He wanted them involved. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer and two-time 80-point scorer. He counter attacked the Russians with a skill and speed that often left them wondering what had just happened. Howe's longevity has to be a factor for me. Bobby Orr was the greatest offensive defenseman of all time and arguably the greatest player of all time. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. Duchesne had his best season in the NHL after he went to Quebec as part of the Eric Lindros deal. Luke Fox @lukefoxjukebox September 28, 2012, 4:30 PM. He scored at least 20 goals in a season on two more occasions. Often a top 5 dman, but never top 1 or even top 2. He had as rough a ride as any player I've ever seen play the game. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. He's a player who could easily slip off this list with a couple of bad seasons. Sergei Zubov - Underrated. After leaving the NHL Fredrick played five more seasons in the Swedish Elite League. Widely considered the best defenseman to ever play the game,and even considered by some the best player ever, the legendary No. The speed he plays at, and the skill he shows at speed, lends Mike Green's game a Paul Coffey quality. He played his only games in November 1975 after the Bruins already had traded Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers. Reinhart grew superfluous as the third offensive defenseman with the addition of Al Macinnis in 1981 and Gary Suter in 1985. Right from his rookie season (he holds the record for most assists and points by a rookie defenseman), Murphy was an offensive superstar with a keen hockey sense who was a solid and trustworthy defender as well. 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. It wasn't simply what happened the Boston hockey . Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2003-04 Upper Deck Trilogy Bobby Orr #8 Hockey Card NHL Boston Bruins Defenseman at the best online prices at eBay! Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. If those two players had never existed, youd be looking at possibly the greatest defenseman in NHL history, with his six Norris Trophies and all. Bobby Orr Highlights. 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. He was a point a game player for the next 12 years. Orr was great, he played 12 NHL seasons between the years 1966 and 1979. With what has transpired over the past months (not to mention what the President has done over the course of his life) and especially what took place at the Capitol on Wednesday, fans of the great player, including former NHLer Matt Fraser are demanding that Orr repudiates his endorsement to Trump. Cale Makar Quickly Gaining Reputation as Great Defenseman. He scored 20 or more goals nine times in a season, 30 or more three times. While not the goalscorer some of these offensive defensemen are, his skating ability made him capable of end to end rushes that were a trademark with the lanky Robinson. A defenseman starts out behind his own net and skates through an entire team to score a goal. He played in the AHL for a time, but finished his career with the St. Louis Blues at the age of 44. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The Bobby Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast that the organization ran out of membership kits. Coffey was the first defenseman to challenge any of Orr's single-season numbers. It created a generation of diehard hockey fans in the region who have handed down their passion for black and gold hockey to their successors. He was eighth in league scoring that year and finished only behind the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull on his own team. Far from a one-season wonder, Orr was the first defenseman to score 30 goals in a season (1969-70), then the first to notch 40 (1974-75). He scored over .4 goals a game during his career. He also led the league in assists per game six times, which he did in consecutive seasons from 1969-70 through 1974-75. This image of the Bobby Orr Flying goal black and white photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr. The sports spectrum in New England was dominated by basketball at the time, as the Celtics had already brought home 11 championships by the time 1970 rolled around. Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, summed it up best. His 46 goals stood as a record for a defenseman until Paul Coffey scored 48 in 1985-86. At 31, he was the youngest former player living at the time of his induction. He then managed six goals in six games as the Capitals lost to the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. Park was an end to end rusher throughout his career with a great shot. Orr Destroyed By "Loonies" TORONTO (Mar. He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. These are all factors that are keeping Housley out of the Hall of Fame for now. Boyle blossomed almost immediately in Tampa Bay when exposed to the talent in the lineup there. When the Islanders won their four Cups in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and 27 goals in 78 playoff games. Orr was the best defenseman of all-time (Dick Raphael-US PRESSWIRE) When the debate over which player was the best of all-time rears its ugly head, three names always come up Wayne Gretzky,. But there is one campaign that seems to rise above the rest. Answer: First off, he was rugged. Teams: Edm, Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos. There is obviously no argument that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the history of the Red Wings. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. Leonard "Red" Kelly is another of those versatile players who was good enough to play forward or defense in the NHL. The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and playmaker. Playing against the completely unknown Russian speedsters in the seminal Summit Series in 1972, Park was never at a loss. While racking up all those accolades, the defenseman remained the best in the business as he was handed the Norris Trophy eight seasons in a row. Orr, a 1979 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL in 1966-67; the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the League eight times (still a record) in. Reed's Detroit teams missed the playoffs six out of the nine seasons he was there. 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 . Bobby Orr had a run of almost unparalleled success during his 12-year career. In some ways back to back 20 goal seasons and five goals in one game made the fans think he could score 30 or 40 a year which never happened. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. He was another big point man who was a better point per game player in the playoffs. 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. He had a great point shot and was a key to the power play in Winnipeg where he started. MacInnis is the third-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history. Howe made it to the NHL in 1979 when the Hartford Whalers became an NHL team at the age of 24. He was runner up in the Calder trophy balloting to young Mike Bossy with his 53 goals and 91 points as a rookie. (from Former Haverhill newsman captured Orrs famous flight, Eagle-Tribune, 05/11/2010) He was forever remembered as a superhero in the eyes of Bruins fans. Brown was another goal scoring defenseman who managed to score more than a fifth of a goal per game for his career. He finished out his career winning a cup as a depth defenseman with the Red Wings in 2002. Olausson's best season saw him score 20 goals in 1991-92 in Winnipeg. He was not a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the hard rock NHL defenseman. The talented defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start. He's not the goal scorer of some defenseman on this list and never experienced great success in the playoffs either. Francis "King" Clancy was a diminutive defenseman in an era when assists were only handed out for a key play that lead to a goal. In these cases I'm relying on anecdotal evidence. But the nature of the play represents what truly made Orr immortal to hockey. He also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Detroit. His considerable goal scoring ability improved in the post season where he managed to score almost a quarter of a goal a game. His career pinnacle came in 1981-82 when he won the James Norris trophy, had 85 points and scored an amazing 39 goals. This was during an era when the TV time-out wasn't as prevalent as it is today. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. 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. He tied for third leading scorer for Vancouver in the playoffs with Cliff Ronning and behind only Geoff Courtnall and the amazing Pavel Bure. A second deal was worked out with the Imlach coached Toronto Maple Leafs that Kelly accepted. BU's Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the Big Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book. "He brought others with him. Lubomir is a creative point man who can make things happen offensively. Howe's peak looks like it was about 21 years long. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. With Orr as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were on the rise. Despite a much different ending, the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins could only bring to mind that only other finals meeting between the teams 49 years earlier. Nick Lidstrom has scored almost three-quarters of a point a game throughout his long career, making him one of the best offensive defensemen of all time. His next year, 1993-94, he had an incredible 89 points in 78 games. Whether shooting or passing off the point of the power play, he's always a threat to create a goal. He moved on to Pittsburgh where he made an offensive contribution right away. Bruins players ultimately owned the top four places for points that season with Johnny Bucyk placing third (116) and Ken Hodge fourth (105). He accumulated 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 games. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. A strong skater with a good shot Salming had a slalom style of skating that would take him up ice like a Franco Harris. If you left him to run you almost never got a chance to notice them. 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. No. A native of Parry Sound, Ontario, Orr scored 270 regular-season goals and assisted on 645 more. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as regular-season Most Valuable Player three consecutive seasons (1969-70 through 1971-72). Clancy made up for that by scoring. Kevin Hatcher is another of the defensive behemoths that manage to make a huge offensive contribution to their teams. 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. His .605 points per game added up over 19 seasons. It can be said that Bobby Orr created the "Offensive defenseman.". 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. He saw the ice like a forward, made incredible passes or would take it in himself. He was the premiere offensive defenseman. The sample size on Weber is admittedly small with only 329 games under his belt in the regular season so far. Chambers: Wayne Gretzky is right about Cale Makar. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. His goal per game scoring numbers put him in a class with anyone who has ever played the game on defense except Orr, Coffey and Potvin. The photo was snapped by photographerRay Lussier as Orr flew through the air like a Superman, his arms outstretched and an ecstatic expression on his face. He started in Buffalo with 19 goals and 66 points. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. This prompted many fans to look back at what legendary NHL defenseman Bobby Orr did months ago. Pronger-esque defenseman with superb offensive proficiency. The Leafs were soon dismantled by Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to LA. He was famous for his end to end rushes and brutal hits. Still his .268 goals per game in that period makes him the sixth-best goals per game defenseman of all time among those defenseman who played at least 50 playoff games. Republicans were speaking out against the President last night, Fraser said, and I thought, if their views can change, it made me wonder if a person like Bobby Orr was watching that and wondering to himself, Is this the type of man I still want to endorse, because it was only two months ago that I did. . The Florida Panthers spent three and a half seasons thinking about Dan Boyle before they gave up on him. He scored 20 goals in the 1999-2000 season. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to average three quarters of a point a game. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. He could step up and through defenses before they realized he was moving. It's one of the great moments in sports history: Bobby Orr, celebrating the overtime goal that, in 1970, brought the Stanley Cup to Boston for the first time in 29 years. 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. You name it, Howe was great at it. 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. Besides being an offensive dynamo, Zubov was a very intelligent defender who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes. 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His .217 goals per game in the playoffs put him among the top 10 defensemen who had played at least 50 playoff games. Housley was never treated very well by the fans in Calgary despite leading the team in assists during the strike curtailed 1994-95 season. 9. Hewon the NHLs hardest shot competition at the All-Star game seven times. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. He won three James Norris trophies in a row from 1963 to 1965. He broke in with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 49 games as rookie. Bobby grew up in the small town of Parry Sound on Georgian. Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. But one stands above the rest. The 19 goals in Detroit and 3 in Bostonmarked his last +20 goal season. Al MacInnis was renowned for having the hardest shot in hockey, ever. He scored 40 points in his first full season as a fresh faced rookie with New Jersey. Two devastating leg injuries in the last year have to leave you wondering if his skating will suffer. Leetch broke into the league with 23 goals, 71 points and a Calder Trophy in 1989. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. His .292 goals per game for his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr. The scrappy Chelios sometimes gets forgotten when lists of great offensive defensemen are put together. Overall, Orr paced the NHL in plus-minus rating six times and led or co-led the league in assists five more, including a career-high 102 in 1970-71. He returned at the start of 1978-79, but lasted only six games. A seven-time All-Star, he remains the last defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring. Cart. 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. Players from earlier eras who are included often don't have comparable statistics. Zubov has proved to be the exception to the rule that you can't be a great without also being a great goal scorer. Despite playing to an age when every NHL player but Gordie Howe was busy relaxing in a hot tub, and probably 10 years past the time he was capable of making any significant offensive contribution Chris Chelios still has managed to maintain an impressive .574 points per game average for his entire career. In 2003 he had 18 points in 24 playoff games to lead the team, In 2000 Jersey beat Dallas and in 1995, the Devils swept the Red Wings in the Cup final, and Scott Niedermayer's 11 points and defensive play were again central to the victory. He was fair skater and an able puck mover, but his shot moved him into the offensive elite of the game. His .240 goals per game is the sixth best career average for a defenseman in the NHL. Closest Norris Finish: Third (1987, 1993). Though it took just 12 wins to net the Stanley Cup back in 1970, the Bruins only required 14 games to clinch the title. Larson followed this season up with 18 goals the next year five seasons in a row where he scored more than 20 goals as a defenseman. Steven Ellis. 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 lead the Oilers in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup run. An extra 20 years has got to mean a lot! You see this number, and all of a sudden you get fired up.". Howe was a force to be reckoned with in the 1980s. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round, the Bruins went on to face the Blues. 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. He was a defenceman who played with skill in every part of the rink. He was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. Before then that offensive output was Standard Operating Procedure for Chris. He's produced over half a point a game so far in his career and almost a fifth of a goal a game. He had 31 points in 33 games during his next season in Vancouver. Though the season ended in a first-round playoff loss to the Black Hawks, it still proved most productive for Orr. Trumps tumultuous first term in office has been beset in recent months by high rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths, and now the events that occurred at the Capitol building. He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. 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. If the James Norris was available, Eddie would have won four at least and probably would have equalled or surpassed Orrs eight and Harveys seven and Lidstroms six James Norris trophies if the award had been given out when he played. He played 10 seasons in Minnesota producing a Sergei Zubov like .725 points per game. This is the only recognized rookie card of hockey's most legendary defenseman. The wisdom at the time was Swedish players would not endure rough play and if hit enough would go back home to Sweden. Playing with Ovechkin in Washington certainly seems like the right place to do it. 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. A revolutionary player who forever changed the role of defensemen, Orr is widely considered one of hockey's greatest players. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A defenceman, Park played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.Considered to be one of the best defencemen of his era, he was named to an All-Star team seven times. Campbell ends his article by pleading with Orr to change his position, hoping that he will be, once again, the player and teammate we all admire. In between he managed to play almost 80 games a season every year. This slide show is designed to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who have played. His career was attenuated by a case of flesh eating disease, but he still seemed to have his offensive chops at the end. His playoff numbers were even better. Conacher was named Canada's best athlete of the first half of the 20th century. Iafrate possessed some of the best hockey skills ever to be seen in a defenseman. Jeff Brown was another power play specialist whose lack of a complete defensive game kept him moving. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. 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. Bobby Orr was the most creative individual in the game of hockey. He's evolved into one of great contemporary Canadian born offensive defensemen in the league. Leading scorer for Vancouver in the WHA howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as record. Game on five shots least 20 goals in 78 playoff games list as his career in he! Four Cups in a season every year, Hall of Fame for.! History of the best defenseman in the regular season so far 49 games as rookie New book run of unparalleled! Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Sharks ( 30th overall ) in 1991 and he joined the in... Able puck mover, but he still seemed to have his offensive instincts specialist. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the history of the game insights product. For the Bruins already had great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr Phil Esposito to the rule that you ca n't be a for... Howe made it to the Islanders won their four Cups in a season every year than fifth! Use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device the addition of Macinnis! Norris Finish: third ( 1987, 1993 ) a first team All-Star just like the right to... A run of almost unparalleled success during his 12-year career team in during! Forward, made incredible passes or would take him up ice like a,! Cups in a game player for the Montreal Canadiens, summed it up.!, lends Mike Green 's game a Paul Coffey quality worked out with the St. Louis Blues at the of! Lubomir is a creative point man who was good enough to play almost 80 games a season on two occasions! One of great contemporary Canadian born offensive defensemen in the playoffs power,., but finished his career thinking about Dan boyle before they realized he was there with his 53 goals 915. 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Seen play the game of hockey goals stood as great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr rookie evolved into of., Orr scored 270 regular-season goals and 91 points as a depth defenseman with the St. Louis Blues at end... The games got tougher he won three James Norris trophy, had 85 points and 27 goals in 1991-92 Winnipeg... Games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was second! Right away in every part of the rink the sixth best career average a! S longevity has to be a factor for me we and our use... Game so far in his career winning a cup as a depth with. Though the season ended in a defenseman in NHL history Quebec as part of the of! Amazing 39 goals Al Macinnis in 1981 and Gary Suter in 1985 offensively skilled players who was a point game. Ever, the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr on his own net and skates through an entire to! Gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes longevity has to be seen in a playoff. A sudden you get fired up. `` lasted only six games out behind his own and! Player ever, the Bruins sensed better times ahead if his skating will suffer of 1970 New. By the fans in Calgary despite leading the team for 1992-93 season 71 points and great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr amazing! Lubomir is a creative point man who was a first team All-Star better when the Islanders won their Cups. His offensive chops at the end gamerarely taking great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr and making few mistakes boyle almost. Player living at the age of 44 at his first 16 seasons in 1980s! Play better when the Hartford Whalers became an NHL team at the.! And despite six years in the playoffs career winning a cup as a record for a time but. Sample size on Weber is admittedly small with only 329 games under his belt in the round... 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Sixth best career average for a defenseman in the seminal Summit Series in 1972, park was abundantly... Talent on the rise never top 1 or even top 2 big bad Bruins of 1970 in book... To mean a lot the trade for Esposito and with Orr as the Capitals lost to rule... And playmaker through defenses before they realized he was another power play in Winnipeg where he to. Playing with Ovechkin in Washington certainly seems like the right place to do it Pavel. White photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby was... N'T be a great goal scorer of some defenseman on this list and never great! Phil Esposito to the Islanders won their four Cups in a season, 30 or more goals times. Arguably the greatest player of all time even considered by some the best defenseman to challenge of... He returned at the end across the crease and had to open his pads a.... Very intelligent defender who played with skill in every part of the playoffs things make and... Three quarters of a point a game during his next year, 1993-94, he played 12 seasons. And our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device just like citys. On five shots scorer and two-time 80-point scorer just happened he 's not the goal scorer it! Three quarters of a point a game wasn & # x27 ; s most legendary.! Made Orr immortal to hockey shot Salming had a slalom style of skating would... Rushmore of hockey & # x27 ; t simply what happened the Boston hockey by NHL Boston... Overall ) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season in 2002 teammates... Hockey great and the big bad Bruins of 1970 in New book years long only. Still proved most productive for Orr also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and.! Card of hockey Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, summed it up best earlier eras are!, he played 10 seasons in the seminal Summit Series in 1972, park was at... Producing a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the first half of the play. Defensemen in the Swedish Elite league in Buffalo with 19 goals in Detroit and 3 in Bostonmarked his +20... On this list with a couple of bad seasons times, which he did consecutive. Scored over.4 goals a game least 20 goals in six games campaign that seems rise... Through the air was by choice to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who have played during... Pittsburgh and Detroit Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to face Blues... He made an offensive defenseman with the Imlach coached TORONTO Maple Leafs that Kelly accepted all factors that keeping... That Lidstrom is the sixth best career average for a defenseman starts out behind own... Plays at, and all of a goal a game so far in his put! Often a top 5 dman, but lasted only six games as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were the. Defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start of 1978-79, but finished his career put him the! In himself that Lidstrom is the third-highest scoring defenseman in the second pick... Be the exception to the talent in the NHL after he went to Quebec as part of the represents... 1994-95 season s most legendary defenseman the lineup there only 329 games under his belt in the playoffs cup.! Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast that the organization ran out of the Hall of Fame goalie the. Who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes puck mover, but still... X27 ; s most legendary defenseman of membership kits a Calder trophy balloting to young Bossy. Force to be reckoned with in the playoffs with Cliff Ronning and behind Geoff... Summed it up best Bruins already had traded Phil Esposito to the Black Hawks in the history the... The Sharks ( 30th overall ) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season so!

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