Defenseman Bryan Berard has signed on with the Philadelphia Flyers on a tryout basis and will be attending the team's training camp this September in Voorhees, New Jersey. Berard returned to his original squad, the Isles, last season and tallied 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists) on 54 games. Despite a strong showing, the team did not extend him an offer seemingly in an attempt to continue their youth movement.
A 10-year veteran, Berard was originally drafted 1st overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. After refusing to play with the lowly Sens of the early-mid 90s, Berard was traded in a bundle to the Isles. Following the 1996-97 season Berard won the Calder Trophy for the league's outstanding rookie after notching 48 points (8 goals, 40 assists) while suiting up in all 82 games. To this day that still stands as Berard's highest single season point total.
Aside from the Isles, Berard has also played for the Maple Leafs (where he suffered a near-career ending eye injury), Rangers, Bruins, Blackhawks and Blue Jackets. On 619 career games, Berard has 76 goals and 247 assists for 323 points. He also has 500 penalty minutes, 41 powerplay tallies and 13 game winners on his career. In addition, Berard won the Bill Masterson Trophy following the 2003-04 season with Chicago for his "perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication" to hockey.
We wish Bryan the best as he tries to make the Flyers' squad.
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