Bruins make the best draft selection in franchise history?
Nineteen years ago today, the Boston Bruins couldn't have made a better selection with their 45th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Which was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
On June 22nd, 2003, In the second round, the Boston Bruins selected centre Patrice Bergeron from Acadia-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL.
Check out young Bergy here:
Bergeron has played 18 seasons with the Boston Bruins, appearing in 1,216 games and recording 400 goals and 582 assists for a total of 982 points. He was named captain for the Bruins on January 21st, 2021.
The NHL veteran has won the Frank J. Selke Trophy five times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2022) and has been a finalist 11 seasons in a row. He has also won the Mark Messier Leadership Award (2021), NHL Foundation Player Award (2014) and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (2013).
Most importantly, Bergeron was an integral piece to the Boston Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup Championship and two Olympic Gold Medals with Canada. He also became one of thirty members of the 'Triple Gold Club' in 2011 (Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup).
The 2003 Draft was stacked!
The 2003 Draft was one of the deepest in NHL history. The first round included Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Thomas Vanek, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, Ryan Suter, Dustin Brown, Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Mike Richards, Brent Burns, Ryan Kesler, and Corey Perry.
While the second was loaded, too, with Loui Eriksson, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, David Backes, Jimmy Howard and Corey Crawford.
Joe Pavelski, Tobias Enstrom, Dustin Byfuglien, Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliot were also all selected in the seventh round and beyond.
