of the most underrated players in the NHL? I feel so privileged to have him on the Bruins. What a quality guy -- and not just on the ice.
As far as I'm concerned, the fewer Bruins that make these Olympic teams, the better. Let as many of our team get the extra rest and relaxation and save the big plays for when it counts, the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Sounds like the adlib tone of a Shaugnessey editorial piece... gimme a break - Bergeron is a good player, good enough to contribute to a team like that, but he is in the thick of things with at least 30-35 other quality forwards who can have that same impact for the Canada squad.
A slight, not in the least, and if you consider it one after his past 2 seasons then you need to watch other team's games and stars a bit more.
I believe it was Bob McKenzie who had Bergeron as his sleeper pick to make the team right around the beginning of the season. I don't think it's too ludicrous of an idea... And I'm sure if he DID make it, he'd turn some heads.
I've said this before... Bergeron isn't the kind of guy who can elevate the talent around him, but whoever he plays with, he will always be the best player on his line. He'd be killer for Team Canada, if it would be considered... which it probably won't.
Before the season started no one knew what form Bergeron would come back in. It was not until recently that he has begun to pick things up.
I think the bigger outrage is not having Savard on the team.
To a lesser extent and especially if Komi is there, M. Stu not making team USA would also be wrong.
If the one dimensional Komisarek isn't there, I have no problem with Stuart not being there. If Komi does make it and Stuart (as well as about 10 others) doesn't, there should be an investigation.
As far as I'm concerned, the fewer Bruins that make these Olympic teams, the better. Let as many of our team get the extra rest and relaxation and save the big plays for when it counts, the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Yeah I'm fine with this line of thought too.
Remember when the Sens were having that amazing season and then Hasek got hurt? They probably could have won it all that season.
It'll be a pretty big accomplishment if he can simply work himself on to the team Canada radar. I don't expect him to get serious consideration given the insane depth Canada has up front though. He'd make a solid role player on an Olympic team.
If the team was picked today, I think he'd have a better chance of making it than Savard.
Jeesh - get a grip.
Since when is Bergeron a "star"?
Good god - have you seen the Canadien roster - EVERY player on the projected roster is a better player than Bergeron.
Bergeron is having a good bounceback year - he wasn't great last year and seems to be rounding into form now...but let's see him put up a full season before we start the myth making.
I think the point is not that Bergeron deserves to be on the team, but that his name should at least be mentioned when people are talking about possible add-ons to Team Canada's roster.
Jeesh - get a grip.
Since when is Bergeron a "star"?
Good god - have you seen the Canadien roster - EVERY player on the projected roster is a better player than Bergeron.
Bergeron is having a good bounceback year - he wasn't great last year and seems to be rounding into form now...but let's see him put up a full season before we start the myth making.
Bergeron = the new Axelsson on HF boards.
I don't believe Bergeron is at the point of being considered for the Canadian Oympic team unless he really goes on a tear the next few weeks.
However, I really believe you are selling this guy short. He has been by far the most consistent player for the Bruins this season. I can only imagine where this team would be without him. He plays well in all 3 zones & all important situations & has put up decent offensive numbers while playing with questionable wingers up to this point. He takes most of the big faceoffs & from all accounts is a very good leader in the room. All of those things are qualities Team Canada should look for.
I am so happy he is rounding back into form because you can just see how much he loves the game. He had a tough year last year coming off a serious injury & I can only imagine the mental aspect he had to get over coming off of such a dibilitating injury so early in his career.
Does he deserve to be on the team. Probably not but it is great to see him get some well deserved recognition as he has worked his way back to again being an absolutely huge part of this team.
Coming into the season he shouldn't have been in the orientation camp. Sure he was good defensively last year but there are two-way forwards that could score much more as well. Given how he's played this season so far, maybe he gets a late look but that's no easy lineup to try and crack.
I think the point is not that Bergeron deserves to be on the team, but that his name should at least be mentioned when people are talking about possible add-ons to Team Canada's roster.
I still think Kalman's article goes a little far, though. A shame and a mistake? A slight oversight, perhaps (I think Bergie would perform well there), but hardly something to be embarrassed about.
