It's important that I preface what I'm about to say with this: I'm not happy that Patrice Bergeron is going to miss at least two weeks due to a broken foot. It's impossible to take any sort of joy in a player in the midst of an MVP-like season missing time due to injury.
...But this may not be the worst thing to happen to Bergeron and the Bruins in the now.
In fact, it may even prove to be a good thing.
No, seriously!
I could put all of Bergeron's accolades (he was paced for an NHL-record fifth Selke this season, and he still may be able to capture that), his impressive offensive totals (27 goals and 54 points in 55 games), and role as the B's co-captain on the table if I wanted to explain his importance to Boston. Still, it'd feel like I was selling him short.
So, let's keep it simple: To get anywhere close to a Stanley Cup this spring, the Bruins need the 32-year-old Bergeron in the best possible condition from the start of their run.
And if that means two weeks -- we should be smart enough to know that it'll be longer, at least if Bergeron is returning at full health, by the way -- away from the rink during one of the more rigorous stretches of the Black and Gold's season, so be it.
In fact, having this injury happen now and not when the Bruins are a week away from their first-round playoff series? Sign me up for that deal every single day of the week.
This is all a very dark thought process centered around robbing the Bruins of all their best all-around player and game's premier two-way talent, I know. But it's one that is almost entirely fueled by the simple fact that the never-say-die Bergeron logs the hardest minutes out of any forward on the Bruins, and quite possibly the NHL.
In the last five years alone, Bergeron ranks 20th among forwards in total time on ice, at 7,096:44. That includes 746:54 of shorthanded time on ice, which is the 13th-most among forwards. Bergeron is also one of four players with at least 3,000 shifts started in the defensive-zone over this five-year sample, which is kinda incredible when you look at his offensive production. And as you could have predicted, Bergeron has excelled in that run, and is the only center in the NHL to take at least 3,000 d-zone draws. He's won the most in the league in his own end, too, and has a 236-win lead over Ryan Kesler for first place. Suffice to say, this is not your run of the mill 7,096:44 of time on ice.
Limiting those miles now with the hope that Bergeron will be fully recharged when the games truly matter -- when the d-zone is going to be all Bergeron, all the time against Auston Matthews, Steven Stamkos, and Sidney Crosby in the East -- is beyond key.
Bergeron's forced break is also coming at the perfect time of an undoubtedly hectic schedule. In terms of quality (or lack thereof), not quantity, at the very least.
The Hurricanes, as you saw in large chunks of Tuesday's game, are trash. The Canadiens, a team with the viewing experience and playing style as enjoyable as opening bags of potato chips in your own face for 60 minutes, come to town on Saturday. And next week features head-to-heads with the Red Wings (investing your time in the Red Wings in 2018 is just sadomasochism) and a back-to-back weekend set spent with the Blackhawks (each game is matinee, too, meaning everything's gonna be worse than usual). The Bruins then exit that stretch with another game against the 'Canes and whatever sliver of playoff hope needs to be beaten out of them that night.
Realistically speaking, the Bruins are going to truly miss No. 37 this Thursday against the Penguins and next Thursday against Philly. Those teams, currently jockeying for first place in the Metropolitan Division, represent 'measuring stick' challenges in March.
That's a plus on its own, believe it or not, as it will force other members of their forward group to absorb tougher assignments and high-pressure situations. This will only help the B's figure out the personnel they can and can't get away with in postseason situations and matchups where No. 37 is not at their disposal for whatever reason.
But even if the Bruins go full Buffalo Season Series and drop more than they should against largely inferior competition, a 20-point playoff cushion should make you feel comfortable with just about everything. If not, here's some additional perspective on the points they've banked away thus far: It would take a 10-game losing streak to coincide with a 10-game winning streak for the Panthers to bump the Bruins from their spot in the Atlantic's bracket. And even then, I'd still like the B's chances of surging back in time.
So consider this the 'perfect' time for the Bruins to skate without Bergeron.
As long as it means he's at 100 percent upon his inevitable return, of course.
