On Tuesday morning, the hockey world learned that one of the best of his generation is hanging up his skaters. Boston Bruins center and captain Patrice Bergeron announced in a statement through the organization that he has pla♏yed his final game in the NHL.
Bergeron, who turned 38 on Monday, walks away as one of the greatest defensive centers who has ever played. He won six Selke Trophies — I would argue they could re-name the trophy for Bergeron. In 2021, he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and in 2013 he was named the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
In 1,294 regular-season games, Bergeron scored 427 goals and added 613 assists. He scored 58 more goals with a🌟n additional 78 assists in 178 career postseason appearances as well.
His resume screams first ballot Hall of Famer.
And yet🔯, when we look at that resume, you might notice one element that might be surprisingꦫ today: he was a second-round pick.
Bergeron was the 45th player selected in the historic . That draft has been touted as one of the best in league history, and Bergeron falling as far as he did is frequently referenced when discussing the ridiculous depth of that draft class. Chicago certainly benefitted from that year’s class being exceptional; the Blackhawks selected Brent Seabrook in the first round, Corey Crawford in the second and Dustin Byfuglien in the eighth (245th overall).
The 2003 draft class really was amazing. 203 names were called before San Jose selected Joe Pavelski in the seventh round; he has played 1,250 regular-season games and crossed the 1,000-point mark this past season. Four players selected in the ninth round — Matt Moulson, Tanner Glass, Jaro Halak and Brian Elliott — have appeared in more than 500 regular-season games. And the draft is only seven rounds now!
Yes, that draft class is a historic outlier. Scouting has (hopefully, theoretically) improved in the 20 years since Bergeron and others were selected. But there are a few things we can take away from reading the names in that draft today — especially in light of how excited the hockey world was/is about the 2023 class.
Teams reach — and make mistakes. I don’t have to remind Rangers fans that their team took forward (and one-time Blackhawk) Hugh Jessiman at No. 12. He was immediately followed by future LA Kings captain Dustin Brown and Seabrook. He was a big body power forward and the Rangers needed a wagon in their lineup. So they took one. It happens.
Leaders aren’t always obvious — or high picks. Three players selected in the second round — Bergeron, Shea Weber and David Backes — went on to become captains in the NHL. I already mentioned Pavelski falling as far as he did that year. Not every future captain comes into the league and you already know he’s going to wear the C like Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews (or Connor Bedard for that matter).
Prospects are not finished products. Bedard has pointed out multiple times this summer that he’s still a teenager. Many prospects continue growing physically after they’re drafted. And their game might develop more than their body in the first couple years after their name is called. It is entirely possible that, by the end of an entry-level contract, a player is 1-2 inches taller than they are at the draft. Most players weigh more once they get into a professional workout and diet environment. The book on a career cannot — and should not — be written about a player when they’re 18 years old.
