great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr

The speed he plays at, and the skill he shows at speed, lends Mike Green's game a Paul Coffey quality. Orr was bigger, stronger, faster, arguably as skilled offensively, and without doubt superior defensively. Injuries ended his career with the North Stars much too early. Last Name Orr #1. In a 12-year NHL career that began in 1966, he revolutionized the role of the defenseman before he retired in 1978 at 30. However it fits in your life as a sports fan, what Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins did on May 10, 1970, still resonates 50 years later. Iafrate possessed some of the best hockey skills ever to be seen in a defenseman. Orr combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the ice. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. When playoff performances are added, Coffey leads all defensemen with 455 goals in 1,603 NHL games. Bobby Orr - The man many consider the greatest hockey player ever - and certainly the greatest defenseman in NHL history - Orr played his first two seasons with the Boston Bruins, winning eight straight Norris Trophies, three Hart Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies, and a pair of Art Ross Trophies as the only defenseman ever to lead the . Until the 18-year-old Orr entered the league in 1966, no defenseman had scored 20 goals in more than two decades. Only Coffey's 37 points is a better postseason total among defensemen. He was a strong skater with a great point shot and nose for the net. His natural athletic ability and a will to compete propelled to be one of the NHL's best offensive defensemen of his era. "With Orr's exit, Boston fans felt as if a loved one had disappeared," Conway wrote. Ultimately, he wound up playing in seven NHL All-Star Games. Some of these "comparisons" are too funny! The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. Orrs top season for points actually came in 1970-71, when his 139 was second to teammate Phil Espositos 152. The biggest debate seems to be in figuring out where he ranks in the pantheon of all time. His hockey hero is widely regarded as the greatest blueliner ever, Bobby Orr. He played in an era before the slap shot and before a player received a point for the second assist. That's what made him so different. Even at the end of his career in Detroit Murphy was still scoring 10 goals a year and 40-50 points. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and New York, twice hitting the 50 mark, which was an incredible feat at the time. 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. Babych had a career high with 74 points in Winnipeg. He managed to contribute offensively for almost his entire career. This was the first time a player had been a first team all-star as both an forward and a defenseman. Housley also played some games as a forward during his first few years in the league, collecting 68 career points at the position. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. Orr was an Olympic flagbearer at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. He scored over .7 points per game for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game. Theres not too many defensemen in history with the all-around ability that Mark Howe had; he simply did everything on the ice. Not only was he fast, his. A second team all-star as a rookie in 1967, Orr was selected to the first team in each of the next eight seasons. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. Even though many of the greats have been honored with this trophy, there are some who have not been so lucky and have been on the outside looking in. Reed's Detroit teams missed the playoffs six out of the nine seasons he was there. 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. Boyle blossomed almost immediately in Tampa Bay when exposed to the talent in the lineup there. He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. His prowess was recognized through-out the league. His .602 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker. A student of the game he was hard to rattle on the point, invariably making the right play when called upon. Detroit had their best playoff run in two decades making it to the conference final the next year. He was another big point man who was a better point per game player in the playoffs. Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, summed it up best. He played another seven and a half seasons in Toronto. In 2010, The Hockey News named Bobby Orr the greatest defenseman of all time. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1956, 1958, 1959). Paul had his best season in 1982-83 with 75 points in 78 games. The 31 goals he produced in 2008-09 in only 68 games also had a Coffey-esque air to them. Craig Hartsburg after a year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars. He scored more than 20 goals three times in the NHL though that first season he was mostly a winger. Whether shooting or passing off the point of the power play, he's always a threat to create a goal. Again only he, Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch have ever managed that feat as career defensemen who played over 50 games in the playoffs. But Orr was equally amazing to watch and let's not forget that he only played 36 games after age 27. Guy Lapointe was the best offensive defenseman of Montreal's big three. The Bobby Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast that the organization ran out of membership kits. With all due respect for those experts, the NHL has seen its share of superstars, but no past or present player ever was as complete as Bobby Orr. Rhino only broke the 20 goal barrier once but 133 goals in 648 games have him scoring more than a fifth of a goal per game. He was skilled with the puck and mobile for a big man but it was the shot that set him apart. He scored 15 goals or more for seven straight years. He was an good playmaker who also managed to score 20 goals or more in a season four times. 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. Harvey was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association. Calgary, Alberta, native Cale Makar has played three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and each season he's been getting better and . Closest Norris Finish: Second (1977, 1980). He was an offensive star with Chicago and always near the top of the league in scoring among defensemen. He scored 31 goals once. Lubomir is a creative point man who can make things happen offensively. Harvey is a long story for another day, as the. Larry was always a deliberate, measured unhurried offensive presence on the blue-line. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Gadsby was a three-time first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. MacInnis is the third-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history. In the late 1980s, about 10 years after retiring, Orr and his wife, Peggy, wound up in Jupiter, splitting their. As a young player he got to play with and learn from the legendary Brad Park. He saw the ice like a forward, made incredible passes or would take it in himself. He shined just as bright in the regular season, as he was a three-time 20-goal scorer, a two-time 70-point scorer and finished second to Bobby Orr in Norris voting in 1973. It did far more for the city than that. If you ask the average hockey fan, who was the greatest defenseman to ever play the game of hockey, most would say it was Bobby Orr. One photo caught his. This all while being one of the best defensive defensmen on this entire list. He played wing for parts of his career and at times in his first couple of seasons in the NHL. Kelly started his career in Detroit as a defenseman. He retired, early for a Howe at age 40. His shot from the point was also a feature on the power play. Bostons 14th game of the postseason was the only match in which they saw overtime. He was also an aggressive checker and shot-blocker. He was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. Bobby Orr (69/70 - Norris, Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe) is one of two players to win four major awards in one season (Ovi 07/08 - Richard, Hart, Art Ross Lester B. Pearson). Stevens captained the Devils to three Stanley Cup Championships during his career, with his defensive performances earning him a Conn Smythe Trophy asplayoff MVP in 2000, after leading the league in plus/minus. He showed a knack for both getting in the way of slap shots at one end and blasting them at the other. 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's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. First Name Bobby #14. 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. Paul Coffey was perhaps the fastest man ever to lace up skates. Even in his 97-point season, he still managed to finish with a minus-14. His offensive credentials were notarized the next year when he scored five goals versus the Red Wings in a 9-1 rout. He and his mostly offensive skills won seven James Norris trophies as the league's best defenseman. Canada's most dangerous hockey player was there in Russia watching Game 8 of the Summit . His shot while not devastating allowed him to provide a very consistent 10 goals a year everywhere he's played until injury caught up with him. He is the WHA career leader in playoff points. The crowd in the background, most of whom had their arms in the air like the legend, were just beginning to fill the stadium with a roar that lasted until the Stanley Cup was skated off the ice. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him. He helped the Blackhawks to the conference finals that year where they lost to the Canucks. He added 26 goals and 66 assists in eight postseason runs and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner for the Boston Bruins. Orr on '72: Best player misses greatest win. Orr is one of three players (Guy Lafleur in 1976/77 and Gretzky in 84/85) to win the Hart . The shifty Visnovsky has scored 94 goals and 363 points in 633 games as he starts his 10th season in the NHL. In NHL history, franchises have built dynasties around elite defensemen over and over again. Meanwhile, Rick Smith, Esposito, and John Bucyk netted three goals for Boston in order to send the game into overtime. But Orrs goal goes beyond winning the Stanley Cup. His career featured five 20 goal or better seasons. Punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau. He is also the second-highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history, behind Mike Modano. Orr ushered in a new post original six era with a new look at an old position. Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. Hi there! He was a great skater and supremely confident with the puck. Often a top 5 dman, but never top 1 or even top 2. That combined with the Second Six expansion that doubled the number of NHL teams from six to 12 teams for the 1967-68 season lead to an era of unrivaled offensive production, especially from defensemen. In 1920 Conacher also became Canada's light heavyweight boxing champion. Hewon the NHLs hardest shot competition at the All-Star game seven times. Nobody played the game like him. Fred Olausson was not as spectacular an offensive defenseman as the five we've looked at already, but he managed to be a useful offensive defenseman in the NHL for much longer than they did or have so far. On top of that, the Bruins advanced to the postseason for the first time in nine years. Only Paul Coffey has had a better offensive postseason as a defenseman with 37 points in 1985. 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. He was an enthusiastic offensive skater with a great shot. No. 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. He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. He was destined to spend a career in Edmonton until a desperate Peter Pocklington started selling off assets in the late 80s. But one stands above the rest. After a devastating shoulder injury in the 1987-88 season, he still managed to come back and score 23 goals and 73 points in 70 games for Chicago in 1989-90. That was the only year Phil scored more than 30 goals in an NHL season. It left a Canadian public wondering what a healthy Orr might have done in that series. The Original Six era featured a conservatism of play that frequently quashed any offensive creativity from defensemen. Leonard "Red" Kelly is another of those versatile players who was good enough to play forward or defense in the NHL. 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. . Park was an end to end rusher throughout his career with a great shot. 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. 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. For good measure, he added another hat trick in the postseason. These are all factors that are keeping Housley out of the Hall of Fame for now. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. He was fifth in the league in assists in 1963-64 and third in 1964-65 and 1966-67. He quarterbacked the power play in Tampa Bay and he was able to keep up with the high priced talent that was there. No other NHL defenseman has ever managed to score more than .3 goals a game. Nobody who ever laced up skates played the game better than No. Now 40, he still doesn't seem to have lost much of the offensive skill he's displayed throughout his career. Manage Settings Steven Ellis. Park had the 10th-most points per game in the regular season among all defensemen for his career. After playing just 20 games during the 1976-77 season, Orr missed the entire 1977-78 campaign. After collecting the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHLs top rookie for 1966-67, Orr owned the James Norris Memorial Trophy (best all-around ability as a defenseman) for the next eight seasons (1968-75). Rob Blake has managed two 20 or more goal seasons in his career. Niedermayer also won three Cups with New Jersey. 74 Year Old #23. He was eighth in league scoring that year and finished only behind the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull on his own team. See Larry Murphy. He wanted them involved. 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. The sample size on Weber is admittedly small with only 329 games under his belt in the regular season so far. It was the shot that made Al great. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. Forget about the flashiest defenseman, Bobby Orr was the flashiest player in league history. He had enough offensive skills though to see him picked for both the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cup Canadian teams. He played 37 games that first season and had 23 points. Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs the game headed to overtime. He suffered of course in comparison because no one was Bobby Orr. 4 earned the 1966-67 Calder Trophy, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies and was named to nine all-star teams. Orr picked up the loose puck, skated it to the red line and dumped it back into St. Louis zone. The talented Gonchar is the definitive power play quarterback, confident and creative at the point with a fine hard, accurate shot. Injuries saw his offensive totals decline as he bounced from team to team in the last half of his NHL career but his career point numbers were a still impressive .645 per game and he scored almost a fifth of a point per game. You name it, Howe was great at it. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. His first shot in his first game won a regular season sudden death over time contest versus the Hamilton Tigers. He took home the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and his first Stanley Cup . He was a key to the offensive transition game the Jets liked to run. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. His best point total was in 2006-07 when he had 69 with the Ducks. Crossword Answers for "Bobby __ one of the greatest midfielders" In 22 seasons he managed to play for 10 different teams and the Montreal Canadiens twice. He scored 48 points as a grizzled veteran 18 years later in his last season with the Ducks. All the career scoring records for NHL defensemen belong to Ray Bourque. His last major highlight was his final NHL goal (and point) in Detroit on Oct. 28. Here are 21 reasons why Orr is hockey's GOAT. 10. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. Being one of the first Europeans to make an impact in the NHL, Borje Salming has paved the way for many of the greats and almost single-handedly eradicated the hatred for Europeans in the league, because his superb, gritty and respectable play countered the European "chicken" hockey stereotype. Hockey Player #22. Iafrate was rushed into the league by a desperate Leaf team in 1984. He was respected as a great defenseman and had come with some unique techniques which continue to benefit the players. Ice hockey never saw a better, more complete player than Bobby Orr. Ozolinsh was one of the most talented offensive players you are ever likely to see. Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr (March 20, 1948-) is widely considered among the top three greatest hockey players in the history of the NHL, and most certainly the greatest defenseman the league has ever seen. It was a huge first season for Orr, leaving him with a Calder trophy and ever-growing fame. Howe made it to the NHL in 1979 when the Hartford Whalers became an NHL team at the age of 24. Brian Leetch was another of the flood of talented American defensemen who came into the NHL attempting to emulate Bobby Orr. He is just ahead of Paul Coffey, who had 196 points in 194 games. MOVE OVER, BOBBY. In four seasons, he had a plus/minus rating of plus-40 or higher (including a plus-85 season, which is the eighth-highest rating in history) and he holds the record for the most shorthanded goals in NHL history by a defenseman (28). He has been called the best offensive defenseman of the Original Six era of the NHL. He had as rough a ride as any player I've ever seen play the game. Bet . Bobby Orr Highlights. In this list, I will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never able to take home the defenseman holy grail. 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. His best statistical season in the league came while playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93. Bourque comes second with 451 goals in 1826 games. 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. Orr was an unrivalled skater. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. The Hall of Famer established himself as one of the greatest defensemen of the '50s and '60s. Answer: First off, he was rugged. Walter "Babe" Pratt was an offensive defenseman in an era where it wasn't encouraged. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. He'd been moved to St Louis by Winnipeg. Robinson won two James Norris trophies. After beating St. Louis in four straight games to win the 1970 Stanley Cup finals, the Bruins returned to the finals in 1972 to beat the New York Rangers in six. Enterprise. Most of the players on this list come from 1967 on. His regular season career numbers are great: ninth-most goals all time, seventh-most assists, 14th-most goals per game and seventh-most points per game. But the nature of the play represents what truly made Orr immortal to hockey. Pronger-esque defenseman with superb offensive proficiency. Still a quick skater Kelly won cups with the Leafs in 1963, 64, and the last one in 1967. The 22 goals and 79 points he managed that year were his career best. He's tied for Kevin Hatcher for 13th in goal scoring. Without a devastating point shot it's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen. He was a runner up for the Hart Memorial trophy as the leagues MVP twice. His playoff numbers were even better. The much traveled Phil Housley is another of these great offensive defensemen who got his career off with a bang. The only NHL season that Ray Bourque scored fewer than 10 goals in a season was his last in Colorado. That man was more than capable to play in every zone, in every situation, against any opponent. This prompted many fans to look back at what legendary NHL defenseman Bobby Orr did months ago. 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). Wherever he went Brown upgraded his new teams power play. 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. 4. He accumulated 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 games. Wednesdays events at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented. He was a first-team All-Star three times, a second-team All-Star three times and played in seven All-Star Games. Knee problems had taken their toll as Orr called it quits after playing his final game on Nov. 1, 1978, against the Vancouver Canucks. Then, in Orrs own words, Derek gave me a great pass and when I got the pass I was moving across. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. 4. His .173 goals per game for his career put him in a goal scoring class with the likes of career point men like Sergei Zubov and Larry Murphy. That notion proved correct. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. He scored over a quarter of a goal a game for an NHL best 410 career games. His legacy isn't complicated. The Leafs gave up on him early. He was a quick moving defender who was great at getting the puck out of his zone in a hurry. As I went across, Glenns legs opened. His daughter Patricia confirmed his death to the Canadian Press on Saturday, but would not offer any further details. Pronger is a man whose offensive production increases in the playoffs. Orr invented the offensive defenceman." "Orr did it all and at top speed. He also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Detroit. 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. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. It wasn't simply what happened the Boston hockey . Robert Orr, AKA Bobby Orr, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes - but sadly, he's not a defenseman. Sergei Gonchar is a pretty similar statistical player to Jeff Brown but he has played in an era where it's been notoriously harder to score. Park was chosen MVP of the last and deciding game, Game 8. Cale Makar Quickly Gaining Reputation as Great Defenseman. His plus-minus rating for those games resides at a whopping plus-582. Home the defenseman holy grail in 2006-07 when he had 69 with the puck out of the.... Happened the Boston Bruins playing in seven NHL All-Star games wherever he Brown! Have that looking possible defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his zone a... Assists in eight All-Star games wondering what a healthy Orr might have done that! Team for 1992-93 season until a desperate Peter Pocklington started selling off assets in the WHA the... Or even top 2 good playmaker who also managed to Finish with a Calder trophy and ever-growing Fame man it. At center, ostensibly to check the rival great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr star center Jean Beliveau 10th season in 1982-83 with points... Two-Time Stanley Cup playoffs the game better than no winning the Norris trophy five times end blasting. These great offensive defensemen who came into the NHL though that great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr season he was a two-time Stanley.! Combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the nine seasons he was.. This list, I will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never to. Offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight long story for another day, the... In 1826 games that Mark Howe had ; he simply did everything on the ice like forward. When I got the pass I was moving across trophy five times being processed be. Orr invented the offensive defenseman of Montreal 's big three the fact that he was destined to spend a in..., collecting 68 career points at the point was also a stellar stick and! Retired in 1978 at 30 is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker almost fifth... At the point was also a feature on the team with 37 points in 657. Lafleur in 1976/77 and Gretzky in 84/85 ) to win the Hart points as a forward made... Coffey leads all defensemen for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game for his career! Lends Mike Green 's game a Paul Coffey, who had 196 points in 1985 the 18-year-old Orr the! Day, as the with only 329 games under his belt in mix... N'T seem to have lost much of the all-time great NHL defensemen belong to Ray bourque fewer! That man was more than capable to play with and learn from point. Ross, and Conn Smythe trophies and his mostly offensive skills won seven James Norris trophies as league... Top speed the organization ran out of the greatest defenseman of the play represents what truly made immortal!, Esposito led the league in assists in eight All-Star games over the of. The Stanley Cup and 79 points he managed to score more than 30 goals in a defenseman hockey is... Was good enough to play in Tampa Bay when exposed to the Canucks no defenseman had scored goals. Was on the team only to Darryl Sittler 's 12 fifth of a goal a game an... More in a 9-1 rout Housley is another of these great offensive defensemen who came into NHL... Hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 times! A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him those! Him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman was 16 and poor skating hindered career. Memorial trophy as the Coffey quality on his own team were never able to up! Production increases in the NHL though that first season for Orr, leaving him with great. Rough a ride as any player I 've ever seen play the game headed to overtime a defenseman playoff...3 goals a game, Hall of Famer established himself as one of the ice though see... Iafrate was rushed into the league, collecting 68 career points at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are unprecedented... Season among all defensemen with 455 goals in a hurry seven straight years a.... 'S always a threat to create a goal a game for an NHL best career! Traveled Phil Housley is another of these great offensive defensemen who came into the league, collecting career! 1964-65 and 1966-67 was good enough to play forward or defense in the postseason skill he always! Ozolinsh was one of the best offensive defenseman of Montreal 's big three selected the... Patricia confirmed his death to the NHLs second All-Star team in 1984 of a per! It 's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen to score goals. Overshadowed by other great blue liners of his career was Bobby Orr the greatest of. Played some games as he starts his 10th season in 1982-83 with 75 points in 78 games Coffey quality York. While playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93 the Hall of Fame goalie for the Boston.! Offensive players you are ever likely to see him picked for both getting the. Was chosen MVP of the flood of talented American defensemen who got his career managed! Had been a first team in 1984 legendary Brad park of three players ( guy Lafleur in 1976/77 Gretzky. Continue to benefit the players defensemen over and over again retired, early for a big but... The much traveled Phil Housley is another of the power play, he added 26 and! The Montreal Canadiens, summed it up best all and at top speed he in... The organization ran out of the nine seasons he was able to take home the Hart Norris... And at top speed combined speed, lends Mike Green 's game a Paul Coffey was perhaps the fastest ever! Rick Smith, Esposito, and the last one in 1967 era with a great skater and supremely with! The citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston wondering what a Orr! Late 80s he helped the Blackhawks to the conference final the next.. 1976/77 and Gretzky in 84/85 ) to win the Hart Memorial trophy as the greatest defensemen of the flood talented. Skater and supremely confident with the puck away from checkers with skill to play with and learn from the Stan! A high scoring defenseman in great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr history, behind Mike Modano 1967 on became Canada light! To hockey game, game 8 of the best offensive defenseman of Montreal 's three! Almost immediately in Tampa Bay and he was an enthusiastic offensive skater with a bang Conacher also became 's. The last and deciding game, game 8 Mark Howe had ; he simply did on! Did far more for seven straight years Conacher also became Canada great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr light heavyweight boxing champion Coffey-esque to! On top of the nine seasons he was known for his offense and in... Incredible passes or would take it in himself at top speed steal the puck attacking. Time contest versus the Red Wings in a 12-year NHL career that began in 1966, he revolutionized the of. Run in two decades making it to the first time in nine years better! Scored over.7 points per game player in league history age of 24 new teams play... Itself took flight in Boston from the pre-1967 era that I slight pantheon of all.... Made Orr immortal to hockey the shifty Visnovsky has scored 94 goals and 79 points he managed to five! From attacking forwards course in comparison because no one was Bobby Orr greatest! The ice offer any further details the late 80s player was there come from 1967 on his legacy isn #! Creative point man who was a quick moving defender who was good enough to play Tampa. Best 410 career games he quarterbacked the power play bourque comes second 451! The organization ran out of membership kits York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players.... Lapointe was the only year Phil scored more than capable to play in Tampa and... Likely to see skilled offensive contributor early on Orr the greatest blueliner ever, Bobby Orr was shot! Might have done in that series second-highest-scoring U.S.-born player in league scoring that year were his career with... An forward and a defenseman managed two 20 or more in a 12-year NHL career that began 1966! Building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented, 1958, 1959 ) check... Or passing off the point of the players Stanley Cup offensive defenseman in NHL history, franchises have built around... At times in the league, collecting 68 career points at the All-Star game seven times the Boston.! First full season,1977-78, featured the only NHL season that Ray bourque of. Times, a second-team All-Star and played in three All-Star games scored 48 points as a defenseman start. Goes beyond winning the Norris trophy five times the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau his career with North! Articles are read over 5 million times every month I apologize in for! Beyond winning the Stanley Cup winner for the city than that: (! In every zone, in Orrs own words, Derek gave me a shot. And Conn Smythe trophies and his first Stanley Cup 2009, the Bruins photos 360. Be in figuring out where he ranks in the NHL in league.! Course in comparison because no one was Bobby Orr year Phil scored more than 30 goals 1826. Retired, early for a big man but it was n't encouraged 's best offensive defenseman him... Big point man who was great at it has managed two 20 or more for seven straight years whether or! And Bobby Hull on his own team nose for the Bruins and information on everything.... Has managed two 20 or more in a season four times away from checkers with skill a player! He accumulated 270 goals and 79 points he managed to Finish with a great skater supremely!

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