Bergeron's retirement makes this NHL star happy for this one reason

For many fans, Bergeron's retirement brought a sense of sadness, especially among the devoted Bruins faithful. However, one player, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, saw a bright side to this momentous event.

In a recent interview with Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Barkov candidly expressed his unique perspective on Bergeron's retirement, saying, "With Patrice Bergeron retired, his faceoff percentage will go up."

It's a simple statement, but it carries significant weight. Barkov has consistently excelled in faceoffs, but he's often been overshadowed by Bergeron's remarkable prowess in this aspect of the game.

Now, with Bergeron stepping away from the NHL, Barkov sees an opportunity to claim the top spot in faceoff percentages in the upcoming 2023-24 season.

To give you some context, Barkov's career-high faceoff percentage is 56.9 percent, achieved during the 2021-2022 season. In contrast, Bergeron boasts an astonishing 12 seasons with percentages above that mark, including an impressive six instances of surpassing 60 percent.

As we eagerly await the 2023-24 season, hockey fans everywhere will be watching closely to see if Barkov can indeed become the new faceoff king. With Bergeron now in a spectator role, a new era in the faceoff battle is set to begin, promising excitement and the potential for change on the ice.

Source: Hockeyfeed