Seguin Surprised By All-Star Nod, Bergeron Snub
BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Bruins forward Tyler Seguin has accomplished a lot already in his brief NHL career.
After winning a Stanley Cup his rookie season, Seguin has been named to his first All-Star team in just his second season, a special honor for the 19-year-old.
"I feel very honored, I feel privileged, obviously I couldn't have done it by myself a lot of praise to the linemates and the boys I'm very excited I feel very blessed about it," Seguin said about the All-Star nod after the Bruins 2-1 win over the Canadiens Thursday night.
Seguin has come out strong this season, leading the NHL in plus/minus at +33, and leading the Bruins with 38 points.
Still, Seguin was surprised to hear the news that he would be heading to Ottawa at the end of the month.
"I was very surprised; obviously it's a dream come true," he said. "Last year I went there I got to see a little bit but obviously I wasn't one of the All-Stars, I was just fortunate enough to be one of the rookies and meet those guys last year. A year ago before last year they were my idols growing up so you know it was very cool this year going as one of them is going to be a great experience."
Seguin On Being An All-Star
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"I think the fact that he's got an opportunity to go to the All-Star Game again, it's a great experience for him," said head coach Claude Julien. "Last year was even more so because he wasn't in the lineup every night, and I think it was good for him to be there. This year, he goes back again, and with probably a little bit more confidence because he's accomplishing more, and it'll be nice for him to get a second opportunity."
Seguin participated in the rookie competition last year in Carolina, but now will get to join teammates Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara in the real All-Star game this time around.
"I think it's a great thing for him," Chara said of Seguin. "It's an honor for him and for anybody who is selected. I'm sure it's going to be a good experience for him to see all these players. There's a lot of top players from different teams in the league all get together and hopefully he'll learn from them and carry it with him. He's come a long way from last year."
Read: Chara, Seguin Named All-Stars
One Bruin who will not be going to the festivities is center Patrice Bergeron. Seguin thanks Bergeron, his center, for his success this season, and was surprised by the NHL's omission of one of the best all-around players.
"Yeah I was very surprised at that as well. I kind of kept hearing Bergy was going," said Seguin. "I gave him so much credit for my success obviously not only for how he plays and how many opportunities he gives me but you know just being the guy that I can really follow. I mean I'm not copying but watching what he's doing not only on the ice but off the ice. I give him upmost credit."
Bergeron leads the Bruins with 25 assists and is tied for second in plus/minus with a +27.
Julien and his staff will be behind the bench for the game, and although he is disappointed one of his best players won't be joining them, he is kind of glad Bergeron, and the other B's to get the weekend off, can get some much needed rest.
"It's a double-edged sword: In the selfish way, you're glad that your guys are getting some rest, but at the same time, I think a lot of our players would have been worthy to go there," said Julien. "Bergie comes to mind, obviously, with the year he's had, and stuff like that, and there's other players. But at the same time, there's 30 teams in the league, and they've got to fill some spots, and they've got to give players on other teams an opportunity, so you've got to kind of, I guess, just share the spotlight with other teams."
"I'm sure that the guys are going to take advantage of the rest they have, and for the guys that haven't gone, if they keep playing the way they have, eventually it'll come," said the B's coach.
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