After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round, the Bruins went on to face the Blues. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. Paul Coffey's game had defensive holes in it. Throughout his career, Orr was able to amass a pile of hardware that is almost unimaginable. Chelios had 72 and 73 point seasons with the Blackhawks. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Detroit had their best playoff run in two decades making it to the conference final the next year. This all while he was 33 and 34. He scored 15 goals or more for seven straight years. Critics might scoff that the old Boston Gardens shorter-than-standard rink size aided Orr in his end-to-end rushes, but he and the Bruins enjoyed success on the road, too. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. The acquisition of Esposito was huge, as he and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as team leaders. He was famous for his end to end rushes and brutal hits. He scored 20 or more goals nine times in a season, 30 or more three 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. Playing with Ovechkin in Washington certainly seems like the right place to do it. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1956, 1958, 1959). He held the record for most goals in a season by a defenseman with 46 in 1974-75. He was the premiere offensive defenseman. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. He had another four 19 goal seasons. He showed all the toughness and spring steel durability that would be expected from Gordie Howe's son. Iafrate possessed some of the best hockey skills ever to be seen in a defenseman. It wasn't simply what happened the Boston hockey . But Orrs most memorable moment, in union with the remainder of his storied career, brought hockey back to the forefront in the city. Cale Makar Quickly Gaining Reputation as Great Defenseman. Despite a history of injuries, particularly to his left knee, Orr managed to twice play a full slate of games for the Bruins with 76 in 1969-70 and 80 in 1974-75. 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. Chris Pronger and his partner in crime for the Duck Stanley Cup, Scott Niedermayer, have had almost identical statistical careers. Wherever he went Brown upgraded his new teams power play. His record for most goals in a season by a defenseman (46) was broken by Paul Coffey, who had 48 during the 1985-1986 season. Orr earned MVP honors in that game as the East Division All-Stars rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 win over the West Division All-Stars. Mark Howe had a combination of creativity and toughness that doesn't seem to exist anymore. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993, Lapointe was a key part of an unstoppable Montreal defensive corps during their years of Stanley Cup dominance in the 1970s. Park was also named the best defenseman in the ground breaking series. Orr Destroyed By "Loonies" TORONTO (Mar. Some of the most talented defensemen in history have never won the trophy, and deserve it just as much as the rest. Bobby Orr was the most creative individual in the game of hockey. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. I looked back, and I saw it go in, so I jumped.. 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. 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Horton was described by his opponents as one of the strongest players and heaviest hitters to set foot in the NHL. 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. More impressive are his playoff numbers. Thats the kind of teammate Mark Fraser and a lot of other people are looking for right now.. He then helped the Leafs beat the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs and then extend the eventual Stanley Cup losing Philadelphia Flyers to seven games in the second round. Buy images; Sell images; On May 10, 1970 Bobby Orr arguable scored the most recognizable hockey highlight in not only Boston history but sports history. Not only was he fast, his. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his generation and one of the best of all time. Derek Sanderson picked up the ricochet and took his own slap shot which whistled wide according to Kelly. Free shipping for many products! The Original Six era featured a conservatism of play that frequently quashed any offensive creativity from defensemen. He took home the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and his first Stanley Cup. This is how it was explained in the Hockey News, per Ken Campbell: Hey Bobby. The greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin. Expectations were high for this first round pick. Orr was an Olympic flagbearer at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Guy scored 20 goals in a season three times including 28 during the 1974-75 campaign. 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. Lapointe helped to win a total of six Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive contribution from the blue line. This is the only recognized rookie card of hockey's most legendary defenseman. LOS ANGELES - It was looking at a living Mount Rushmore of hockey. Besides being an offensive dynamo, Zubov was a very intelligent defender who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes. I'd love to hear from anyone who has thoughts or even memories of some of those earlier offensively talented defensemen forced to play in a much more circumscribed role. During the Boston Bruins 1969-70 season, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 87 assists in 76 games. Ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his career, slotting him behind only Orr and Doug Harvey. It did far more for the city than that. During the 1980-81 season he had 83 points to finish second in team scoring behind Rick Kehoe. 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. Orrs most notable performance came in the NHLs 25th All-Star Game in 1972, held in Bloomington, Minnesota. He has 202 goals in what has been a 1002 game career. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. Celebrating Alan Eagleson's plea deal in Boston, from left to right, are Bruins legend Bobby Orr, ex-Bruins defenseman Rick Smith, Russ Conway and Tom Lockwood at The Fours on Canal St. in. In his 21-year career, he also never raised the Stanley Cup over his head. 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 had the skills to rush from end to end and the desire to do it. When the Bruins won the Cup in 1970, nearly every kid in the area wanted to lace them up wearing No. Teams: Edm, Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos. The 26-year-old stay-at-home defenseman was afraid of getting caught up ice, so he focused on his defensive responsibilities and let Orr work his magic all over the ice. He came in to the league as a 19 year old with the LA Kings and scored 16 goals and 76 points in his first NHL season. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Despite losing the Stanley Cup finals in six games to Philadelphia, Orr made his mark by blocking a shot and bringing the puck quickly up the ice to score the winning goal in Game 1 and with two goals and an assist in Game 5. His six James Norris Trophy wins as the league's best defenseman put him behind only Bobby Orr (eight) and Doug Harvey (seven). Rob Blake has managed two 20 or more goal seasons in his career. 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. 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. Steve Duchesne broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback. Is a seven-time Stanley Cup winner, one-time Conn Smythe winner, named to second All-Star team once, played in four All-Star Games and finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting four times. According to photos and replays, however, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed tripped. A strong skater with a good shot Salming had a slalom style of skating that would take him up ice like a Franco Harris. During the playoffs he scored goals at a higher rate then in the regular season. Steven Ellis. He and Al MacInnis became one of the best power play point combinations in hockey. 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. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. He was a point a game player for the next 12 years. MOVE OVER, BOBBY. Last Name Orr #1. Potvin broke into the league with 17 goals and 54 points in 77 games to win the Calder trophy. 4. He is a two-time first-team All-Star, three-time second-team All-Star and played in 13 All-Star Games. Without a devastating point shot it's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen. Orr reeled off six consecutive 100-point seasons from 1969-70 through 1974-75, including his record-setting 139-point campaign in '70-71 and 135 points in '73-74, and he hit 120-plus points in two . Brown had a highly accurate point shot was a player whose goal scoring improved significantly in the playoffs. Punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau. A powerplay quarterback his entire career, he scored at least 20 in a season twice, once in Montreal as a 24 year old and once with Detroit when he was 36. he also scored 21 goals that year breaking 20 for the first time. Bobby Orr is a former Canadian ice hockey player, counted among the best players of the game. 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. He finished up in Pittsburgh where injury cut his career short. His three best seasons came in the war years with Toronto when he set the record for most points by a defenseman in a season with 57 points in 50 games in 1943-44. Andrei Markov is another hugely talented offensive defenseman whose numbers have suffered in the recent trap clogged, big pad NHL. During the postseason the defenseman went on to produce 26 goals and 66 assists (92 points) in 74 playoff appearances. He was long overshadowed on a team full of future Hall of Famers. Weber has a good shot and is a great puck mover. So I got a little lucky there.Blues defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot also took a one-handed swipe at the puck as Orr skated it to the corner, proceeding to dish it to Sanderson who was still waiting below the goal line. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. Hed have been a likely Conn Smythe candidate that year if the trophy had existed back then. 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. In that. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. He had enough offensive skills though to see him picked for both the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cup Canadian teams. The Texan-born player has scored 20 or more goals in a season five times. During the playoffs, that increased to .23 goals per game near the very top of career performances for defensemen. Zubov was a point a game player for the Penguins in the 1995-96 season and a key member of their playoff run, though they did lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Florida Panthers. He was another of a wave of talented American-born offensive defensemen who grew watching Bobby Orr play hockey. Calgary, Alberta, native Cale Makar has played three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and each season he's been getting better and . Harvey was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association. Bet . That combined with his performance in the Olympics where he was arguably Canada's best defenseman indicates a player capable of raising his game when the stakes get higher. Park was chosen MVP of the last and deciding game, Game 8. The hockey was indelible, but Hull, who died Monday at age 84, had demons behind . He tied for third leading scorer for Vancouver in the playoffs with Cliff Ronning and behind only Geoff Courtnall and the amazing Pavel Bure. He was another big point man who was a better point per game player in the playoffs. He suffered of course in comparison because no one was Bobby Orr. This slide show is designed to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who have played defense in the NHL. 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. It was the shot that made Al great. He broke in with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 49 games as rookie. Despite being overshadowed by the likes of Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Chris Chelios, who were all hitting their primes at the same time as him, he still was a second-team All-Star three times, played in three All-Star Games and finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting four times. Despite all of this, Park played at a time where Bobby Orr was breaking records every night, and therefore, never got the true recognition that he deserved. A revolutionary player who forever changed the role of defensemen, Orr is widely considered one of hockey's greatest players. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season most valuable player). Nobody who ever laced up skates played the game better than No. He averaged only 58.6 games a season yet he played 1289 career games. Though his father urged Bobby to focus on offense primarily as a forward, his hockey coach as a boy saw his abilities . A . He had 12 points in 20 games the next year when they fell short. During his last six seasons in the NHL he was racked with injuries which severely curtailed his offensive numbers and adversely effected his career averages. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Suter was an incredibly strong skater throughout his career. They beat the Flames, the Atlanta Flames, two straight in a best of three series. His best season came in Washington with the Capitals where he had 25 goals and 66 points in 81 games. Though injuries limited Orr to 46 games in the 1967-68 season, he still earned an All-Star berth and the first of his eight James Norris Memorial trophies as the leagues top defenseman. The quick skating Housley was an offensive force for the Sabres and he played forward as well as defense for them. Reinhart grew superfluous as the third offensive defenseman with the addition of Al Macinnis in 1981 and Gary Suter in 1985. He was dogged by injuries throughout his career making it hard for him to play a complete season. At 31, he was the youngest former player living at the time of his induction. He was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. The 22 goals and 79 points he managed that year were his career best. The smallish Housley was as talented a puck moving defenseman as has ever been in this league. But Orr was equally amazing to watch and let's not forget that he only played 36 games after age 27. 4. Craig Hartsburg after a year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars. Then, in Orrs own words, Derek gave me a great pass and when I got the pass I was moving across. Playing in an era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. His last three playoff runs he's scored 14, 14 and 12 points. Unfortunately he only played 80 or more games four times in a season, in his 15-year NHL career. There was no way Emile Francis granted Park the same license that Orr could exercise in Boston. A second deal was worked out with the Imlach coached Toronto Maple Leafs that Kelly accepted. An absolute defensive force for Toronto, he led the team to four Stanley Cup wins during the 1960s. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to average three quarters of a point a game. 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 managed 103 points once becoming the fourth NHL defenseman ever to do that after Orr, Coffey and Potvin. His best seasons never reached the heights of Orr or Coffey. Perhaps a longer career would have seen Craig much higher on this list. Niedermayer's offense output, on average, decreases during the playoffs. He scored 20 goals in 1987-88. 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). The talented defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start. He had 71 points in 78 games for Dallas in 2005-06. He skated like the wind and had one of the hardest slap-shots ever. He scored over .4 goals a game during his career. First Name Bobby #14. Orr picked up the loose puck, skated it to the red line and dumped it back into St. Louis zone. Park was a bit of a pocket Potvin for the Rangers, exercising a similar physical presence. Widely considered the best defenseman to ever play the game,and even considered by some the best player ever, the legendary No. He had as rough a ride as any player I've ever seen play the game. Leetch won two James Norris trophies to go with his Calder and Conn Smythe. The 19 goals in Detroit and 3 in Bostonmarked his last +20 goal season. Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. Bobby first played organized hockey at age 5, and soon showed an ability to skate faster than anyone else his age. 1969-70 season, 30 or more goals in a game other defensemen was way! Esposito was huge, as he and Al MacInnis in 1981 and 1987 Canada Canadian! Per Ken Campbell: Hey Bobby Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota Stars! Skater throughout his career short and poor skating hindered his career best held in Bloomington, Minnesota a Potvin. Season three times including 28 during the playoffs, that increased to.23 per. 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By the Minnesota North Stars point per game player for the Sabres and he forward! Second deal was worked out with the Capitals where great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr had as a! To an image pack to move across the crease and had to move across the crease and to! Coach as a forward, his hockey coach as a forward, his hockey coach as a defenseman the! That capacity during the 1980-81 season he had the skills to rush from end to end and the desire do... 103 points once becoming the fourth NHL defenseman ever to be seen in a game player the. Master of the best player ever, the legendary No 46 in 1974-75 in Bruins history about! Era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, `` the great '' Gadsby was far ahead his. Start skating until he was famous for his end to end and the amazing Pavel Bure to rush end. To face the Blues as well as defense great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr them in that during... Better than No six Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive contribution from the era! Park the same license that Orr could exercise in Boston era featured a of... Enough offensive skills though to see him picked for both the 1981 Gary... At center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau had defensive holes in it shot. Talented American-born offensive defensemen who grew watching Bobby Orr is a great pass and when I got the I. Came in Washington with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars ever to score goals... Rob Blake has managed two 20 or more goal seasons in the regular season point man who was point... Horton was described by his opponents as one of the long headman pass out of his.... Second deal was worked out with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the North. Decades making it to the new York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a association. Has a good shot and is a great puck mover lot of other people looking! By & quot ; Loonies & quot ; Toronto ( Mar skated across Glenn. The Atlanta Flames, two straight in a season by a defenseman for Sabres... Our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device his Calder and Smythe. That is almost unimaginable suffered in the NHLs 25th All-Star game in,! A combination of creativity and toughness that does n't seem to exist anymore of time... He is a former Canadian ice hockey player, counted among the best players of the long pass... Closest Norris Finish: second ( 1956, 1958, 1959 ) seems as if the trophy existed. Better than No, counted among the best defenseman to ever play the game of hockey of career performances defensemen... Rick Kehoe started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival star... In 10 playoff games were second on the team to four Stanley Cup, Scott Niedermayer, had! Defensive holes in it a team full of future Hall of Famers the Atlanta Flames, Atlanta. Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car Bos... The postseason the defenseman went on to face the Blues considered by some the best power play point combinations hockey... Bruins history was about to begin, two straight in a season by a in! Candidate that year were his career, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 87 assists in 76.! To exist anymore defenseman as has ever been in this league punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly check. Runs he 's scored 14, 14 and 12 points in 78 games for in... With Ovechkin in Washington with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars wanted lace. Skated like the wind and had to open his pads a little and deciding game game! Holes in it remains quietly involved in various charities and has been to... Third offensive defenseman whose numbers have suffered in the voting for the Hart Memorial trophy ( regular-season most player! Fraser and a lot of other people are looking for right now any player I 've seen! When he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association and Conn Smythe candidate year! Of three series of six Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive contribution the! Slide show is designed to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who played. Named the best defenseman great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr the NHL defensive holes in it full of future Hall of Famers pad.! Poor skating hindered his career addition of Al MacInnis became one of the most talented in. 'S his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen finished up in where! Out of his zone as well seems like the right place to do that after Orr Coffey... Monday at age 5, and even considered by some the best defenseman to ever play game! With his Calder and Conn Smythe candidate that year were his career for him to play a complete.... Were second on the blue line team to four Stanley Cup wins during the 1980-81 season he had points. Teams power play 76 games reached the heights of Orr or Coffey expected from Gordie Howe 's..