Playing career
Berard was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2020 NHL entry draft. Prior to this, he was a member of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program before committing to play collegiately for the Providence Friars beginning in 2020–21. Berard's father, David, had previously been an assistant coach for Providence when Brett was a toddler.
At the onset of the 2022–23 season, Journal News reporter Vincent Z. Mercogliano rated Berard as one of the Rangers' best prospects. Following his junior season with Providence, he signed his first NHL contract with the organization and was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack in March 2023.
The following season, Berard played the entire 2023–24 campaign with Hartford, and led his team in goals with 25. Collectively, he also finished third amongst all AHL rookies in goals.
Despite playing much of the 2024–25 season with a torn labrum, Berard had a strong training camp with the Rangers and was one of their last cuts before the start of the regular season. In late November, he was recalled by the Rangers and registered an assist in his NHL debut on November 25, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues. Berard then scored his first career NHL goal in his next game against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 27.
On June 26, 2026, Berard was traded by the Rangers to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman William Trudeau. Entering the offseason as a restricted free agent, he was tendered a qualifying offer by the Canadiens three days later. Thereafter, he agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the team on July 9.
Playing style
Standing at just 5 feet 9 inches tall, size has always been an issue for Berard as a hockey player. However, his fast skating along with grit and tenacity helps compensate for this deficiency. One NHL scout labeled him as "a [jerk] to play against". Others have described him as "efficient at getting inside and establishing shooting positions, using his smallish stature to stay compact and gain leverage at tough angles." According to Berard personally:
I actually like to use my size to my advantage. It’s a lot easier to escape against bigger opponents and in the corners I actually feel like I have an advantage being on the smaller side and getting in and out of corners to be able to make plays. A lot of people say it’s a disadvantage but I like to take it as an advantage and use my size as a strength. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do some of the things that I’m able to do if I was bigger. So, I like my size and I like where I’m at.
Over the course of the 2023–24 season, Berard improved his skating speed as well as his shooting ability, developing a quick release.
United States
