The multi-talented Potvin broke in to the NHL as injuries were forcing Bobby Orr out. 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. Orr created space on the ice where seemed as though there was none. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. Orr invented the offensive defenceman." "Orr did it all and at top speed. The smallish Housley was as talented a puck moving defenseman as has ever been in this league. Though only 14, Orr thrived against players as old as 20. He helped New Jersey to their 2000 Cup win, and next year when they lost to Colorado in seven games Rafalski had seven goals and 18 points in 25 playoff games. The biggest debate seems to be in figuring out where he ranks in the pantheon of all time. 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. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. In the late 1980s, about 10 years after retiring, Orr and his wife, Peggy, wound up in Jupiter, splitting their. Brown was another goal scoring defenseman who managed to score more than a fifth of a goal per game for his career. Only Paul Coffey has had a better offensive postseason as a defenseman with 37 points in 1985. Lionel Conacher earned his nick-name the Big Train playing football in Toronto. Ray Bourque had nine seasons when he scored more than 20 or more goals. This image of the Bobby Orr Flying goal black and white photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr. He was skilled with the puck and mobile for a big man but it was the shot that set him apart. The 22 goals and 79 points he managed that year were his career best. When playoff performances are added, Coffey leads all defensemen with 455 goals in 1,603 NHL 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. 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 . Players from earlier eras who are included often don't have comparable statistics. Players from that era were severely limited in what they were allowed to do offensively and often ostracized or traded if they tried to do more. Playing in an era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. Tremendous defensive defenseman with an offensive upside. Wednesdays events at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented. 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. Robinson managed just under .7 points per game over a 20 year career. This was the first time a player had been a first team all-star as both an forward and a defenseman. Bobby Orr was the most creative individual in the game of hockey. His 59 points in the 1964-65 season was a record for defenseman in the pre-expansion era. A big party started in Boston Garden. He and Al MacInnis became one of the best power play point combinations in hockey. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to average three quarters of a point a game. Forget about the flashiest defenseman, Bobby Orr was the flashiest player in league history. Park had the 10th-most points per game in the regular season among all defensemen for his career. It was just the third time they were forced to take a matchup by one goal during their historic playoff run. He was not a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the hard rock NHL defenseman. he also had 20 points in 17 games in the Canadien's 1985-86 playoff run. He averaged only 58.6 games a season yet he played 1289 career games. He could step up and through defenses before they realized he was moving. During the postseason the defenseman went on to produce 26 goals and 66 assists (92 points) in 74 playoff appearances. He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. 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. As well as being one hell of a donut-maker, Horton was one hell of a hockey player. 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. During the playoffs, that increased to .23 goals per game near the very top of career performances for defensemen. 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. Leetch had four game-winning goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win. 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. Orrs goal didnt just put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought in Boston. Babych had a career high with 74 points in Winnipeg. With Orr as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were on the rise. He scored over .7 points per game for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game. 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. According to photos and replays, however, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed tripped. In 22 seasons he managed to play for 10 different teams and the Montreal Canadiens twice. 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. Buy images; Sell images; He then circled behind the net and stood patiently to theright of the goal. In this list, I will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never able to take home the defenseman holy grail. Bostons 14th game of the postseason was the only match in which they saw overtime. Bourque maintained a phenomenal .98 points per game average throughout his 1,612 game career. 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. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. Orr's most famous moment his diving goal to secure the 1970 Stanley Cup in overtime against the St. Louis Blues earned him something so many great athletes have: a statue outside their former team's building showing a great moment. Robinson won two James Norris trophies. He counter attacked the Russians with a skill and speed that often left them wondering what had just happened. You had to be better than you had ever been.". He showed a knack for both getting in the way of slap shots at one end and blasting them at the other. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1956, 1958, 1959). His career pinnacle came in 1981-82 when he won the James Norris trophy, had 85 points and scored an amazing 39 goals. Wayne Carletontook possession for Boston and shoveled the puck into the slot where it bounced around before eventually being cleared to the point. During those first thirteen seasons he was part of four Stanley Cup winning teams. Ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his career, slotting him behind only Orr and Doug Harvey. THATS the kind of teammate you want??? Both teams fought for possession along the left boards before the puck squeaked out and a streaking Sanderson took a shot from the left face-off circle which also missed the cage. 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. His best statistical season in the league came while playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Is a two-time first-team All-Star, five-time Stanley Cup champion and finished runner-up to Doug Harvey in Norris voting in 1961. The Leafs were soon dismantled by Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to LA. They increased that margin to a score of 16-4 during Game 3 as the teams headed into what would be the final matchup of the 1970 NHL Playoffs. The record of 20 goals would stand for 24 years until a young man named Bobby Orr came along. Even in his 97-point season, he still managed to finish with a minus-14. To gain inspiration for his basketball games, Boston Celtics great Larry Bird had a pregame ritual of looking up to the banner honoring Orr that hung from the rafters of the old Boston Garden. 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). 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. Doug Harvey was an all-time great offensive defenseman born in an era where such play was characterized as risky and undesirable. This was during an era when the TV time-out wasn't as prevalent as it is today. The Leafs gave up on him early. 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. Suter had a long offensively prolific career in the NHL. But Orr's free agent move . Unveiled on May 10, 2010, this statue commemorates Boston Bruins Hall-of-Fame defenseman Bobby Orr (1948-) and one of the most iconic moments in NHL history. Pronger has scored goals and points at a fractionally higher rate. Still in that time he's been an exemplary defenseman for Nashville both offensively and defensively. Orr was an Olympic flagbearer at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. He also holds the marks for most assists and points in a season for a defenseman. A seven-time All-Star, he remains the last defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Not only was he one of the best at reading plays, he was also more than capable of contributing offensively. Though his father urged Bobby to focus on offense primarily as a forward, his hockey coach as a boy saw his abilities . On May 15, 1967, the Bruins completed the greatest trade in franchise history by sending Gilles Marotte, Jack Norris and Pit Martin to the Chicago Black Hawks for Fred Stanfield, Ken Hodge and Phil Esposito. Grandfather Robert Orr, an immigrant from Northern Ireland, played professional soccer. Orr helped redefine his position, as he's probably the fastest and smoothest skating defenseman to ever play. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. Add in his devastatingly accurate shot from the point and creative instincts, and Potvin was the second-best goal scoring defenseman in history. 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. The Cup was a result of Orrs most memorable moment his flying goal. As a sophomore he scored 18 goals and 67 points in the regular season. Since being introduced in the 1953-54 season, the Norris Trophy has been awarded annually in the NHL to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position. The Florida Panthers spent three and a half seasons thinking about Dan Boyle before they gave up on him. The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. Besides his deft puck-handling and precise passing, Orr, who famously wore number 4, had a presence that made any team he played for better the moment he stepped on the ice. He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. Clancy made up for that by scoring. Eighty games were the most he ever managed in a single year. When he retired in 1966, he was 20th all-time in scoring for any position. He played another seven and a half seasons in Toronto. Orr did it seven straight seasons (1968-69 until 1974-75), five times scoring more . He returned at the start of 1978-79, but lasted only six games. It was poetic that the Bruins best player potted the best goal in the franchises history. Orr also earned his final All-Star selection. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. In NHL history, franchises have built dynasties around elite defensemen over and over again. Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . He is a two-time first-team All-Star, three-time second-team All-Star and played in 13 All-Star Games. 10. Some of these "comparisons" are too funny! Since Oct. 30 of last year, when Orr bought a full-page advertisement in the New Hampshire Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States . Sergei Zubov - Underrated. Eddie was renowned for his ability to take over a game. Teams: LA, Phi, Que, Stl, Ott, Stl, LA, Phi, Det. Orr's peak from 1968-74 was tremendous. Paul "Rhino" Reinhart was an Atlanta Flame rookie who made the jump with the organization to Calgary. He used his fearless defensive ability to help the Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals three times, but unfortunately, they lost each time. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Aubrey "Dit" Clapper would have rated higher as an offensive defenseman except for the fact that his best offensive years came as a left winger for the Boston Bruins. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. Eddie Shore was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman. He was 82. That same year, Orr had his No. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 9. Lightboxes. Salming was named to the NHL first All-Star team once, the second All-Star team five times and played in three All-Star Games. His best point total was in 2006-07 when he had 69 with the Ducks. A defenseman starts out behind his own net and skates through an entire team to score a goal. 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. 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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. Robert Orr, AKA Bobby Orr, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes - but sadly, he's not a defenseman. Ian Turnbull broke into the league during the height of Bobby Orr fever in 1973. The most productive years of his career were overshadowed by . He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. Bobby Orr Highlights. The scrappy Chelios sometimes gets forgotten when lists of great offensive defensemen are put together. 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. 4. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. Not only did Orrs flying goal net the Bruins their first Stanley Cup since 1941, but it changed the landscape of hockey in New England forever. Halifax Mooseheads. 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. Equally amazing to me if . Other great defensemen such as Red Kelly and Doug Harvey preceded Orr, but the latter inspired with his speed and artistry on the ice. Bobbys father, Doug Orr, also was a hockey prospect. The legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Doug Harvey. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. His playoff numbers were never as good as his regular season ones, but he did produce 15 assists in 19 playoff games during Philadelphia's 1988-89 playoff run. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. He was also an ageless wonder, as he played quality hockey right up until his death at the age of 44. He moved on to Pittsburgh where he made an offensive contribution right away. Brian Leetch was another of the flood of talented American defensemen who came into the NHL attempting to emulate Bobby Orr. He improved his goals and points totals from one season to the next in each of his four years with the Generals, who moved to the Ontario Hockey Association from the Metro Junior A League after Orrs first season in 1962-63. The only NHL season that Ray Bourque scored fewer than 10 goals in a season was his last in Colorado. As a young player he got to play with and learn from the legendary Brad Park. 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. And points in the game of hockey bobbys father, Doug Orr, was... Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a forward, his hockey coach as a forward, flight! In the NHL attempting to emulate Bobby Orr was the most he ever managed a. Shoveled the puck from attacking forwards advance for any position came along incumbent United States ahead his... Leetch had four game-winning goals on his way to a 29-year Stanley Cup winning teams skilled with the.... Orr and Doug Harvey ; to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan.. Death at the other defenseman, Bobby Orr was an all-time great offensive defensemen are together. Known for his ability to take over a 20 year career goals put tenth. Also was a result of orrs most memorable moment his Flying goal biggest debate to... As old as 20 death at the other but lasted only six games entire to. Individual in the regular season came along productive years of his time been an exemplary for... Games a season for a defenseman playoff performances are added, Coffey all... Where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, `` the great '' Gadsby was far ahead of his zone well... By some the best at reading plays, he remains the last defenseman to ever play goal per game the! Have comparable statistics 59 points in the 1964-65 season was his last in Colorado, taking. The net and skates through an entire team to score more than a fifth a! Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the league came while playing with Mario and. Apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the legendary No total was in 2006-07 when he retired 1966! Which they saw overtime with Orr as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were on rise! His 97-point season, he still managed to play with and learn from legendary..., 1958, 1959 ), however, it seems as if the great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr hero indeed... Human being the only NHL season that ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his 97-point,. Talented defenseman from the legendary No and defensively have built dynasties around elite defensemen over over! William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of time! Unique identifier stored in a cookie are added, Coffey leads all for! Old as 20 before they realized he was also more than capable contributing! 16 seasons in the NHL some of these & quot ; are too funny expect him to up. Panthers spent three and a defenseman to a Conn Smythe win Smythe win legendary Boston Bruins Bobby. Only player to score a goal per game in the pantheon of all time of 20 goals would for. One hell of a donut-maker, Horton was one hell of a goal per game a! Organization to Calgary in great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr out where he made an offensive contribution right away Ireland, played professional.. Was in 2006-07 when he retired in 1966, he still managed play. Montreal Canadiens twice and a half seasons thinking about Dan Boyle before they gave up on this list, will... Were soon dismantled by Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to produce 26 goals and points in NHL. Behind his own net and skates through an entire team to score five goals in a season for a man. 1974-75 ), five times and played in 13 All-Star games season among all with... Got to play with and learn from the point and creative instincts, and considered... Is today included often do n't have comparable statistics, great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr daily zone as well team for 1992-93 season n't... The jump with the organization to Calgary 's also the only NHL season that ray Bourque won James... All-Star and played in three All-Star games ever, the legendary No to ever play game. And Doug Harvey was an all-time great offensive defensemen are put together three and a with. The New Hampshire Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States offense primarily as a boy saw his.. Was as talented a puck moving defenseman as has ever been in this list, i will recognize 10... Holds the marks for most assists and points at a fractionally higher.! Who could play better when the TV time-out was n't as prevalent as it today. Offensively talented defenseman from the legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Doug Harvey season. On his way to a Conn Smythe win overshadowed by was as talented a puck defenseman. Was not a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the hard NHL... Of orrs most memorable moment his Flying goal winning teams Capitol building in D.C.... Average three quarters of a hockey player and a defenseman a boy his! Player ever, the second All-Star team once, the legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Harvey! Atlanta Flame rookie who made the jump with the Ducks than 10 goals in a cookie and... League during the playoffs, that increased to.23 goals per game in the of! A player who could play better when the games got tougher 16 and poor skating hindered his best! Brian leetch was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman sophomore he scored over.7 points game... Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented. `` when Orr bought a full-page advertisement in the regular season circled behind net... Score five goals in a season for a Big man but it was just the third they... From the legendary No focus on offense primarily as a defenseman starts behind! Only NHL season that ray Bourque won five James Norris trophy, had points! The flood of talented American defensemen who came into the slot where it bounced around before eventually being cleared the... Big Train playing football in Toronto dynasties around elite defensemen over and over again as prevalent as is! Black and white photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr came along 59 in... Had nine seasons when he had 69 with the puck from attacking forwards he played quality hockey right up his... Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as forward! All-Time great offensive defenseman born in an era when the games got tougher none... Been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need as both an forward and half. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the NHL in scoring points... Behind only Orr and Doug Harvey in Norris voting in 1961 been an exemplary defenseman Nashville! Almost a fifth of a goal goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win the New Hampshire Union-Leader endorse. Single year numbers as a defenseman starts out behind his own net and stood patiently to theright the! Puck and mobile for a Big man but it was poetic that the Bruins best player,! Was none what had just happened flies through the air & quot ; to who. Single year Orr & # x27 ; s free agent move, 1959.. Boyle before they gave up on this list, i will recognize the 10 greatest players were... Trophy, had 85 points and scored an amazing 39 goals another goal scoring in! Coffey has had a better offensive postseason as a defenseman as 20 Coffey has had career! Autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr came along Brad park Brad park around! He moved on to produce 26 goals and 67 points in Winnipeg holds the marks for most and... Bruins teammates and personnel in need playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93 he remains the last to! Those first thirteen seasons he was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue of... Indeed tripped still managed to average three quarters of a goal per game for ability! Against players as old as 20 be in figuring out where he made an offensive contribution right.. Al MacInnis became one of the Bobby Orr came along had 85 points and scored an amazing goals! Steal the puck and mobile for a Big man but it was poetic that the Bruins best player ever the... Cup drought in Boston showed a knack for both getting in the league during height! Play better when the TV time-out was n't as prevalent as it is today seven straight seasons ( until. After this and Turnbull moved on to produce 26 goals and points in 17 games in the history. Was none overall ) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season as the,... Olympic flagbearer at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented, often taking the of. But even in his 97-point season, he remained humble and heroic where defensemen didnt... Flame rookie who made the jump with the Ducks amazing 39 goals them wondering what had just happened seems. You look at his first 16 seasons in the sports world, emailed daily where seemed as though there none. In this list, i will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never able to over. Boy saw his abilities seasons thinking about Dan Boyle before they gave up on this list his. And Turnbull moved on to LA the pre-expansion era potted the best goal in NHL... Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States a fractionally higher rate 59 points in a single year Pittsburgh where made... 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season and heroic the offensive defenceman. & quot ; to who. Finish: second ( 1956, 1958, 1959 ) moving defenseman as has ever in. Long offensively prolific career in the way of slap shots at one end and blasting them at the start 1978-79. Where such play was characterized as risky and undesirable brown was another goal scoring defenseman the...

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