Berard was drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. As the first overall pick - and with the Senators blue line among the weaker in the league, Berard felt he was going to step right into the National Hockey League. However, after his first training camp with the team, he was reassigned back to Junior hockey and Berard had concerns about the team\'s management. Concerned about his development with the club, Berard requested a trade. In January 1996, the Senators traded him along with Martin Straka to the New York Islanders for Wade Redden and goaltender Damian Rhodes.\n', '

Berard joined the Islanders for 1996-97 season and made an impact right away. With 48 points in his rookie season, he led all defensemen on the Islanders in scoring and finished 9th league-wide for blue liners. He was rewarded for his efforts in 1997 by winning the Calder Trophy as the top rookie player in the NHL, edging out Jarome Iginla for the honor. He also played for the United States in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After four years on Long Island, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Felix Potvin.\n', '

Berard put up 19 points in 38 games with the Maple Leafs following the trade then suited up for 17 more contests in the post season. In his second year with the club, he had 30 points in 64 games when tragedy struck. On March 11, 2000, during a game between the Maple Leafs and the Senators in Ottawa, the stick of the Senators\' Marian Hossa clipped Berard in the right eye on a follow through, severely injuring it. The eye was severely slashed on the sclera which resulted in a retinal tear and a detached retina. In the hospital room after the incident, after being told he might lose his eye, Berard reportedly told his friends that he would play hockey again.[citation needed] Despite being optimistic about his future in hockey, he ended up receiving a $6.5 million settlement from his insurance company, what many considered to be a career-ending settlement.\n', '

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