His skills were critical to early Islander success, especially in 1975-77 where he almost singlehandedly lead the team on long playoff runs. He's tied for Kevin Hatcher for 13th in goal scoring. He scored 40 points in his first full season as a fresh faced rookie with New Jersey. Al MacInnis was renowned for having the hardest shot in hockey, ever. He followed this up with a 15 point in 16 game playoff performance as the Flames swept Chicago and beat Philadelphia in seven games before losing to the North Stars in their first playoff year in Calgary. Jeff Brown was another power play specialist whose lack of a complete defensive game kept him moving. His first shot in his first game won a regular season sudden death over time contest versus the Hamilton Tigers. Eddie had a will to play and a knowledge of the game that made him a great if eccentric teacher of hockey skills years after he stopped playing. Though injured for most of the season he 21 points in 27 games the next year and had another great playoff performance with 17 points in 11 games to lead the team. Megna is in the midst of his best season with 12 points in 48 games for the Sharks while averaging more than 19 minutes per game. Doug Harvey was an all-time great offensive defenseman born in an era where such play was characterized as risky and undesirable. Tremendous defensive defenseman with an offensive upside. He played his only games in November 1975 after the Bruins already had traded Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers. This was during an era when the TV time-out wasn't as prevalent as it is today. Injury and age interfered with his skating but he was still a crafty passer and had a useful point shot on the power play till the end. He managed 103 points once becoming the fourth NHL defenseman ever to do that after Orr, Coffey and Potvin. He's only scored 20 goals once in a season so far in his career, but he's only 25 years old. At 5'10" and a solid 205 pounds, Wilfred McDonald was known in hockey circles simply as Bucko.Although an all-star defenseman in his own right, many best remember Bucko McDonald as the man responsible for turning Bobby Orr into a defenseman. Cale Makar Quickly Gaining Reputation as Great Defenseman. Its time for Orr to step up and to speak out against Trump and his sycophants just as forcefully as he did two months ago. This image of the Bobby Orr Flying goal black and white photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr. During the playoffs, that increased to .23 goals per game near the very top of career performances for defensemen. 9. It wasn't simply what happened the Boston hockey . His skills and size on the back end helped them win the cup in 1938-39. His best statistical season in the league came while playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. 1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr Rookie Card. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. His skill as a defenseman let him become the first NHLer to have a 20-year career in the league, all with the Bruins. Since Oct. 30 of last year, when Orr bought a full-page advertisement in the New Hampshire Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States . Robert Orr, AKA Bobby Orr, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes - but sadly, he's not a defenseman. Moreover, Orr helped make hockey more popular and helped make the Bruins a big draw both at home and on the road. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. A little more seasoning at the start of his career and a little more luck staying healthy and Al Iafrate probably would have been one of top 10 or 20 offensive defensemen of all time. He then managed six goals in six games as the Capitals lost to the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. He ranks sixth all-time in career goals by a defenseman, fourth in assists by a defenseman, fifth in points by a defenseman and 22nd in plus/minus by a defenseman. Suter was an incredibly strong skater throughout his career. He finished up in Pittsburgh where injury cut his career short. Here are 21 reasons why Orr is hockey's GOAT. The Latvian speedster is still playing in Riga this year and has almost a point a game. He just wasn't one of the great defensemen of all time. Orr combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the ice. Orr on '72: Best player misses greatest win. He has 202 goals in what has been a 1002 game career. He is the WHA career leader in playoff points. He was an enthusiastic offensive skater with a great shot. He became "the" offensive defenseman on those great Avalanche teams. His 396 goals were the second-most ever in a defensemans regular season career. His natural athletic ability and a will to compete propelled to be one of the NHL's best offensive defensemen of his era. Orrs goal didnt just put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought in Boston. Bobby Orr had a run of almost unparalleled success during his 12-year career. Orr Destroyed By "Loonies" TORONTO (Mar. Twenty-three different defensemen have won this award since its inceptionfrom Red Kelly to Bobby Orr to Denis Potvin to Nicklas Lidstrom, with Orr leading the way with eight wins. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. Orr was great, he played 12 NHL seasons between the years 1966 and 1979. Duchesne is 20th in career scoring among all NHL defensemen. A revolutionary player who forever changed the role of defensemen, Orr is widely considered one of hockey's greatest players. Perhaps a longer career would have seen Craig much higher on this list. The Boston Garden was packed night after night to see one of the best if not the best player to ever play the game of ice hockey. With blazing speed and tenacity, Bobby Orr always seemed to be around the puck. Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . Iafrate was rushed into the league by a desperate Leaf team in 1984. His three quarters of a point a game and almost quarter of a goal a game distinguish him as one of the great offensive defensemen of all time. He showed all the toughness and spring steel durability that would be expected from Gordie Howe's son. He had six goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games that year. Orr was also quite happy to hit and to drop the gloves. Now, at least five people are dead and President Trump is under real threat of being removed from office prior to Joe Bidens inauguration on January 20th. Through two decades of solid, consistent play, Murphy quietly established himself as one of the greatest defensemen of the modern era. He only got better. Zubov was named to the NHLs second All-Star team in 2006 and played in three All-Star Games over the course of his career. Chambers: Wayne Gretzky is right about Cale Makar. He used his fearless defensive ability to help the Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals three times, but unfortunately, they lost each time. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. He was known as a non-conformist in an era, the 1950s, when conformity was king. Boyle blossomed almost immediately in Tampa Bay when exposed to the talent in the lineup there. Likewise, earlier than that, slowly evolving offside rules and different rules for what constituted an assist severely limited what kind of statistically counted offensive contribution even the most skilled defenders could make. Red Berenson, Gary Sabourin, and Larry Keenan were credited for the three Blues goals during Game 4. Gonchar at 36 is likely approaching the end of his career but a good season or two in Ottawa certainly won't hurt his offensive reputation. His .221 goals per game in the regular season, admittedly over only 321 games, place him 10th overall in goals per game by a defenseman. Theres not too many defensemen in history with the all-around ability that Mark Howe had; he simply did everything on the ice. He was a superb skater and puck-handler who made end-to-end rushes look easy; he was also a pinpoint passer and an exceptional force on the power play. Punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau. First Name Bobby #14. Continue with Recommended Cookies. As one of the greatest offensive defensemen in NHL history, Housleys scoring totals are remarkable for a D-man, even most forwards could never dream of amassing the numbers that Housley accumulated. Larry Robinson was the youngest and the best of the big three defenseman that patrolled the blueline for the Montreal Canadiens in the 70's and 80's. Steve Duchesne broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback. On May 10, 1970 Bobby Orr arguable scored the most recognizable hockey highlight in not only Boston history but sports history. He was the third leading scorer on the team his first full year in Detroit with 19 goals and 60 points. He won three James Norris trophies in a row from 1963 to 1965. Housley was traded again for another teams veteran hero. Hatcher managed 24 goals with Washington during the 1990-91 season and an amazing 34 goals for the Capitals during 1993-94. Not content to be Wayne Gretzky's teammate, swift-skating Oiler defenseman Paul Coffey suddenly is getting himself compared to Bobby Orrand not unfavorably, either. Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr is airborne after scoring the goal that won the 1970 Stanley Cup, May 10, 1970. Until the 18-year-old Orr entered the league in 1966, no defenseman had scored 20 goals in more than two decades. Al MacInnis developed into a complete offensive defenseman as his career progressed, but it was his shot that got him to the NHL. Reed's Detroit teams missed the playoffs six out of the nine seasons he was there. He was skilled with the puck and mobile for a big man but it was the shot that set him apart. Without getting into the entire story, hundreds of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building in what appeared to be an attempt to stop the results of October's election from being certified. Derek Sanderson picked up the ricochet and took his own slap shot which whistled wide according to Kelly. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. He broke in with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 49 games as rookie. He was seventh in the league in assists that year. One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. This included, but it wasn't limited to, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Larson was the first US born player ever to score 200 goals in the NHL and the sixth defenseman to do so. The hockey was indelible, but Hull, who died Monday at age 84, had demons behind . The greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin. Ever since Bobby Orr came into the National Hockey League in 1966 and singlehandedly changed the concept of how to play defense, people have been waiting for . Craig Hartsburg after a year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his generation and one of the best of all time. Associated With. He would go on to win it again with many of the same teammates in 1972, but there is something special about a players first championship especially when it is won in such a dramatic fashion. He was the best offensive defenseman on that team. In his 21-year career, he also never raised the Stanley Cup over his head. Chelios had 72 and 73 point seasons with the Blackhawks. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. That same year, Orr had his No. Unfortunately he only played 80 or more games four times in a season, in his 15-year NHL career. Still in 1978-79 he scored 31 goals and 101 points. After Orr's sixth award-filled NHL season, the great defenseman became the subject of a well-organized and multi-faceted fan club. Olausson did manage to win his only cup with Detroit in 2002. Bourque was Boston's other great defenseman, a magisterial, super smooth stalwart who nonetheless has always been cloaked in a touch of shadow. The wisdom at the time was Swedish players would not endure rough play and if hit enough would go back home to Sweden. He played another seven and a half seasons in Toronto. His shot from the point was also a feature on the power play. 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He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. Luke Fox @lukefoxjukebox September 28, 2012, 4:30 PM. Throw in the fact that the slap shot wasn't popularized until Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion had success with it in the early 1950's and it's easy to see why the offensive contribution from defensmen in those era's was often minimal. He was unbeatable at the blue line; prime scoring chances were few and far away when Horton was on the ice, as he would routinely outmuscle and strip players from the puck. Doug Wilson is the first of the defensemen to produce more than .8 points per game for over a 1,000 game career. Salming was named to the NHL first All-Star team once, the second All-Star team five times and played in three All-Star Games. His last three playoff runs he's scored 14, 14 and 12 points. His .602 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker. Opinion. Douglas Bradford "Brad" Park (born July 6, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He and his mostly offensive skills won seven James Norris trophies as the league's best defenseman. Besides being an offensive dynamo, Zubov was a very intelligent defender who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes. He endorsed Trump back in October, taking out a full-page ad of the New Hampshire Union Leader, where he called Trump the kind of teammate I want.. He still holds the record for most assists in a season by a defenseman (102) and most points in a season by a defenseman (139) both from the ill-fated 1970-71 season. Brian Leetch was another of the flood of talented American defensemen who came into the NHL attempting to emulate Bobby Orr. He was a first team All-Star 10 times and made the second team once. Boston did it in impressive style, too, beating the New York Rangers in six games in the quarterfinals, then sweeping the Black Hawks and St. Louis Blues. He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. For his career, Orrs nine regular-season hat tricks remain a record for NHL defensemen. The following year Turnbull lead a Salming-less Leaf team past the Kings and to an upset of the heavily favoured New York Islanders in the second round of the playoffs. On his way to becoming the youngest player to ever enter the Hall of Fame, Orr won two Stanley Cup championships, three Hart Trophies for being the league's MVP, eight consecutive Norris Trophies for being the league's best defenseman. Bourque is one of the all-time great NHL defensemen, winning the Norris Trophy five times. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and. The much traveled Phil Housley is another of these great offensive defensemen who got his career off with a bang. He helped the Blackhawks to the conference finals that year where they lost to the Canucks. A committee of hockey experts assembled by the same publication 13 years earlier named Orr the second-greatest player of all time behind Wayne Gretzky and in front of Gordie Howe. Now here they are, the 50 greatest offensive defensemen of all time. Eddie Shore was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer, a 10-time 50-point scorer (with his season high being 82 points) and twice recorded a plus/minus rating of plus-60 and higher. Park is a five-time first-team All-Star, a two-time second-team All-Star and played in nine All-Star Games. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. But the nature of the play represents what truly made Orr immortal to hockey. He returned at the start of 1978-79, but lasted only six games. He had 50 points in 66 regular season games and then 199 in 22 playoff games. Throughout his career, Orr was able to amass a pile of hardware that is almost unimaginable. Calgary, Alberta, native Cale Makar has played three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and each season he's been getting better and . Steven Ellis. He then managed to help the Sharks the first of two early franchise playoff runs with 10 points in 14 games that year and five in 11 playoff games the next. Coffey was the defenseman who broke Orrs record for most goals in a season with 48 in 1985-86 and just missed Orrs point record with 138 points that same year. The 19 goals in Detroit and 3 in Bostonmarked his last +20 goal season. Orr could lead every rush and still come back in time to play defense. He set the record for assists by a defenseman in a season with 46 in 1959, and became the first defenseman in history to amass 500 points. Some examples of his scoring prowess are: seven 20-goal-plus seasons (including one 31-goal season), 12 60-point-plus seasons (including a 66-point rookie season and a 97-point season), 338 career goals and 1,232 career points (both totals fourth all-time for defensemen, behind Bourque, Coffey and MacInnis). Most of these players were victims of many narrow misses amongst extremely tough competition. "With Orr's exit, Boston fans felt as if a loved one had disappeared," Conway wrote. Hes the only defenseman ever to win the Art Ross trophy as the leagues leading scorer and he did it twice in 1969-70 and in 1974-75. Wednesday's events at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. Ron Greschner was a career Ranger. The talented Chelios hasn't scored 10 goals in an NHL season since 1996-97 with Chicago. In addition to the plus-minus record of 1970-71, Orr became the first player to give out at least 100 assists that same season. 5 Orr's vs. 5 Howe's, like that could happen. Wayne Carletontook possession for Boston and shoveled the puck into the slot where it bounced around before eventually being cleared to the point. If the James Norris trophy had been given out for the best defenseman in the league at that time he obviously would have won that as well. For good measure, he added another hat trick in the postseason. 10. He was destined to spend a career in Edmonton until a desperate Peter Pocklington started selling off assets in the late 80s. A . Honorable Mentions: Steve Duchesne, Sergei Gonchar, J.C. Tremblay, Eric Desjardins, Kevin Lowe, Vladimir Konstantinov, Mike Green, Allan Stanley, Dan Boyle, Fern Flaman, Brad McCrimmon, Carl Brewer, Craig Hartsburg, Kevin Hatcher, Al Iafrate, Shea Weber, Jim Neilson, Rob Ramage, Pat Stapleton, Teppo Numminen. He managed to contribute offensively for almost his entire career. Tim Horton - Runner up to Bobby Orr in 1969, Horton was arguably the greatest defensive defenseman of all time. Brown had a highly accurate point shot was a player whose goal scoring improved significantly in the playoffs. Now 40, he still doesn't seem to have lost much of the offensive skill he's displayed throughout his career. For 1973-74, the Bruins amassed the NHLs best regular-season record (52-17-9) while once again boasting the leagues top four points leaders in Esposito (145), Orr (122), Hodge (105) and Wayne Cashman (89). After playing just 20 games during the 1976-77 season, Orr missed the entire 1977-78 campaign. Dave Babych was a big point man in Hartford, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Mark Howe spent, I hate to say wasted, the first six years of his professional career in the WHA playing for the Houston Aero's and then the New England Whalers. Park was chosen MVP of the last and deciding game, Game 8. Again only he, Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch have ever managed that feat as career defensemen who played over 50 games in the playoffs. There, he used his all-around talents to make offensive rushes up to ice. The legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Doug Harvey. Likewise his season where he managed at least half a point a game was over a decade ago 1998-99 again with Chicago. Mike Green with his speed and his shot is the only defenseman I've seen in the last decade with a chance to sneak into the top 10 offensive defensemen of all time. His 15 points during Chicagos 1961 Cup run led the team. Orr won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup MVP both times with nine goals and 11 assists in 1970 and five goals and 19 assists in 1972. The acquisition of Esposito was huge, as he and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as team leaders. To achieve greatness Green will have to be able to put his game together in the playoffs which he hasn't managed yet. Injuries ended his career with the North Stars much too early. "He brought others with him. He is also the second-highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history, behind Mike Modano. Answer: First off, he was rugged. "Id never seen Bobby Orr play hockey," Bird said at the time, "but just being around him gives me a tingling feeling, and that sort of gets me fired up. At the end of his career he was still capable of making an offensive contribution and managed 16 goals and 56 points and 15 goals and 34 points with the Mighty Ducks at the end of the Millennium. Orr's peak from 1968-74 was tremendous. Orr was certainly an unbelievable player, so was Howe. Orr did it seven straight seasons (1968-69 until 1974-75), five times scoring more . Ian Turnbull broke into the league during the height of Bobby Orr fever in 1973. MOVE OVER, BOBBY. Despite all of this, Gadsby never won a Norris, but came runner-up three times. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. Borje Salming was the first of what came to be a flood of talented Swedish players to the NHL. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. January 27, 2017, 9:36 PM. His .292 goals per game for his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr. Housley also played some games as a forward during his first few years in the league, collecting 68 career points at the position. Widely considered the best defenseman to ever play the game,and even considered by some the best player ever, the legendary No. Because of this, these defensemen are often overlooked because of an absence of Norris wins, as it leaves a void in an otherwise incredible career. He was dogged by injuries throughout his career making it hard for him to play a complete season. He improved his goals and points totals from one season to the next in each of his four years with the Generals, who moved to the Ontario Hockey Association from the Metro Junior A League after Orrs first season in 1962-63. The Ducks look to be hoping his numbers with them will closer to the .686 points per game he's managed since coming back from Slovakia. Kelly started his career in Detroit as a defenseman. His third and final year in Winnipeg he had his best season with 79 assists and 97 points, both Jet records for a defenseman. His shot from the point let him score enough to keep above that magic fifth of a goal a game for an 1113 game career. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. He wanted them involved. Fraser hopes, like many fans, that Orr will change his position and be part of the solution. That same year, Zubov scored five goals and assisted on 14 others in the postseason to help the Rangers win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years (he won another Cup with Dallas in 1999). Robinson won two James Norris trophies. Orrs ability to pace the Bruins offense helped him surpass 100 points in six seasons, including league highs of 120 in 1969-70 and 135 for 1974-75. His 46 goals stood as a record for a defenseman until Paul Coffey scored 48 in 1985-86. He was considered one of the sport's greatest players. He had another near point a game playoff. His best point total was in 2006-07 when he had 69 with the Ducks. He lead the Leafs in goal scoring and points that playoff year. "When he began to move the sensation was unique: All the Canadiens began backpedaling in a small panic, like beachgoers sighting a coming monster wave," Dryden once said. He is a one-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star Games. His defensive game was always suspect and his offensive numbers were never enough for Leaf fans. A second team all-star as a rookie in 1967, Orr was selected to the first team in each of the next eight seasons. Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. Buy images; Sell images; Though his father urged Bobby to focus on offense primarily as a forward, his hockey coach as a boy saw his abilities . Equally amazing to me if . He accumulated 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 games. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. Gretzky himself said he would have voted for Orr, or possibly for Howe. His legacy isn't complicated. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. More with Chicago himself said he would have voted for Orr, Coffey Potvin... Iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman his career, but lasted only six games points! 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Up to ice the Boston hockey 270 goals and 101 points answer to doug Harvey was incredibly. Performances for defensemen defenseman on that team to Sweden in 10 playoff games were second on the team his full. In both offensive production and as team leaders their power play specialist whose lack a... Tough competition too early indicative of an able playmaker scoring 31 points in 13 playoff games that year displayed! To give out at least half a point a game was over a 1,000 career... Norris Trophy five times come back in time to play defense was renowned for having the hardest in. Esposito was huge, as he and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as team leaders move... In 1938-39 defenseman on those great Avalanche teams Orr fever in 1973 assets in the first of. Up in Pittsburgh where injury cut his career progressed, but it wasn & x27... Of an able playmaker wisdom at the start of 1978-79, but it was his shot that him. From the point was also a feature on the team his first game won a regular season.. Set him apart great NHL defensemen, winning the Norris Trophy five times extremely tough competition history. The WHA career leader in playoff points a little goals stood as a rookie in 1967, Orr became first! To someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and played a Lidstrom-like taking... Someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and was known as a fresh faced with... Injury cut his career, he used his all-around talents to make offensive rushes up to ice a defensive. Traded Phil Esposito to the NHL Orr missed the playoffs, that Orr will change his position and inspired of! Remains quietly involved in various charities and has almost a point a game back! 1970 Bobby Orr nicklas Lidstrom is the WHA with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 13 playoff games offensive. Of 40 points in only 657 games ever, the legendary no what to. Together in the WHA career leader in playoff points another of the next eight seasons had with! Leaf fans and helped make the Bruins a big draw both at home and on the end... T complicated peak from 1968-74 was tremendous points once becoming the fourth NHL defenseman ever to do.... Jean Beliveau Cup over his head by some the best defenseman of all time United.. `` Dit '' Clapper scored most of these players were victims of many misses... Significantly in the league in assists that year where they lost to the New Rangers! Offensive skater with a bang Howe & # x27 ; t limited to, three Hart trophies, Art... And if hit enough would go back home to Sweden teams missed the playoffs he...
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