Former Bruins Forward Values Underrated Part Of Patrice Bergeron’s Career

Andy Brickley played for five different teams in his 11-year NHL career, including spending four seasons with the Boston Bruins.

That’s the norm for most players in the league. What Bruins great Patrice Bergeron did isn’t.

Bergeron never took off the Black and Gold sweater as he played all 19 seasons of his career with the Bruins. It’s an underrated part of Bergeron’s career sticking with one franchise and something Brickley, who serves as NESN’s color commentator on Bruins broadcasts, deeply values.

“I think the thing that I really appreciate about Patrice’s career was it was 100% with the Boston Bruins,” Brickley said on NESN’s “The Hockey Hub” podcast. “You think of some of the great players: Ray (Bourque) finished his career — storybook ending winning Game 7 Stanley Cup — but that was done in Colorado. (Phil) Epso(sito) gets traded in the mid-70s to the Rangers. Johnny Bucky started his career in Detroit. (Wayne) Cash(man) was 100% a Bruin. So, there’s very few of those spend your entire career with (players). (Rick Middleton) came over with the Rangers.

“I think I appreciate that a lot about Bergeron. I think it’s very special that he was a Bruin his entire career and what he accomplished as a Boston Bruin and winning that Stanley Cup in 2011 along with all the individual accolades.”

Even Bobby Orr in controversial fashion finished out his career by playing two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bergeron along with several other Bruins legends were back at TD Garden on Sunday for the team’s centennial game. Bergeron, who retired following the 2022-23 season, even admitted there was a part of him that he wished he could suit up for the game.

While Bergeron never got the chance to know what it was like to go against the Bruins during his playing days, he could experience it in retirement. Bergeron said he would “consider” joining an expansion team in some fashion if it came to Quebec City.

You can watch all episodes of “The Hockey Hub” podcast on YouTube and Spotify.