Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli on Patrice Bergeron: 'His progression won't stop'
With his team down 2-1 in a second round series against the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli took an opportunity Wednesday to praise center Patrice Bergeron who, at 28-year-old, appears to be getting better with age.
Peter Chiarelli on Patrice Bergeron:"its the best I've seen him play. His progression won't stop. I see him getting 35 goals per season."
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 7, 2014
Chiarelli added Bergeron is "such an honest player."
Bergeron is coming off his second career 30-goal regular season, his first since 2005-06. He is a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy (with one from 2012 already on his mantle) and leads the Bruins in playoff scoring with three goals and six assists in eight games while posting a team high 61.2 Corsi for percentage at even strength.
After having missed most of the 2007-08 NHL season due to concussion, Bergeron may have more miles left in the tank than his age would suggest. As such, it would not be a stretch to argue that he could up his scoring while maintaining his all-around game moving forward. Not bad for a 45th overall pick in 2003.
In the present, the Bruins will need more of the same from Bergeron if they have any hope of coming back in their series against Montreal.