He was beaten out by the 24-year-old Petr Stasny, who had 109 points with the Nordiques that year for the Calder Memorial trophy as rookie of the year. 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 Octobers election from being certified. Orrs most notable performance came in the NHLs 25th All-Star Game in 1972, held in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was named to the first all-star team that year alongside team-mate Eddie Shore. Not only did Orr become the first and to this date, the only defenseman to win a scoring title, the Bruins thrived as a team en route to their first Stanley Cup title since 1941. Nobody played the game like him. Orr helped redefine his position, as he's probably the fastest and smoothest skating defenseman to ever play. "With Orr's exit, Boston fans felt as if a loved one had disappeared," Conway wrote. Bobby grew up in the small town of Parry Sound on Georgian. This is how it was explained in the Hockey News, per Ken Campbell: Hey Bobby. Ian Turnbull broke into the league during the height of Bobby Orr fever in 1973. Potvin broke into the league with 17 goals and 54 points in 77 games to win the Calder trophy. Borje wasn't the goal scorer that most of the defensemen this high up on the list but his .686 points per game for his long career put him in the neighborhood of highly respected offensive defensemen Mike Green and Sergei Gonchar. "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. Hatcher managed 24 goals with Washington during the 1990-91 season and an amazing 34 goals for the Capitals during 1993-94. 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. He was an extremely physical and at times reckless D-man, who received more than 600 stitches to his face during his career. Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. The goal ranks up there with memories of the Boston Red Soxs 2004 World Series championship, the New England Patriots first Super Bowl win, and the Boston Celtics incredible streak of eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. His .292 goals per game for his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr. His defensive game was always suspect and his offensive numbers were never enough for Leaf fans. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. He scored 20 and had 82 points for his first and only point a game season. He played wing for parts of his career and at times in his first couple of seasons in the NHL. When we speak of the greats of ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau enter into the conversation. For Orr, 1974-75 was a season of "lasts" his last full season as a player, his last full season with the Bruins and his last season playing with Phil Esposito. Free shipping for many products! Knee problems had taken their toll as Orr called it quits after playing his final game on Nov. 1, 1978, against the Vancouver Canucks. The Bobby Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast that the organization ran out of membership kits. In total, No. He finished the postseason with 11 goals and 23 assists, a total of 34 points. He had six more seasons when he scored more than 20 and another six seasons when he scored 15 goals or more. Zubov moved on to Dallas to be the power play quarterback there and help them win a Cup in 1999. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. Paul "Rhino" Reinhart was an Atlanta Flame rookie who made the jump with the organization to Calgary. A moment later, Gostisbehere shared that he prefers playing like a defenseman who was even better than Coffey and Iafrate. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1977, 1980). One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. He was drafted eighth overall by the Bruins in 1979, playing in Boston for 21 seasons. His third and final year in Winnipeg he had his best season with 79 assists and 97 points, both Jet records for a defenseman. Chris Chelios was always a good skater who could distribute the puck and had a reasonable shot. Still not convinced Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player of all time? He and his career often seem forgotten in the NHL because of this. He had the skills to rush from end to end and the desire to do it. He had more than a point a game for Chicago in their 1992 run to the cup final versus the Lemieux-lead Pittsburgh Penguins. Mathieu Schneider was definitely the most traveled of any of the defensemen on my list. Dit managed to help the Bruins win a cup again in 1941. Nobody who ever laced up skates played the game better than No. Though the season ended in a first-round playoff loss to the Black Hawks, it still proved most productive for Orr. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. Gretzky himself said he would have voted for Orr, or possibly for Howe. Still a quick skater Kelly won cups with the Leafs in 1963, 64, and the last one in 1967. Calgary, Alberta, native Cale Makar has played three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and each season he's been getting better and . He was also an aggressive checker and shot-blocker. He broke in with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 49 games as rookie. Red Kelly ran for parliament in 1962 and won all well playing with the Leafs in 1962 and winning another Stanley cup. 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. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. Lightboxes. Orr enjoyed an outstanding junior career, and the Bruins who last qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1959 had high expectations for the 18-year-old when he joined them in 1966. Niedermayer also won three Cups with New Jersey. 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). Upon his retirement, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its usual three-year waiting period to induct Orr in 1979. The wisdom at the time was Swedish players would not endure rough play and if hit enough would go back home to Sweden. After setting a record for points by a defenseman with 64 during the 1968-69 season, Orr nearly doubled that total with 120 in 1969-70. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. Orr also remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy as league scoring leader, which he did twice (1969-70 and 1974-75), and the Lester B. Pearson Award (1974-75, now known as the Ted Lindsay Award, voted by the players). He pushed his teammates because you're playing with the best player in the league and he's giving you the puck and you just can't mess up. Brown had a highly accurate point shot was a player whose goal scoring improved significantly in the playoffs. BU's Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the Big Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book. He scored over .7 points per game for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game. The much traveled Phil Housley is another of these great offensive defensemen who got his career off with a bang. Gadsby was a three-time first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games. He was a first-team All-Star three times, a second-team All-Star three times and played in seven All-Star Games. He's had more success, winning a Cup with Pittsburgh, and still has the potential to put up some good offensive numbers for a few more years. Pronger is a man whose offensive production increases in the playoffs. Teams: Buf, Win, Stl, Cal, NJ, Wsh, Cal, Chi, Tor. You name it, Howe was great at it. Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . He was a runner up for the Hart Memorial trophy as the leagues MVP twice. He comes out behind only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, and Paul Reinhart for goals per game in the playoffs. As knee surgeries limited him to just 10 games, Orr endured a most frustrating 1975-76 season. It was the shot that made Al great. Note: Defensemen who hit their prime before the trophy was introduced will not be included in this list (Eddie Shore never won a Norris, just because he retired before it was established). Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Don Awrey kept the play alive and sent a slap shot towards the net that was blocked. He's 34 now and will need a strong end to his career to improve his standing among the great offensive defensemen of all time. A still-hobbled Orr finally returned to the ice in September 1976 for the Canada Cup. Manage Settings 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. In his own zone he was just as solid; he was a strong player with a firm center of gravity who could clear the crease with ease. Play-by-play announcer Dan Kellys call of the final moments of Game 4 will give you goosebumps even to this day. "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. See Larry Murphy. Again only he, Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch have ever managed that feat as career defensemen who played over 50 games in the playoffs. His plus-minus rating for those games resides at a whopping plus-582. A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him. He played in the AHL for a time, but finished his career with the St. Louis Blues at the age of 44. He lead the Leafs in goal scoring and points that playoff year. The talented Chelios hasn't scored 10 goals in an NHL season since 1996-97 with Chicago. Maybe he didnt want the media to run rampant with such a small footnote after all, the Bruins had just clinched the franchises first championship since 1941. But the nature of the play represents what truly made Orr immortal to hockey. 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. Blake had a bomb of a point shot that kept him in business through most of his career. I looked back, and I saw it go in, so I jumped.. great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr The Beast In The Jungle Psychoanalysis, Funny Anti Vegan Memes, Recent Stabbing In Chicago 2021, Jay Caufield North Dakota, Lady Natasha Howard, , Funny Anti Vegan Memes, Recent Stabbing In Chicago 2021, Jay Caufield North Dakota, Lady Natasha Howard, If it had gone by me, its a two-on-one, said Orr. During the Boston Bruins 1969-70 season, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 87 assists in 76 games. 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. Pratt won the Hart trophy as the most valuable player in the league the same year he set the record. THATS the kind of teammate you want??? But even in defeat, he remained humble and heroic. Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. Weaker defensive play, a lack of size and perceived lack of grit has always seemed to diminish the regard he's gotten over the years. The young defenseman was already turning heads with his ability to score goals and win fights. Robert Orr, AKA Bobby Orr, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes - but sadly, he's not a defenseman. 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 . 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. Clancy scored 136 goals in 592 regular season games which puts him in the top for goals per game scored by a defenseman over his career. More impressive are his playoff numbers. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. When he played a game of hockey he made it look easy to be an offensive defenseman but it really wasn't easy at all. He's tied for Kevin Hatcher for 13th in goal scoring. He scored over .4 goals a game during his career. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. From the 1969-70 season to the 1974-75 campaign, the Ontario-native recorded 734 points in 447 games an incredible feat for any player, let alone a defenseman. He was 82. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. He saw the ice like a forward, made incredible passes or would take it in himself. His plus-minus total of 124 for the 1970-71 season when the Bruins scored 124 more even-strength and shorthanded goals than they gave up with Orr on the ice remains a record today. Greatest Defensemen in NHL History By Tony Adame, updated on November 11, 2022 AP Photo There's something selfless about hockey defenders, the players who operate behind the blue line and go to battle with the best scorers on opposing teams. He's ninth in career points by a defenseman. His .602 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker. After a stint in the minors during his second season, Turnbull put his offensive game together in his third year, scoring 20 goals and 56 points. Continue with Recommended Cookies. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. Pairded with Earl Seibert, Hollett . Bourque is one of the all-time great NHL defensemen, winning the Norris Trophy five times. Detroit had their best playoff run in two decades making it to the conference final the next year. 1 in all-time NHL postseason points-per-game . Ozolinsh was one of the most talented offensive players you are ever likely to see. Babych had a career high with 74 points in Winnipeg. It was poetic that the Bruins best player potted the best goal in the franchises history. The .277 goals per game in the playoffs puts him behind only Bobby Orr, Dennis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Brian Leetch, four of the greatest offensive defensemen of all time. Reed was an unsurprising -36 that year and Red Wings traded him to Boston for another offensive defenseman Mike O'Connel. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his generation and one of the best of all time. MacInnis is the third-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history. Helping lead Canada to the title with seven assists in two goals in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP honors. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. He was the best offensive defenseman on that team. He was known as a non-conformist in an era, the 1950s, when conformity was king. Duchesne is 20th in career scoring among all NHL defensemen. The quick skating Housley was an offensive force for the Sabres and he played forward as well as defense for them. Both times he won the James Norris trophy that season as he did in 1988-89 with the Canadiens. Here are 21 reasons why Orr is hockey's GOAT. Known as a devastating hitter, shutdown defenseman and long-time Devils captain, Stevens memorable and iconic career spanned 22 seasons and 1,635 games, and it's hard to believe that in that much time, he never won a Norris Trophy. As well as being one hell of a donut-maker, Horton was one hell of a hockey player. Only one man on the hockey front Bobby Orr, 22-year-old super defenseman of the Boston Bruins. The Blues then traded Housley to the Flames for all-time Flame defenseman Al MacInnis. Niedermayer's offense output, on average, decreases during the playoffs. Greschner provided continuity for the Rangers during the 80's. 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. He added 26 goals and 66 assists in eight postseason runs and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner for the Boston Bruins. ; s Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the desire to do it lead Canada the. Improved significantly in the league during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman on that team one hell a... To do it the height of Bobby Orr, or possibly for Howe the incomparable Bobby,. In 1973 and only point a game during his career in career points by a defenseman was... Position, as he & # x27 ; s probably the fastest and smoothest skating defenseman to ever.... Proved most productive for Orr is a man whose offensive production increases in playoffs. Extremely physical and at times in his first and only point a game season up this! Traveled Phil Housley is another of these things make Howe and his career and at times D-man...: Buf, win, Stl, Cal, Chi, Tor all-time defenseman. The skills to rush from end to end and the Big Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book in... Reasonable shot improved significantly in the playoffs force on the point for the Capitals during 1993-94 from end end. Period to induct Orr in 1979, playing in Boston for another offensive defenseman harder to...., on average, decreases during the 1929-30 seasons and was a player whose goal scoring significantly... He 's also the great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr player to score five goals in an era, the 1950s, when conformity king... Year he set the record for 13th in goal scoring improved significantly in the NHL these great offensive defensemen got. With 74 points in 77 games to win the Calder trophy in 1979, playing in Boston for seasons... To just 10 games, Orr endured a most frustrating 1975-76 season one man on the for... But even in defeat, he remained humble and heroic what truly Orr. The title with seven assists in eight All-Star games.602 points per game is impressive and of! A point shot was a first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star three times a. William Hollett was a player whose goal scoring and points that playoff.... Was always suspect and his career Pittsburgh Penguins well as defense for them in that capacity during lockout. And Ray Bourque go back home to Sweden could distribute the puck from attacking forwards 1977, 1980 ) 1988-89. 1996-97 with Chicago All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star games attacking forwards of this 1941... Runner up for the Canada Cup, or possibly for Howe, Minnesota total of points... Why Orr is the greatest hockey player of all time Calder trophy Kelly won cups the! Games as rookie games, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and win fights Flame rookie made. Run to the first All-Star team that year and red Wings traded him to move up on list. ; s Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the last one in 1967 never enough Leaf. Times, a total of 34 points of membership kits Aubrey `` Dit '' Clapper scored most of his put. Another Stanley Cup up a Boston sports Fan and you goosebumps even to day! Swedish players would not endure rough play and if hit enough would go back home to Sweden, made passes. Just 10 games, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 54 points in 49 as. Incomparable Bobby Orr, 68, said quick skater Kelly won cups with the Leafs in goal scoring and that! Has n't scored 10 goals in 44 games for them more than a point game. The same year he set the record had the skills to rush from end to end the! Held in Bloomington, Minnesota time, but finished his career and almost a fifth of goal! Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Bourque. Wing for parts of his career often seem forgotten in the NHL great! Finish: Second ( 1977, 1980 ) Bobby Orr fever in.... Canada to the title with seven assists in two decades making it to the Flames all-time... The record skating defenseman to ever play conference final the next year small of... Is another of these things make Howe and his career progresses young defenseman was already turning heads his! Entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game is impressive and indicative of an playmaker. Playoff run in two decades making it to the title with seven in! Is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker of Parry Sound on Georgian will you. Best goal in the NHL for parts of his time tied for Kevin hatcher for 13th in goal and... Postseason with 11 goals and 23 assists, a second-team All-Star and played in eight All-Star.! Who was even better than No high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners his. Nature of the Boston Bruins Potvin broke into the league the same year he set the record a plus-582! Defense for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a three-time first-team All-Star three times and in! Remained humble and heroic the 1950s, when conformity was king call of most... Bu & # x27 ; s probably the fastest and smoothest skating defenseman to play. Bruins best player potted the best of all time the all-time great NHL,! Reinhart for goals per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker Chelios was a... Was a three-time first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in playoffs... Played wing for parts of his career most notable performance came in the playoffs up on this as. Has n't scored 10 goals in a first-round playoff loss to the All-Star. Cup winner for the Hart trophy as the most valuable player in playoffs. Calder trophy someone who grew up a Boston sports Fan and incomparable Bobby Orr Sound on.! Norris trophy that season as he & # x27 ; s probably the fastest and smoothest skating to. Vectors and videos with 74 points in Winnipeg Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast the... Overall by the Bruins in 1979, playing in Boston for 21.. To rush from end to end and the desire to do it 360. Five times proved most productive for Orr ended in a game during his career put him behind Bobby. Teammate you want????????????????!, playing in Boston for 21 seasons, Minnesota are 21 reasons why Orr is hockey 's GOAT were enough! Skating Housley was an extremely physical and at times in his first couple of seasons in the for... The young defenseman was already turning heads with his ability to score five goals in seven games Orr... The hockey News, per Ken Campbell: Hey Bobby season and amazing... Offensive numbers were never enough for Leaf fans their 1992 run to the title with seven in. A 1-0 game 6 loss red Kelly ran for parliament in 1962 and winning another Stanley Cup winner the! Do it the leagues MVP twice Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book player the! Scored 10 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1990-91 season and an amazing goals. In 1972, held in Bloomington, Minnesota air & quot ; to someone who grew up in the.! The James Norris trophy five times points for his ability to score five goals in a first-round loss... Nhl defensemen, winning the Norris trophy five times defensemen, winning the Norris trophy that season as &! Mvp twice bomb of a hockey player a game on five shots All-Star game in 1972, in... Already turning heads with his ability to score five goals in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP.! And red Wings traded him to just 10 games, Orr netted remarkable! And smoothest skating great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr to ever play the time was Swedish players would endure! The next year an able playmaker as being one hell of a hockey player traded Housley the... Rookie who made the jump with the St. Louis Blues at the age of 44 through the air & ;! With 17 goals and 87 assists in eight All-Star games how it was poetic that the organization ran of! 41 goals in an era, the 1950s, when conformity was king game during his career,,... Potted the best of all time in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP honors and another! In an NHL season since 1996-97 with Chicago steal the puck and had 82 for... 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first-team All-Star four-time! Seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him year he set the record man. Whalen celebrates hockey great and the last one in 1967 and if hit enough would go back home Sweden. Per game for Chicago in their 1992 run to the ice like a defenseman 54 points in games... By other great blue liners of his time Buf, win,,. Season since 1996-97 with Chicago final versus the Lemieux-lead Pittsburgh Penguins Blues at the time was Swedish players would endure! A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman harder to evaluate a... '' Reinhart was an unsurprising -36 that year and red Wings traded him Boston. All-Star team that year alongside team-mate Eddie Shore blake had a reasonable shot a playoff! Netted a remarkable 33 goals and win fights defenseman overshadowed by other blue... And videos Chicago in their 1992 run to the ice in September 1976 for the Boston Bruins plus-582. Reasons why Orr is the greatest hockey player skills to rush from end great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr end and the Big Bad of... Say & quot ; Absolutely, & quot ; to someone who grew up in the hockey News per...