In the art of the draw, Bergeron has few, if any, equals.

For starters, he's strong on his stick, backhand and forehand, and he has an unpredictability that keeps other centers off balance. Throw in superb anticipation, a scholar's approach to the task, and have it all backed up by a richly deserved reputation as the best in the business that provides him with a distinct psychological edge.

A perennial Selke Trophy candidate, he's been a finalist for an NHL-record 12 consecutive seasons, Bergeron is indisputably among hockey's finest two-way players.

Born in L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Bergeron was one of the rare talents to make the leap straight into the NHL after playing only one full junior season for Acadie-Bathurst of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2002-03. His 73 points, including 50 assists, in 70 games was eye-catching, but his all-around game displayed a surprising maturity.

Selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round (No. 45) in the 2003 NHL Draft, Bergeron arrived that fall, all of 18 years old, and impressed with 16 goals and 39 points in 71 games and finished eighth in the Calder Trophy voting.

With the NHL embroiled in a work stoppage, Bergeron spent the 2004-05 season with Providence of the American Hockey League and finished with 21 goals and 61 points in 68 games.

He'd never see the minors again.

Despite missing all but 10 games of 2007-2008 because of a concussion, Bergeron's influence on the ice and inside the dressing continued to grow. In Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, Bergeron scored two goals as the Bruins claimed their sixth title over seven hard-fought games against the Vancouver Canucks.

That made Bergeron a member of the elite Triple Gold Club, reserved for players who've won a gold medal at the Olympics and World Championship, and the Stanley Cup.

In 2011-12, he led the NHL in plus-minus (plus 36), finished second in faceoff win percentage (59.3) and won his first Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward. He also had 64 points.

He won the Selke for a record fifth time in 2021-22 to break a tie with Bob Gainey, who won it four times with the Montreal Canadiens from 1977-81 and has been a finalist for a record 11 consecutive seasons. He had 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games this season and seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Bruins were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round, before having surgery to repair a tendon in his left elbow.

Bergeron was named the 20th captain of the Bruins on Jan. 7, 2021. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Bruins as an unrestricted free agent Aug. 8 to return for his 19th season in the NHL and had the secondary assist on a goal by Brad Marchand for his 1,000th NHL point, a 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 22. The entire Bruins team came off the bench to celebrate with Bergeron after the goal was scored, which made him the the fourth Bruins player to have 1,000 points, joining Ray Bourque (1,506), Johnny Bucyk (1,339) and Phil Esposito (1,012), and the 41st NHL player to get 1,000 points with one team.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• QAAA Second All-Star Team (2002)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2015, 2016, 2022)
• Signed as a free agent by Lugano (Swiss), October 2, 2012.