导出博客文章BOSTON -- Patrice Bergeron was just 22 years old when a serious concussion
jeopardized his career. Now, less than two weeks before his 28th birthday, one
of the NHLs best two-way forwards is under contract for the next nine seasons
and hopes to retire with the only team hes played for, the Boston Bruins.
Bergeron signed an eight-year, $52 million extension Friday that starts once his
current three-year, $15 million deal expires after next season. "We dont want to
go anywhere else and so it was an easy decision for me and my family," the
Bruins alternate captain said in a conference call. Bergerons extension came two
days after the Bruins re-signed goalie Tuukka Rask, a restricted free agent, to
another eight-year contract. Its worth $56 million even though he just completed
his first full season as the teams No. 1 goalie. General manager Peter Chiarelli
was eager to keep two core players who were instrumental in Bostons run to the
Stanley Cup finals. "We want to try and get these guys locked up," he said, "the
pillars of the team." Chiarelli acknowledged the danger in such long-term
contracts, knowing that performance can diminish and injuries can increase. "You
accept a lot of the risks," he said, "but with a person of Patrices character
... who weve closely monitored his recovery over the years -- and its not
without risk. But Patrice is a terrific character guy and hes shown his
resiliency. So were comfortable with the risks." Bergeron learned early how a
promising career can be put in peril. He was off to a strong start in 2007-08
with three goals and four assists in 10 games. But he didnt play again that
season after sustaining a grade-three concussion and a broken nose when he was
checked into the end-boards by Philadelphia defenceman Randy Jones. Bergeron
said he didnt think much then about how the concussion might affect his future.
"It never really crossed my mind at that time," he said. "I was really just
trying to stay in the moment and try to get back on my feet and get good again.
I wasnt really thinking about the future and long term." Now he has one Stanley
Cup championship, in 2011, and one bid that fell just two wins short when the
Chicago Blackhawks clinched the title in six games on June 24. The prospect of
contending for another Cup was "a huge factor" in his decision to stay in
Boston. "You want to keep doing it, keep reliving the moment, the way that we
felt in 2011 after winning the Cup. Those are the memories that you never
forget," Bergeron said. He was outstanding throughout his 22 playoff games,
tying for the team lead with nine goals, including two winners in overtime. The
second-line centre played the last game of the finals with a broken rib on the
left side and a separated right shoulder. After that 3-2 loss, when Chicago came
from behind with two goals in the last 1:16, he was hospitalized with a
punctured lung. He was released two days later. Doctors have told him he could
resume working out on July 22, four weeks after the injury. He needs that time
to heal from the procedure in which a hole was put in his ribcage to allow air
out and let the lung re-inflate. "Its really more of my lungs than anything
else," Bergeron said. "My shoulder and my ribs are feeling better." A talented
playmaker and checker, he won the Selke Trophy in 2011-12 as the top defensive
forward in the NHL. He led the league in 2012-13 in faceoff percentage, winning
62.1 per cent of them. In his nine seasons, he has 153 goals and 280 assists. He
had 10 goals and 22 assists last season. In 83 playoff games, Bergeron has 20
goals -- none bigger than the two he scored in Game 7 of the opening round this
season against Toronto. The Bruins won three of the first four games before the
Maple Leafs won the next two and led 4-1 with less than 11 minutes left in the
third period. Nathan Horton cut the lead to 4-2, Milan Lucic scored an empty-net
goal with 1:22 left and Bergeron tied it with another empty-netter with 51
seconds remaining in regulation. Then he won the game -- and the series -- with
a goal at 6:05 of overtime. Chiarelli said Bergeron signed even though he could
have gotten more money on the open market after next season. "He embodies a lot
of what the Bruins stand for," Chiarelli said. "Hes a responsible player. Hes a
hard player. Hes a leader. Hes a clutch player. Hes just (had) a classic way of
carrying himself that I like to be part of and the Bruins like to be part of."
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. The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was
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effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on
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. "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The
Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer
with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the
Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in
the AL wild-card race. LSU?running back Leonard Fournette will not play in
Thursdays game against Texas A&M?(7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) because of the left
ankle injury that has hampered him throughout the season, according to team
sources.Fournettes status for the Thanksgiving Day game was first reported by
The Advocate.It will be the fourth game Fournette has missed this season, after
initially suffering the ankle injury during an August scrimmage.He missed most
of the second half against Florida?on Saturday, when he ran 12 times for 40
yards.Fournette did not practice this week and did not travel with the Tigers
(6-4, 4-3 SEC) to College Station on Wednesday, sources
said.ddddddddddddophomore Derrius Guice should handle the majority of the
carries in Fournettes absence, as he has throughout the season when Fournette
was unavailable. Guice leads the team with 964 rushing yards and 10 rushing
touchdowns, while Fournette -- who set an LSU record with 1,953 yards last
season -- has 843 yards and eight scores in seven games. ' ' '
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