Bergeron: First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Bruins Icon Patrice Bergeron Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame on First Ballot
Key Points
Patrice Bergeron was selected 45th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins and made his NHL debut on October 8, 2003.
In Bruins history, Bergeron ranks third in games played, goals, and points, and fourth in assists, underscoring his place among the franchise’s all-time leaders.
Bergeron was a premier faceoff specialist, leading the NHL in faceoff wins eight times and in faceoff win percentage five times.
The Bruins are retiring Bergeron’s No. 37 this season, making him the 14th Bruin to have his number retired and aligning that honor with Zdeno Chara’s legacy.
Bruce Cassidy, Bergeron’s former Bruins coach, described his defensive game as 'his stick was elite in passing lanes,' underscoring Bergeron’s enduring impact as a defensive-forward benchmark.
Patrice Bergeron is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on June 22, selecting Bergeron in his first year of eligibility NHL.com. The Boston Bruins legend played 19 seasons, scored 427 goals, and totaled 1,040 points in 1,294 games — all third-best in Bruins franchise history.
Bergeron joins goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne, power forward Keith Tkachuk, women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley, and executive Brian Burke in the Class of 2026 Lancaster Online. The group will be formally inducted in Toronto in November 2026.
Six Selke Trophies Sealed a First-Ballot Case
Bergeron won the Frank J. Selke Trophy six times — an NHL record for a forward NHL.com. The Selke goes to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. Before Bergeron, Bob Gainey held the record with four wins. Bergeron won his sixth and final Selke in 2023, the year he retired.
His defensive numbers backed up the hardware. Bergeron led the NHL in faceoff wins eight times and in faceoff win percentage five times. His career faceoff win rate was 61.1%. Former Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy put it plainly: "His stick was elite in passing lanes. He didn't just react to plays; he dictated where the puck was allowed to go" NHL.com.
A 2011 Cup, Two More Finals, and a Triple Gold Club Membership
Bergeron's biggest moment came on June 15, 2011. He scored two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Vancouver. Boston won its first championship in 39 years. Bergeron also led the Bruins to the Finals in 2013 and 2019, though both ended in losses WMTW.
He also excelled on the international stage. Bergeron is a member of the Triple Gold Club — a rare group of players who have won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and a World Championship gold. He won Olympic gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014, and a World Championship gold in 2004. He added a 2017 World Cup of Hockey title as well NHL.com.
Bruins to Raise No. 37 to the Rafters This Season
The Bruins announced plans to retire Bergeron's No. 37 this season WMTW. He will become the 14th player in franchise history to have his number retired. That puts him alongside legends like Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, and Zdeno Chara. Bruins GM Don Sweeney said, "Patrice didn't just play for the Bruins; he defined what it meant to be a Bruin for two decades."
The news has already sparked huge demand in Boston. Local sports radio 98.5 The Sports Hub reported that the jersey retirement game has seen the highest secondary-market ticket demand for a regular-season game in TD Garden history. Bergeron was selected 45th overall in the 2003 draft — and went on to outperform every one of the 44 players picked ahead of him NHL.com.
Price, Rinne, and a Class Built Around Complete Players
Bergeron is not the only headliner in the Class of 2026. Carey Price, the former Montreal Canadiens goaltender, won the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy in the same season. Pekka Rinne was the face of the Nashville Predators for over a decade. TSN analyst Pierre LeBrun called the class "the Year of the Professional," saying Price, Rinne, and Bergeron are "three of the most respected locker-room leaders in the history of the expansion era" NHL.com.
Keith Tkachuk brings 538 career goals as one of the greatest American-born power forwards ever. Cindy Curley was a high scorer at the 1990 Women's World Championships and a cornerstone of the first USA Women's National Team. Brian Burke rounds out the class as a builder, recognized for his work as an executive and his advocacy through the "You Can Play" initiative Lancaster Online.
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