It can be described as the master versus the apprentice, or the Jedi against the Padawan, or the mentor facing the mentee.
You get the picture. When the Boston Bruins host the Dallas Stars Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at TD Garden, Patrice Bergeron will stand toe-to-toe with former linemate Tyler Seguin. This isn't the first time the two have played against each other since Seguin, one of the game's bright young stars, was traded from Boston to Dallas on July 4, 2013, but Seguin's return to Boston as the opposition will only remind Bruins fans of the what-if.
The trade came less than a month after Seguin and the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals. At the time, Boston's management was not happy with Seguin's lack of production, along with some off-ice issues. He was basically the complete opposite of Bergeron in every aspect.
In the season and a half that Seguin has been in Dallas, he has matured and is putting up some serious numbers for the Stars. Entering Tuesday's game, he was tied for the league lead in points (59) and is third with 29 goals.
The teams have had similar success in the past 10 games. The Bruins are a bit better with a 6-3-1 record, while the Stars are 5-4-1. Boston remains eighth in the Eastern Conference, and Dallas sits 11th in the Western Conference and seven points out of playoff contention. Seguin has one goal and three assists in his past three games, and 11 points in the last 10 games. Bergeron has three goals in his last five games.
This matchup comes at a time when Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is looking for offensive help, a possible point-producing right winger for the team's top line. If that trade that sent Seguin to Dallas, along with forward Rich Peverley, in exchange for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser never happened, it's quite possible Seguin would be playing alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic. It's also very possible Seguin wouldn't be producing the way he is now for the Stars.
Star power: Seguin has become the type of offensive player the Bruins thought he could be. His production has been undeniable in Dallas, posting 66 goals and 77 assists for 143 points in 133 games. During his time in Boston, Seguin recorded 56 goals and 65 assists for 121 points in 203 games. A center by trade, Seguin played right wing on Bergeron's line in Boston. With the Stars, Seguin is back to his natural position and is thriving. The knock on Seguin is he wasn't the complete two-way player that the Bruins needed him to be, especially playing with Bergeron. In Dallas, it's a completely different system and Seguin is making the most of his offensive opportunities. Along with his league-leading 59 points, he's provided four game-winning goals, eight power-play goals and is minus-1. He's also ranked second in the league with 222 shots.
Meanwhile, Bergeron is Bergeron. After a 30-goal campaign in 2013-14, the veteran centerman has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 52 games. Known as one of the best two-way players in the league, the two-time Selke winner this season is only plus-4; at this point last season, Bergeron was plus-24. It hasn't been Bergeron's most consistent season of his career, but the Bruins are currently in a playoff spot, and barring a major skid, Boston should earn its eighth consecutive postseason berth with Bergeron leading the push.
Accolades: Bergeron is the complete package. His impact and influence both on and off the ice are two major reasons the Bruins have enjoyed success in recent seasons and continue to be a perennial Stanley Cup contender. He plays with the same determination every game no matter the situation. When the stakes are high, that's when Bergeron is at his best. There's a reason he's won the Selke twice and he'll probably win it again before his career is over. He's only 29 and already he's an accomplished player with a Stanley Cup championship and more than 10 years' experience in the NHL. He's also one of the best at faceoffs with a 59.1 percent success rate.
Seguin also won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011. And at age 23, he's already played in two Cup finals. He possesses lightning speed, has a great shot and can create some impressive things with the puck. He's not the two-way player Bergeron is, but Seguin makes up for that with his offensive production. And he's only going to get better.
Supporting cast: Seguin and left winger Jamie Benn have built some unbelievable chemistry as the top line for the Stars. Benn, the Stars captain, is one of the reasons for Seguin's emergence in Dallas. The two have become close on and off the ice and Benn's presence has helped Seguin mature.
Bergeron only knows consistency. For the past several seasons, when he looks to his left, he sees Brad Marchand. Most of the time for the past season and a half, when Bergeron looks to his right, there's Reilly Smith. Due to injuries and inconsistent play for the Bruins this season, coach Claude Julien has been forced to tweak his lineup more than he would like. But when the Bruins are playing well, Marchand, Bergeron and Smith are clicking. Bergeron's also a mainstay on the power play and penalty kill.
Prediction: Bergeron will lead the Bruins to victory, and his line will shut down Seguin and Benn. Both the Bruins and the Stars need the points, but Boston will emerge victorious in this one.