So many reasons why everything has turned around for us. Offensive depth, our amazing duo in net and on and on...however another major reason I like to point to is the player I consider to be the Heart and Soul of the B's...Bergy!
Cool as a Cucumber, always dependable, offensively gifted yet defensively responsible year in and year out to me he is the Bruins MVP.
A steal in the 2nd round (45th overall) in 2003, Bergy made the B's lineup as an 18-year old with basically one year experience in major junior. Its pretty much unheard of to stick with the big club as an 18 year old when you're a second round pick and just as rare for a player who only had one year major junior experience. But it just goes to show how good this guy is. From his rookie year when I fell in love with the style this guy played through now 8 full seasons later.
Just 26 years old and he will already play his 500th game as a Bruin in the next couple months keeping in mind he missed an entire season due to the lockout in 04-05 and of course missed almost a full season in 07-08 after the viscious Jones hit from behind.
Stats are stats and of course don't lie but to me the biggest intangible with Bergy is he knows how to win. His resume now boasts a World Junior Championship, World Championship, Olympic Gold Medal and yes of course topped off with a Stanley Cup Ring. How many players in the game today can bring that experience to a team...and at 26 years of age??
I've taken some heat for this in the past but I truly consider Bergy to be an elite player in the NHL. Anyone who has debated this with me always point out the fact that they don't think his offensive numbers put him in that category. To me Bergy is a guy I want on the ice in the last two minutes of a game whether we're up a goal OR we're down a goal. That sums up who he is and what he means to our team.
Part of his under rated nature I believe also is what he does in the face-off circle. Puck possession is a huge part of the game and who does Coach throw out more then any other player when we need to win a key draw?? Living near Toronto I had to listen to Leaf fans and media blow their load over David Steckle and how amazing he was on face-offs...well here is our guy who brings that to our team and unlike Steckle doesn't need to skate to the bench as soon as he wins the draw!
The ultimate compliment a player can recieve is from other players in the league. And even though I can't stand him...ask Pussy Boy Crosby which player he loves playing with? World Juniors, Olympics Crosby would go out of his way to let it be known he wanted to play on a line with Bergy...what does that tell ya? Ask Marchy and Segs who really makes their line go? He makes it easier for those around him to do their thing because he takes care of so many of the "little" things when he is on the ice!
Anyway in the midst of this 8-game winning streak I thought it would be a great time to pay tribute to the player I really think makes this team go moreso then any other. Please give me feedback whether you agree or disagree?? Do you have another Bruin that you think is moreso the Heart and Soul of our Bruins? Again feedback always welcomed people!
- Ashley
No comments:
Post a Comment