Marc-André Bergeron
Power-play specialist defenceman who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Joseph Marc-André Bergeron (born October 13, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent ten seasons in the NHL and later played for the ZSC Lions of Switzerland’s National League. A power-play specialist, more than half of his career goals and points were scored with the man advantage.
Bergeron began his NHL career after signing with the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in 2001. His speed and end-to-end rushes drew comparisons to former Oiler Paul Coffey. He won over Edmonton fans during the 2003 playoffs with a memorable open-ice hip check that sent Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow tumbling. Bergeron was better known for his powerful slapshot than his defensive play; he won the Oilers’ hardest-shot competition two years in a row, recording a puck speed of 103.5 mph (about 165 km/h) in 2006.
Late in Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, Bergeron attempted to steer Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrew Ladd wide of the net, but the two collided with Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson, injuring him for the rest of the series. Edmonton regrouped without Roloson but lost the Finals in seven games.
After leaving the Oilers, Bergeron played for the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild. In October 2009, after star defenceman Andrei Markov was injured, he signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens. There, he played both forward on the fourth line and defence on the power play, though he endured a long scoring drought from December 31, 2009, to March 31, 2010. The Canadiens did not re-sign him when he became a free agent.
He signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent in January 2011 and was initially assigned to the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, where he had two goals and eight points in 13 games. Recalled in February, he appeared in 23 games with the Lightning, recording two goals and eight points, including one game-winner. He recorded two assists in his Lightning debut against the St. Louis Blues and became the third player in franchise history to score his first Lightning goal in overtime, against Carolina. Bergeron became a fan favourite and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins. He was re-signed to a two-year, $2 million contract in June 2011.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1980-10-13
- Birth Place
- Saint-Louis-de-France, Quebec, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 9
- Weight Lb
- 198
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Edmonton Oilers / New York Islanders / Anaheim Ducks / Minnesota Wild / Montreal Canadiens / Tampa Bay Lightning / Carolina Hurricanes / ZSC Lions
- Draft
- Undrafted
- Career Start
- 2002
- Career End
- 2017
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bergeron was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 4, 2011, and initially assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, where he recorded two goals and eight points in 13 games. He was recalled to the Lightning on February 5 and spent the remainder of the season in Tampa Bay, appearing in 23 games and recording two goals and eight points, including one game-winning goal. He recorded two assists in his Lightning debut on February 6 against the St. Louis Blues and became the third player in franchise history to score his first Lightning goal in overtime on February 12 versus Carolina. Bergeron became a fan-favourite and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins. On June 28, Bergeron was re-signed to a two-year contract worth $2,000,000. During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Bergeron was traded by the Lightning to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Adam Hall and a seventh-round draft pick on April 2, 2013.
Reader's Guide
Marc-André Bergeron's tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, though brief, was marked by timely contributions and a memorable debut. Signed as a free agent in January 2011, he quickly made an impact by recording two assists in his first game and scoring his first goal for the franchise in overtime, a feat that placed him among only three players in team history to achieve that distinction. Over 23 games, he posted two goals and eight points, including a game-winner, and became a fan-favourite as the Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. His power-play expertise, honed throughout his NHL career, was a key asset. After re-signing for two years, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in April 2013, ending his time in Tampa Bay. Bergeron later left the NHL to play for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, winning a Swiss championship in 2014 and the Swiss Cup in 2016. After returning to North America and playing in the AHL and NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, he retired from professional play and moved into player development and front-office roles, including vice-president and general manager of the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL.
Did You Know?
- More than half of Bergeron's career goals and points came on the power play.
- He recorded his first Lightning goal in overtime on February 12, 2011, becoming the third player in franchise history to do so.
- After his NHL career, he won the Swiss championship in 2014 and the Swiss Cup in 2016 with the ZSC Lions.
More in Tampa Bay Lightning Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced