Patrice Bergeron

Long one of the NHL's best three-zone forwards, Bergeron's all-around skillset still translates to fantasy production, even at the age of 36. The veteran center, anchoring Boston's all-world top line between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, produced 48 points in 54 games and only the reduced schedule prevented him from a fourth consecutive 30-goal campaign (23). Bergeron even managed to win a career-high 62.3 percent of his faceoffs while posting his best plus-minus rating (plus-27) since 2013-14. He endured durability issues in each of the previous three seasons but if he can once avoid the injury bug in 2021-22, Bergeron will be an exceptional fantasy value at his third-round draft ranking.

Bergeron was as productive as ever as a goal-scorer last season, potting 31 in just 61 games, but his assist production dipped significantly following his 47-helper performance in 2018-19, as he finished the 2019-20 campaign with just 25 apples. The 35-year-old vet has missed a total of 44 games over the past three campaigns due to injuries, namely a chronic groin issue which will continue to affect him for the remainder of his career, but he's remained a fantasy stud over that span despite his health issues, notching at least 30 goals, 55 points, 200 shots and 20 power-play points while posting a plus-minus rating of at least plus-21 in each of those seasons. Despite the fact that he may be entering the twilight of his illustrious career, Bergeron will remain a high-end fantasy option in 2020-21 due to his top-tier production across several major categories, making him worthy of an early-to-mid round pick in this year's drafts.

Despite a disappointing end to the Bruins' lengthy playoff run, Bergeron turned in a stellar effort in 2018-19, logging 32 goals and a career-high 79 points in 65 games en route to garnering his eighth straight Selke Award nomination. The 34-year-old is signed with Boston through the 2021-22 season and will thus reprise his duties as the team's No. 1 center in 2019-20.Now entering the elder statesman phase of his career, Bergeron has a well-deserved reputation as one of the league's top two-way forwards. He remains outstanding in the face-off circle and continues to use his smarts and savvy to set up others, while displaying a knack of putting himself in a position to create prime scoring opportunities. In addition to his understated yet highly effective skill-set, Bergeron's quiet leadership remains invaluable to the Bruins.

Bergeron is coming off a strong 2017-18 campaign in which he notched 30 goals and 63 points in 64 games, while centering one of the league's top lines and being flanked by Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. He finished third in voting for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward, and probably would have won the award were in not for a fractured foot that cost him 13 games. At 33 years old, Bergeron remains at the top of his game, with a well-deserved reputation as one of the league's top two-way forwards. He's outstanding in the faceoff circle and uses his smarts and savvy to set up others, as well as positioning himself for prime scoring opportunities. While not as flashy as his linemates, Bergeron's quiet leadership is invaluable to the Bruins, who have the roster composition to be one of the league's elite squads this season.

While Bergeron’s offensive numbers took a dip in 2016-17 -- 21 goals and 53 points in 79 games -- the 32-year-old pivot maintained his status as one of the league’s elite two-way forwards en route to capturing his fourth Selke Trophy. Supporting his case, the veteran pivot led the NHL in faceoff wins (1,089) and was third in winning percentage (60.1) last season. Fantasy-wise, it’s not like Bergeron’s goal-scoring opportunities dried up last year. His 302 shots on goal ranked third in the league and marked the second-highest mark of his NHL career. Given that he’s a power-play mainstay who’s locked into the Bruins’ top line alongside productive winger Brad Marchand, it’s not hard to imagine an uptick in production for Bergeron with just a little more puck luck. Moreover, Bergeron underwent successful offseason surgery to repair the sports hernia that nagged him all of last season, so he should come into 2017-18 fresh and ready to leap back into the 60-point range.

Bergeron finished the 2015-16 season with 32 goals and a team-high 68 points (including 25 on the power play) to go along with a plus-12 rating in 80 games. Though he didn’t capture the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the third season in a row (Anze Kopitar got the 2015-16 nod), the 31-year-old Bergeron remains one of the NHL’s premier two-way centers. With the Bruins’ organization stuck in the middle of quasi-contention while engineering a semi-rebuild, Bergeron remains the steady anchor of the squad’s forward corps and the closest thing that the organization has to an untouchable player when it comes to trade talks. Thanks to a decline in the quality of his overall team defense context, Bergeron’s once-gaudy plus-minus numbers have dipped the past couple of seasons, but the heady pivot remains an elite faceoff man and locked in as top-six forward with the Bruins, flanked normally by feisty left winger Brad Marchand, who is coming off a career year and like Bergeron, is in the midst of his prime as an NHLer.

While Bergeron's plus/minus took a big hit (from an elite plus-38 in 2013-14 to just plus-2 this past season), the dip was indicative of the Bruins’ issues as a whole rather than a downturn in the stellar two-way pivot’s individual play. En route to leading the team with 55 points in 81 games, Bergeron also recorded an NHL-best 60.2 faceoff winning percentage in 2014-15. Additionally, the 30-year-old remained the league's premier defensive stalwart at his position, capturing the Selke Trophy for the third time in four seasons. In the midst of an offseason that saw many key contributors leave Boston, Bergeron remains on hand as a steady anchor of the B’s forward corps. When he’s not racking up big plus/minus numbers, Bergeron’s fantasy impact tends to pale in comparison to his real-life value to the Bruins, but as long as he remains locked in as top-six forward who sees ample special teams duty, he’s still helpful in most fantasy formats. With Reilly Smith having been dealt, the B’s will be auditioning new right wingers for Bergeron, but it’s presumed that he’ll continue to work with feisty left winger Brad Marchand, given the solid on-ice chemistry that the duo have historically enjoyed.

Bergeron is coming off a season in which he recorded 30 goals and 62 points in 80 games for the B's, recording a spiffy plus-38 rating in the process. In doing so, he earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy - awarded to the league's best defensive forward – for the second time. Meanwhile, he continued his excellent work on faceoffs (winning 58.6 percent of his draws) and served as a key penalty killer for Boston. At 29, he’s a quiet leader and outstanding two-way player, who remains in his prime and poised to remain productive this season, while centering the Bruins’ second line.

At press time, Bergeron is recovering from several injuries that he sustained in the playoffs, but the Bruins’ outstanding two-way center expects to be healed up in time for the upcoming campaign. Bergeron finished the 2012-13 regular season with 32 points in 42 games and added 15 points in 22 playoff contests, while continuing to excel on faceoffs. Bergeron turned 28 in July and enters his prime signed for the next eight seasons, ensuring that he will remain a cornerstone of the Boston franchise, presuming his body holds up. The tough-as-nails Bergeron does have a concussion history, but when healthy, he is a perennial Selke Trophy candidate, who anchors one of the B’s top lines while providing the team with quiet leadership and remarkable consistency.

Bergeron, whose career once appeared in jeopardy due to concussions, won the Selke Trophy this past season as the NHL’s top defensive forward, a well-deserved honor for the superb two-way pivot. Bergeron had 22 goals and 64 points this past season in 81 games and was plus-36 with 20 minutes in penalties, 67 blocked shots and 55 takeaways. He was also brilliant in the face-off circle, winning 59.3 percent of the time including 53.5 percent of shorthanded draws. There are a number of NHL centers who routinely score with more frequency than Bergeron, but his all-around game makes him more elite in real terms than in fantasy circles.

Bergeron, who was a plus-20 with 57 points (22 of them goals) over 80 regular season games last season, continues to earn his keep as Boston's best two-way forward. His ability on draws and sound defensive play accompany a solid offensive skill set, though in fantasy terms, he's more consistent in that department than explosive. A word of caution though, Bergeron does have a history of concussions and every bone-jarring hit delivered on him brings a wince to Bruins' fans. Heading into 2011-12, look for him to center a well-rounded upper-tier line with some scoring upside, though keep in mind much of what makes him so important to the Bruins doesn't show up on the scoresheet.

Bergeron finished last season tied for the Bruins' scoring lead with 52 points (in 73 games), numbers that aren't gaudy, but his true value lies with the effective two-way effort he gives the team every night. With the addition of hotshot rookie Tyler Seguin, the Bruins remain deep and talented down the middle, so Bergeron will reprise his role as the team's ace, all-around pivot, with the likes of Marc Savard (if he is not dealt) and David Krejci working as the team's top playmaking centers.

It's been a trying past couple of years for Bergeron in the wake of the serious concussion he suffered early in the 2007-08 campaign, but his play down the stretch and in the playoffs suggests that he could be back on track offensively this season and could be a nice buy-low pick on the heels of his eight-goal, 31-assist (in 64 games) effort. That’s the positive spin. And we are hoping that’s how it pans out for a player that was once a budding two-way, point-per-game beast. The truth is, Bergeron suffered a scary concussion setback last year and sadly could be one big hit away from needing to hang up his skates.

In the back of everyone's minds, and probably Bergeron's too, will be the October hit that almost ended his career. From all accounts, his bell is un-rung and he's in good shape, so barring a setback - always a risk with such severe head trauma - his return will be a nice boost to a lineup that survived better than expected without him. Health-permitting he's a point-per-game lock and the team's best all-around forward. He's likely to be discounted on draft day, making him a good value play.

Bergeron took a step backward -- for him, anyway -- with a 70-point effort last year, thanks in large part to various injuries that curtailed his production late in the season. Don't be fooled, however -- this guy easily has 90/100-point potential if healthy. Bergeron was absolutely on fire in November and December last year, recording at least a point in 24 of 27 games. That's the kind of consistency that you as a fantasy owner should be looking for. He will likely slide down most fantasy depth charts this year, so take advantage and snap him up a round or two sooner than your fellow GMs would.

This quiet, unassuming leader has gone from being a mid second-round draft pick three years ago to one of the best young centers in the league … and a franchise cornerstone. He's just that good. He's the youngest Bruin ever to score 30 goals in a season and he should pot that many again this year. We think he's a point-a-game guy this season and maybe even a 95 to 100-point player in just a few short years. If there was ever a replacement for Joe Sakic in the great game of hockey, Bergeron is your man.

Bergeron was the surprise rookie of the last NHL season. The second-rounder jumped straight to the NHL and stuck there for the entire season, scoring 39 points and displaying a poise not usually associated with your average 18-year-old. Now 20, Bergeron has another full pro season under his belt, one where he has learned more about the power play and about being a go-to offensive guy night in and night out. The Bruins are strong and experienced up front, but Bergeron should see time on the second line (as a winger). He will also probably see time on the second power-play unit. He should be on every keeper squad already, and should be a solid 50-point man overall. Not too bad for a guy who can't buy himself a drink in the U.S.