Bergeron wins Selke, ties Gainey
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
LAS VEGAS — Patrice Bergeron now walks with an all-time great.
A finalist for the Selke Trophy for six straight years, Bergeron tied Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey with his fourth win as the league’s top defensive forward.
Bergeron earned 1,147 voting points (including 71 firstplace votes), beating Anaheim Ducks center and 2011 recipient Ryan Kesler (945 points) and the Minnesota Wild’s Mikko Koivu (752).
The league gave a hint that Bergeron had won the award when Gainey came out to present the Bruins center with the trophy alongside actor Jay Baruchel.
“It was special,” Bergeron said. “It was one of those moments where you get a little emotional, getting it from a legend of the game and someone that I looked up to, named one of the 100 best players of the last century. It’s special.”
Gainey retired four years after Bergeron was born.
“I was a huge Nordiques fan, I think everyone knows that,” Bergeron said. “And they were a huge rival to the Canadiens. And he was always one of those guys who I guess you didn’t like on the ice because he was always the one shutting down guys. It was never great for the opponent. I had also heard of him off the ice and the role model that he is. It’s beyond just the hockey player that I respect.”
While his 21 goals signified a subpar season for Bergeron offensively, he was his usual self in his 200-foot game, leading the league in faceoff wins as well as shot attempts differential.
Though Bergeron has been a marvel of consistency, he said it’s a constant battle to stay on top of his defensive game.
“It’s one of those things that’s evolved over the years, that type of game. With the speed of the game and the way players skate now, it’s definitely harder, and you have to be on your toes even more to defend and be good defensively,” he said. “But that being said, it’s like anything. Everything evolves.
“They’ve taken away the red line, so the speed of the game is a lot faster. You have to work on your skating, and I’ve done that every summer since I’ve started playing in the league.”
Laing shines
Denna Laing, paralyzed in the women’s game before the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium in 2016, was recognized last night for the funds she raised while completing the Boston Marathon with longtime NHLer Bobby Carpenter.
Laing continues her demanding physical regimen, which has included rowing three times a week.
“I’m really trying to improve that core strength and upper-body strength, so it’s going better and going well,” she said.
Marchand first star
Brad Marchand was named an NHL First AllStar for the first time in his career, joining Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago’s Patrick Kane on the forward line.
Marchand had a careerhigh 39 goals and 46 assists this season.
The defenseman on the first team are San Jose’s Brent Burns and Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson. Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky is the goalie. . . .
The Bruins open their 201718 season at home against the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators on Oct. 5.
The full NHL schedule will be released today.