Patrice Bergeron. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Being in Las Vegas this time of year's old hat for Bruins star Patrice Bergeron. The NHL awards are tonight, and Bergeron's a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward for the seventh straight year. He's won four of them--tied with Hall-of-Famer Bob Gainey for the most ever since the honor came into existence in 1978.
The Flyers' Sean Couturier and Anze Kopitar from the Kings are the other candidates. Bergeron told NESN he's humbled.
"It'd be a huge honor," he said. "Obviously, I was up against Datsyuk for a while, and I still respect him so much, the way they played the game. Bob Gainey was the other one that's got four Selkes, and someone that I obviously look up to and was a legend of the game, named in the top 100 players in history. That says a lot, and that means a lot to me. I don't feel like I'm on the same level as these guys, but I'm definitely very humbled and thankful."
Bruins' Bruce Cassidy Honored By Coach Of The Year Nomination
Bergeron has B's coach Bruce Cassidy's support. Cassidy's a finalist for Coach of the Year.
"I think the Selkes become not as much about the best defensive player, but the best two-way players. Most of the guys who get nominated now are putting up points, and he's able to do that too while he's checking the other team's best players. He's a terrific person, great hockey player. Listen, I would vote for him every year."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports