Giving credit where credit is due

[Casey Jones]

In these harsh economic times, people have fallen into debt and have struggled to pay off loans and credit cards. The same can be said in fantasy hockey and the real NHL. In this instance, the debt that I speak of is the time/hopes invested in a certain player and the respect given to a certain individual in the NHL community. In this article, I'll examine two individuals and try to convince you why they deserve a little bit more credit than we have given them in the past.

Part 1~
Instead of writing about the ludicrous speed in which Phil Kessel has shot out of the gates, I am turning to one of the most infamous whipping boys in fantasy hockey, I am speaking of course of Marc-Andre Bergeron. Because of his booming shot, Bergeron has always been known as a PP-spe******t during his NHL career. Conversely, he has been known as a HUGE defensive liability. GMs, real-life and fantasy, knowing this have always taken the chance on him hoping that the positives outweigh the negatives. For the most part, the opposite of the matter has been true.

An undrafted defenseman out of juniors, this offensive powerhouse of the Q (111pts in 69 games in his last year) finally got his shot with Edmonton in 2003-2004. He had actually played 5 games the season prior, but it wasn't until the following year that Bergeron got time to show he belonged in the league. As a 24-year-old rookie defenseman, Bergeron put up respectable numbers posting 26 pts in 54 games, a .48 ppg pace. A little less than half of his points came on the powerplay as he potted three goals and added seven assists for a total of 10 pts while on the man advantage. What is interesting to see is that he was a very respectable plus-13 in +/- for the season. Things were looking promising for a young Bergeron. After a year in Sweden during the lockout, Bergeron would return to North America ready to build upon his commendable start to his NHL career. But, much to his dismay (probably), bad luck and poor play would ensue.

For the next few years Bergeron's offensive production would stay about status quo. The biggest developments to hamper his game would be a plethora of injuries and being perpetually stuck in whichever one of his coach's doghouse. Whether he was injured or on a short leash, GMs (real life and fantasy) could not benefit from this offensively minded defenseman's natural gifts. It seemed as though no coach could get to Bergeron. Though he was a lethal threat on the powerplay, his defensive liabilities were too great to keep him on the ice let alone in one location for long. From Edmonton, M-A made stops on the Island, in Anaheim, Minnesota, Montreal and finally, after a horrendous showing during the 2009-2010 playoffs where he posted only six pts and a disastrous minus-12 +- in 19 games, he found himself in the unemployment line at the start of the 2010-2011 season. Of note, Bergeron had one "plus" season after moving from Edmonton and it just so happens that it was with the Jaques Lemaire coached Minnesota Wild.

Things seemed bleak for M-A, but through all of his travels he had endeared himself to one person. It just so happens that this person was a newly appointed head coach in the NHL at the start of last season and was in need of a player of Bergeron's talents.

A new era began in Tampa Bay at the start of the 2010-2011 season. A revamped upper-management, new GM and head coach ushered in a sense of class to the Tampa Bay area that had not been seen since the Punisher movie (the one with John Travolta) came out and tarnished its image . With Stevie Y at the helm, popular opinion dictated that the new look Lightning were to follow the way of the Red Wings and slowly develop into a contending team. But, as we saw, they had something else to say about that. With first year coach Guy Boucher behind the bench, the Lightning would get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-2007 season. With a trip to the playoffs looking imminent prior to the trade deadline, Yzerman went out and signed the then unemployed MA Bergeron.

One of the trademarks of a Guy Boucher coached team is that he activates his defenseman often when pushing the play up the ice. Through the first half of the season, many players on the Lightning blue-line had auditioned for the part but none really took hold of the reins. It was at this time that Boucher must have looked back at the time he had spent in the AHL in Hamilton and found a familiar face looking like he had lost a treasured bone. While with the Bulldogs, Boucher had the chance to coach Bergeron as he made a visit from the Canadiens on a conditioning stint. It was at this time, though brief, that Bergeron must have endeared himself to his future coach by posting six assists and a plus-6 in three games. M-A certainly must be glad that he made such a good first impression for it landed him a job midway through the 2010-2011 season with the Lightning.

Bergeron's second impression was not as nice as his first. Though he brought his patented offense, or what shone through the rust, his play again would be highlighted with defensive blunders left and right culminating with a minus-12 rating in 37 games speckled with 11 pts (five coming via powerplay) during the regular season and playoffs. Though the time was short, Boucher must have believed in Bergeron's offensive abilities more than his defensive disabilities and it resulted in M-A's resigning of a two-year two million dollar deal this past summer.

Arguably the biggest trademark of a Guy Boucher coached team (no not his 1-3-1 trap) is that he makes all his players accountable and he commands their respect. They respect him, and he them. To put it awesomely, he's a badass coach and players love to play for him. He knows how to get players to play to their full capacities and pushes them to their limits whether it's a preseason practice or fighting for their playoff hopes. With time to spend with Bergeron over the summer, Boucher has seemingly transformed this once blue-line maligned player and brought the fight in the bulldog out of him while keeping him responsible in his own end. This is seen in Bergeron's terrific start to the season as he is tied atop the NHL standings for defenseman in points, as of 11/11/11, with 16 (though he has played two less games than Alex Edler) made up of three goals and 13 assists (one goal and three assists on the powerplay). Bergeron most importantly, to coaches and real GMs more so than fantasy, sports a nice plus-5 rating which is 1 less than the highest +- on the Lightning. Being more responsible in one's own end means more time to play and more time to shine.

The season is a little over a month...over, but things seem to be on the up and up with MA Bergeron. Credit should most definitely be given to Boucher, but it is Bergeron that is the one that is out there on the ice showing us that he has grown as a player. Where we once shuddered to take on a player in multi-cat leagues who was more of a detriment to our rosters than a benefit, we can now hopefully hold with a certain air of appreciation. The investment in him may have been much, but if you stuck with it past the downs and downs, we (Guy Boucher and Stevie Y included) are now reaping the benefits~