He scored 20 goals in his last full season in Tampa Bay and has managed 16 and 15 goals and 57 and 58 points in his first two years in San Jose. 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. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Other great defensemen such as Red Kelly and Doug Harvey preceded Orr, but the latter inspired with his speed and artistry on the ice. Unfortunately, Orr's career expired early, as knee injuries got the . 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. Eddie Shore was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman. Without getting into the entire story, hundreds of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building in what appeared to be an attempt to stop the results of Octobers election from being certified. His best seasons never reached the heights of Orr or Coffey. Orr on '72: Best player misses greatest win. His skills were critical to early Islander success, especially in 1975-77 where he almost singlehandedly lead the team on long playoff runs. Not only was he one of the best at reading plays, he was also more than capable of contributing offensively. Niedermayer also won three Cups with New Jersey. Poor Reed though was gone. Kelly started his career in Detroit as a defenseman. Ice hockey never saw a better, more complete player than Bobby Orr. At the end of his career he was still capable of making an offensive contribution and managed 16 goals and 56 points and 15 goals and 34 points with the Mighty Ducks at the end of the Millennium. 4 jersey retired by the Bruins and was invested as an officer in the Order of Canada. Had eight monster seasons with Calgary, including a Calder-winning rookie season and a 91-point season in which he finished third in Norris voting. When the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994, it was notMark Messier or Mike Richter who was the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. He's a slick skating playmaker who always seems perfectly calm as he makes the play. During the playoffs he scored goals at a higher rate then in the regular season. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. Perhaps a longer career would have seen Craig much higher on this list. Enterprise. Equally amazing to me if . He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. 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. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as regular-season Most Valuable Player three consecutive seasons (1969-70 through 1971-72). "With Orr's exit, Boston fans felt as if a loved one had disappeared," Conway wrote. Thousands had to wait weeks to join up. He showed all the toughness and spring steel durability that would be expected from Gordie Howe's son. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. That same year, Zubov scored five goals and assisted on 14 others in the postseason to help the Rangers win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years (he won another Cup with Dallas in 1999). Horton was described by his opponents as one of the strongest players and heaviest hitters to set foot in the NHL. 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. Knee problems had taken their toll as Orr called it quits after playing his final game on Nov. 1, 1978, against the Vancouver Canucks. He is a two-time first-team All-Star, three-time second-team All-Star and played in 13 All-Star Games. Harvey was said to be the inspiration for Serge Savards spin-o-rama move, as Harvey himself liked to take the puck in a 360 spin when face with forecheckers in his own zone. Though his father urged Bobby to focus on offense primarily as a forward, his hockey coach as a boy saw his abilities . Hockey Player #22. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. Find the perfect bobby orr bruins stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. He lead the Oilers in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup run. A second deal was worked out with the Imlach coached Toronto Maple Leafs that Kelly accepted. He was an good playmaker who also managed to score 20 goals or more in a season four times. 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. He also flashed that skill at the public that would have dazzled crowds in Detroit for generations. He was a strong skater with a great point shot and nose for the net. The talented Gonchar is the definitive power play quarterback, confident and creative at the point with a fine hard, accurate shot. Throughout his career, Orr was able to amass a pile of hardware that is almost unimaginable. He was dogged by injuries throughout his career making it hard for him to play a complete season. Al, in his injury-shortened 799-game career averaged .19 goals per game, which puts him in the top 30 goal scorers per game of all defenseman. Likewise, earlier than that, slowly evolving offside rules and different rules for what constituted an assist severely limited what kind of statistically counted offensive contribution even the most skilled defenders could make. He 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. One of the most consistent players to ever lace up a pair of skates, Zubov played 16 seasons in the NHL; in 15 of them he scored 30-plus points, in 12 of them he scored 40-plus points, in eight of them he scored 50-plus points and in three of them he scored 60-plus points, including an incredible 89-point season in 1993-94, which led all defensemen. On December 4, 1966, Toronto Maple Leafs' defenceman Marcel Pronovost checked him into the boards, injuring Orr's knees for the first time in the NHL. But wait they did. Eighty games were the most he ever managed in a single year. 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. Playing in an era where defensemen usually didn't contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. Injuries chipped away at the hard playing Suter but he managed to maintain an offensive presence almost to the end of his career. As knee surgeries limited him to just 10 games, Orr endured a most frustrating 1975-76 season. "Bobby Orr was better on one leg than anybody else was on two," Canada teammate Darryl Sittler said. He was one of the best offensive defensemen of all time. Both those averages go up marginally in the playoffs. 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). Luke Fox @lukefoxjukebox September 28, 2012, 4:30 PM. His point totals weren't quite as glowing and so he ends up here on the list of top offensive defensemen. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. He is the best defenseman since Bobby Orr. It felt like a five-player stampede moving toward you and at his pace. 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. He and his career often seem forgotten in the NHL because of this. Still not convinced Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player of all time? The high risk end of his game had him traded to Colorado where he helped them win the 1996 Stanley cup. For his career, Orrs nine regular-season hat tricks remain a record for NHL defensemen. During the 1998 playoff run he had 15 points in 22 playoff games and won his second cup in a row with the Red Wings at the grand old age of 37. 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. He played his only games in November 1975 after the Bruins already had traded Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers. Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . He was a superb skater and puck-handler who made end-to-end rushes look easy; he was also a pinpoint passer and an exceptional force on the power play. Free shipping for many products! Playing in an era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Bobby Orr, byname of Robert Gordon Orr, (born March 20, 1948, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada), Canadian American professional ice hockey player who was the first defenseman to lead the National Hockey League (NHL) in scoring. First Name Bobby #14. The hockey was indelible, but Hull, who died Monday at age 84, had demons behind . You had to be better than you had ever been.". Despite all that Howe played in the NHL, mostly as a defenseman for 15 seasons. Craig Hartsburg after a year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars. Unfortunately for Reed during his last season in Detroit the Red Wings gave up 415 goals while scoring only 266 and winning only 17 of 80 games. The record of 20 goals would stand for 24 years until a young man named Bobby Orr came along. 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. Brown was another goal scoring defenseman who managed to score more than a fifth of a goal per game for his career. He accomplished all of this while playing at a time where offensive defensemen were rare, as he and Orr were basically the only ones in the league during the late '60s and early '70s. He was famous for his end to end rushes and brutal hits. Part of the problem with a career that spans eras is that the beginning can be lost in the mists of time. Opinion. Everyone agrees that Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux, and. 1968 O-Pee-Chee. LOS ANGELES - It was looking at a living Mount Rushmore of hockey. His 46 goals stood as a record for a defenseman until Paul Coffey scored 48 in 1985-86. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. His shot from the point was also a feature on the power play. Grandfather Robert Orr, an immigrant from Northern Ireland, played professional soccer. Honorable Mentions: Steve Duchesne, Sergei Gonchar, J.C. Tremblay, Eric Desjardins, Kevin Lowe, Vladimir Konstantinov, Mike Green, Allan Stanley, Dan Boyle, Fern Flaman, Brad McCrimmon, Carl Brewer, Craig Hartsburg, Kevin Hatcher, Al Iafrate, Shea Weber, Jim Neilson, Rob Ramage, Pat Stapleton, Teppo Numminen. Duchesne is 20th in career scoring among all NHL defensemen. While offensively brilliant, Housley was average to mediocre in his own end, as he has a career plus/minus rating of minus-53. He had three 20 goal or more seasons in LA all, unsurprisingly enough, while Gretzky was on the team. Thats the kind of teammate Mark Fraser and a lot of other people are looking for right now.. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 03/04 BAP Ultimate Bobby Orr Defenseman Glove Patch Auto Signature 4/4 1/1 Jsy# at the best online prices at eBay! When we speak of the greats of ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau enter into the conversation. Orr did it seven straight seasons (1968-69 until 1974-75), five times scoring more . 4 took his first strides in the NHL during the 1966-67 season but, it was during Orrs prime that he dominated the league. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. In between he managed to play almost 80 games a season every year. Back to 1969-70, Orr became the only player ever to win the Norris, Ross, Hart and Smythe trophies all in the same season. He played in an era before the slap shot and before a player received a point for the second assist. 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. He was seventh in the league in assists that year. On top of that, the Bruins advanced to the postseason for the first time in nine years. he also scored 21 goals that year breaking 20 for the first time. He scored over .7 points per game for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game. Babych had a career high with 74 points in Winnipeg. Ray Borque burst on to the scene in Boston with 17 goals, 65 points and a Calder Memorial trophy as the league's best rookie. He was considered one of the sport's greatest players. During those first thirteen seasons he was part of four Stanley Cup winning teams. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Olausson did manage to win his only cup with Detroit in 2002. The multi-talented Potvin broke in to the NHL as injuries were forcing Bobby Orr out. Orr was also quite happy to hit and to drop the gloves. The addition of Steve Yzerman in 1983 was the beginning of the climb back to competence. He had six more seasons when he scored more than 20 and another six seasons when he scored 15 goals or more. 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. That same year, Orr had his No. He's been a key member of the four Stanley Cup winning Detroit teams in the past 15 years winning the Conn Smythe in 2001-02 with 16 points in 23 games. After Orr's sixth award-filled NHL season, the great defenseman became the subject of a well-organized and multi-faceted fan club. 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. "Gordie in my mind is the best that ever played the game. He had enough offensive skills though to see him picked for both the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cup Canadian teams. Hi there! 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. Helping lead Canada to the title with seven assists in two goals in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP honors. He moved east-west but was constantly looking for the spot where he could move north south and he invariably found it. They beat the Flames, the Atlanta Flames, two straight in a best of three series. He was skilled with the puck and mobile for a big man but it was the shot that set him apart. 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 scored 31 goals once. The only NHL season that Ray Bourque scored fewer than 10 goals in a season was his last in Colorado. Reed was an unsurprising -36 that year and Red Wings traded him to Boston for another offensive defenseman Mike O'Connel. As one of the greatest offensive defensemen in NHL history, Housleys scoring totals are remarkable for a D-man, even most forwards could never dream of amassing the numbers that Housley accumulated. An absolute defensive force for Toronto, he led the team to four Stanley Cup wins during the 1960s. He scored more than 20 goals in a season five times. He didn't begin getting the respect he deserved until the second half of his career and didn't win his first Norris Trophy until. Jul 24, 2021. 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 quarterbacked the power play in Tampa Bay and he was able to keep up with the high priced talent that was there. Orrs goal didnt just put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought in Boston. Besides being an offensive dynamo, Zubov was a very intelligent defender who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes. The greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Associated With. He scored 23 goals and 81 points with the Flames 1992-93 and 20 goals and 67 points with the Blackhawks in 1995-96. Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. Orr Destroyed By "Loonies" TORONTO (Mar. Punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau. 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. Even in his 97-point season, he still managed to finish with a minus-14. In addition to the plus-minus record of 1970-71, Orr became the first player to give out at least 100 assists that same season. His skill as a defenseman let him become the first NHLer to have a 20-year career in the league, all with the Bruins. They lost just two games both to the New York Rangers during the first round in Games 4 and 5 before winning 10 straight en route to the championship. His best statistical season in the league came while playing with Mario Lemieux and company in 1992-93. The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. Perhaps Orr simply wanted to avoid embarrassing a fellow defenseman. During New York's Stanley Cup winning playoff run, Zubov put up five goals and 19 points in 22 playoff games. He was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. SEATTLE The Seattle Kraken acquired defenseman Jaycob Megna from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round draft pick. 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,. Before he was a coach, Randy Carlyle played 17 seasons as a defenseman in the NHL. 10. The legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Doug Harvey. Teams: Buf, Win, Stl, Cal, NJ, Wsh, Cal, Chi, Tor. 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. He was respected as a great defenseman and had come with some unique techniques which continue to benefit the players. He was long overshadowed on a team full of future Hall of Famers. Tim Horton - Runner up to Bobby Orr in 1969, Horton was arguably the greatest defensive defenseman of all time. He endorsed Trump back in October, taking out a full-page ad of the New Hampshire Union Leader, where he called Trump the kind of teammate I want.. The talented defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start. Manage Settings It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. Red Berenson, Gary Sabourin, and Larry Keenan were credited for the three Blues goals during Game 4. His considerable goal scoring ability improved in the post season where he managed to score almost a quarter of a goal a game. The young defenseman was already turning heads with his ability to score goals and win fights. Paul Coffey was perhaps the fastest man ever to lace up skates. It is the most recognizable highlight in Boston sports history. 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. When the Islanders won their four Cups in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and 27 goals in 78 playoff games. Sergei Zubov - Underrated. Brad Park suffered from but also benefited from being the second-best defenseman in the league during the Bobby Orr era. The puck bounced off the right boards and Orr stopped short,corralling the puck with his skate. 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. He was the premiere offensive defenseman. He kept that up throughout a 23 season career. He had 71 points in 78 games for Dallas in 2005-06. Orr created space on the ice where seemed as though there was none. He was incredible offensively and defensivelyon the power play, shorthanded, in the playoffs. He was also an ageless wonder, as he played quality hockey right up until his death at the age of 44. 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. Orr, the 74-year-old legendary defenseman, ranks No. He pushed his teammates because you're playing with the best player in the league and he's giving you the puck and you just can't mess up. It did far more for the city than that. 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