Bourque comes second with 451 goals in 1826 games. The Leafs gave up on him early. This is the only recognized rookie card of hockey's most legendary defenseman. Kelly started his career in Detroit as a defenseman. His skills and size on the back end helped them win the cup in 1938-39. Mark Howe had a combination of creativity and toughness that doesn't seem to exist anymore. Al MacInnis developed into a complete offensive defenseman as his career progressed, but it was his shot that got him to the NHL. The young defenseman was already turning heads with his ability to score goals and win fights. Even at the end of his career in Detroit Murphy was still scoring 10 goals a year and 40-50 points. Mike Green is the youngest player I have on my list and so has the most potential to climb and fall. 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. The only NHL season that Ray Bourque scored fewer than 10 goals in a season was his last in Colorado. St. Louis Keenan took a one-handed chop at the puck to no avail as the Bruins defenseman had already transitioned it to his stick blade. Injury and age interfered with his skating but he was still a crafty passer and had a useful point shot on the power play till the end. His .292 goals per game for his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr. He is also the second-highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history, behind Mike Modano. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. Create an account. 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. Duchesne is 20th in career scoring among all NHL defensemen. His offensive credentials were notarized the next year when he scored five goals versus the Red Wings in a 9-1 rout. 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. Noticed by the Boston Bruins in 1961 at age 13, Orr signed a year later and began playing for the teams Oshawa Generals junior club. 4. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. The record of 20 goals would stand for 24 years until a young man named Bobby Orr came along. Tremendous defensive defenseman with an offensive upside. Orr picked up the loose puck, skated it to the red line and dumped it back into St. Louis zone. 1968 O-Pee-Chee. Enterprise. He scored 20 or more goals nine times in a season, 30 or more three times. His first game back he looked like he was playing on one leg. Hatcher managed 24 goals with Washington during the 1990-91 season and an amazing 34 goals for the Capitals during 1993-94. This was the first time a player had been a first team all-star as both an forward and a defenseman. Park was an end to end rusher throughout his career with a great shot. This all while he was 33 and 34. He had enough offensive skills though to see him picked for both the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cup Canadian teams. Howe was a force to be reckoned with in the 1980s. Play-by-play announcer Dan Kellys call of the final moments of Game 4 will give you goosebumps even to this day. He scored well in the regular season and was another player who could gear it up for the playoffs. Right from his rookie season (he holds the record for most assists and points by a rookie defenseman), Murphy was an offensive superstar with a keen hockey sense who was a solid and trustworthy defender as well. Next year he scored 26 goals and had 64 points in 81 games. Pairded with Earl Seibert, Hollett . His shot from the point was also a feature on the 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. Republicans were speaking out against the President last night, Fraser said, and I thought, if their views can change, it made me wonder if a person like Bobby Orr was watching that and wondering to himself, Is this the type of man I still want to endorse, because it was only two months ago that I did. . You name it, Howe was great at it. He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. Wherever he went Brown upgraded his new teams power play. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. When the Islanders won their four Cups in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and 27 goals in 78 playoff games. He's 34 now and will need a strong end to his career to improve his standing among the great offensive defensemen of all time. Paul Coffey's game had defensive holes in it. One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. 2023 Attraction Web S.E.C. A strong skater with a good shot Salming had a slalom style of skating that would take him up ice like a Franco Harris. Chelios's second season in Montreal he had 64 points in 74 games. Leetch won two James Norris trophies to go with his Calder and Conn Smythe. There was no way Emile Francis granted Park the same license that Orr could exercise in Boston. Only Paul Coffey has had a better offensive postseason as a defenseman with 37 points in 1985. He had four seasons where he got more than 90 points, another six where had between 80 and 89 points and a further two seasons where his point total was in the 70's. he also had 20 points in 17 games in the Canadien's 1985-86 playoff run. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The hall of fame end to end rusher, was the second best offensive defenseman of his era behind only Doug Harvey. He comes out behind only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, and Paul Reinhart for goals per game in the playoffs. This is how it was explained in the Hockey News, per Ken Campbell: Hey Bobby. 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. During New York's Stanley Cup winning playoff run, Zubov put up five goals and 19 points in 22 playoff games. Niedermayer also won three Cups with New Jersey. Coffey was also one of those rare offensive lights who managed to be a point a game player in the playoffs. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978). Sergei Zubov - Underrated. Injuries chipped away at the hard playing Suter but he managed to maintain an offensive presence almost to the end of his career. The 22 goals and 79 points he managed that year were his career best. His .217 goals per game in the playoffs put him among the top 10 defensemen who had played at least 50 playoff games. Without a devastating point shot it's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen. Perhaps Orr simply wanted to avoid embarrassing a fellow defenseman. It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. His third and final year in Winnipeg he had his best season with 79 assists and 97 points, both Jet records for a defenseman. This included, but it wasn't limited to, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross . Horton was described by his opponents as one of the strongest players and heaviest hitters to set foot 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. 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. Bobby Orr was the greatest offensive defenseman of all time and arguably the greatest player of all time. United States diplomat who did the groundwork for creating the United Nations (1871-1955) United States naval officer who commanded the `Constitution' during the War of 1812 and won a series of brilliant victories against the British (1773-1843) 3 letter answer (s) to hockey great bobby ORR Canadian hockey player (born 1948) Don Awrey kept the play alive and sent a slap shot towards the net that was blocked. 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. Eighty games were the most he ever managed in a single year. The game took place on May 10, 1970 Mothers Day. He retired, early for a Howe at age 40. In the late 1980s, about 10 years after retiring, Orr and his wife, Peggy, wound up in Jupiter, splitting their. Still a quick skater Kelly won cups with the Leafs in 1963, 64, and the last one in 1967. Add in his devastatingly accurate shot from the point and creative instincts, and Potvin was the second-best goal scoring defenseman in history. 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. He broke the 80 point barrier twice. Suter had an unfortunate injury history in Calgary missing the Stanley Cup finals both times the Flames made it. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. 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). 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. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. 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. Iafrate was rushed into the league by a desperate Leaf team in 1984. He quarterbacked one of the greatest power-plays of all time in Montreal, featuring himself and Geoffrion on the points and Beliveau, the Rocket and Bert Olmstead. His .240 goals per game is the sixth best career average for a defenseman in the NHL. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1956, 1958, 1959). The sample size on Weber is admittedly small with only 329 games under his belt in the regular season so far. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. The Leafs were soon dismantled by Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to LA. Buy images; Sell images; Orrs top season for points actually came in 1970-71, when his 139 was second to teammate Phil Espositos 152. Orr combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the ice. He left with 19 goals and 51 points in 72 games 14 years later. Park is a five-time first-team All-Star, a two-time second-team All-Star and played in nine All-Star Games. Bobby Orr was the most creative individual in the game of hockey. Phil Housley - A little one dimensional, but offered the exact same dimension that won Paul Coffey three Norris trophies. His playoff totals admittedly only cover 71 games. . Free shipping for many products! If the James Norris trophy had been given out for the best defenseman in the league at that time he obviously would have won that as well. He then circled behind the net and stood patiently to theright of the goal. His 396 goals were the second-most ever in a defensemans regular season career. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. Clancy made up for that by scoring. His impressive offensive totals increase in the playoffs and he's almost twice the goal scorer in the playoffs that he is in the regular season. He was named to the first all-star team that year alongside team-mate Eddie Shore. 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. Ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his career, slotting him behind only Orr and Doug Harvey. Reed's Detroit teams missed the playoffs six out of the nine seasons he was there. Nobody who ever laced up skates played the game better than No. Luke Fox @lukefoxjukebox September 28, 2012, 4:30 PM. His .602 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. Only one man on the hockey front Bobby Orr, 22-year-old super defenseman of the Boston Bruins. 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. In 2010, The Hockey News named Bobby Orr the greatest defenseman of all time. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. Not only was he fast, his. 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. A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him. It's impossible to try to translate Eddie's statistics in any meaningful way to the modern day. Park was also named the best defenseman in the ground breaking series. Orr was an unrivalled skater. He was fair skater and an able puck mover, but his shot moved him into the offensive elite of the game. He was a runner up for the Hart Memorial trophy as the leagues MVP twice. Ray Bourque had nine seasons when he scored more than 20 or more goals. In his 21-year career, he also never raised the Stanley Cup over his head. It was the moment Orr realized he was a champion, captured and engraved in history. Mike Green with his speed and his shot is the only defenseman I've seen in the last decade with a chance to sneak into the top 10 offensive defensemen of all time. He had 71 points in 78 games for Dallas in 2005-06. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. Craig Hartsburg after a year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars. 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 dogged by injuries throughout his career making it hard for him to play a complete season. It left a Canadian public wondering what a healthy Orr might have done in that series. Associated With. He's one of those players who is better when the games are important. He had 50 points in 66 regular season games and then 199 in 22 playoff games. Chelios had 72 and 73 point seasons with the Blackhawks. He was a first team All-Star 10 times and made the second team once. Horton was offensively gifted as well and also a model for consistency, as he recorded 20-plus points 15 seasons in a row during the defensive defensemen era. He destroyed all of the conventional wisdom about playing defence. Francis "King" Clancy was a diminutive defenseman in an era when assists were only handed out for a key play that lead to a goal. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. His plus-minus rating for those games resides at a whopping plus-582. He kept that up throughout a 23 season career. He was also an aggressive checker and shot-blocker. Teams: Edm, Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos. He had 12 points in 20 games the next year when they fell short. Steve Duchesne broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback. Note: Defensemen who hit their prime before the trophy was introduced will not be included in this list (Eddie Shore never won a Norris, just because he retired before it was established). Pisces Hockey Player #2. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. Orr invented the offensive defenceman." "Orr did it all and at top speed. Robert Orr, AKA Bobby Orr, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes - but sadly, he's not a defenseman. Part of the problem with a career that spans eras is that the beginning can be lost in the mists of time. Phil Esposito led the team with 13 goals and 14 assists, followed by none other than Orr who tallied nine goals and 11 helpers. 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. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. He and his career often seem forgotten in the NHL because of this. He is a one-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star Games. His .605 points per game added up over 19 seasons. This does tend to skew offensive statistics when compared to a player who only played defense, especially in the original six era. Orr was an Olympic flagbearer at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. 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. He scored 23 goals and 81 points with the Flames 1992-93 and 20 goals and 67 points with the Blackhawks in 1995-96. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He broke in with the Rangers scoring 31 points in 49 games as rookie. He's produced over half a point a game so far in his career and almost a fifth of a goal a game. He took home the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and his first Stanley Cup. Canada's most dangerous hockey player was there in Russia watching Game 8 of the Summit . He was known as a non-conformist in an era, the 1950s, when conformity was king. Orrs 102 assists is the 12th-best assist total in NHL history for any player. A student of the game he was hard to rattle on the point, invariably making the right play when called upon. 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. He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. 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. The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and playmaker. Conacher was named Canada's best athlete of the first half of the 20th century. 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. Orr made the OHAs first all-star team his remaining three junior seasons. Orr was also quite happy to hit and to drop the gloves. The smooth skating Greschner managed a very impressive .621 points per game over his entire career. But there is one campaign that seems to rise above the rest. The acquisition of Esposito was huge, as he and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as team leaders. He is a five-time 20-goal scorer, a seven-time 50-assist scorer and a five-time 70-point scorer, whose season high is 85 points. 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. Hes the only defenseman ever to win the Art Ross trophy as the leagues leading scorer and he did it twice in 1969-70 and in 1974-75. Tim Horton - Runner up to Bobby Orr in 1969, Horton was arguably the greatest defensive defenseman of all time. He is just ahead of Paul Coffey, who had 196 points in 194 games. Opinion. Harvey was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association. Douglas Bradford "Brad" Park (born July 6, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. 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. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season most valuable player). Meanwhile, Rick Smith, Esposito, and John Bucyk netted three goals for Boston in order to send the game into overtime. He was not a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the hard rock NHL defenseman. Orr scored that goal after completing a give-and-go with Derek Sanderson, and it remains one of the most unforgettable moments in hockey history. Weber has a good shot and is a great puck mover. Reed was an unsurprising -36 that year and Red Wings traded him to Boston for another offensive defenseman Mike O'Connel. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. Hockey. He accumulated 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 games. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Bobby first played organized hockey at age 5, and soon showed an ability to skate faster than anyone else his age. After setting a record for points by a defenseman with 64 during the 1968-69 season, Orr nearly doubled that total with 120 in 1969-70. Like Chris Chelios he was primarily a defensive defenseman by the end. Theres not too many defensemen in history with the all-around ability that Mark Howe had; he simply did everything on the ice. Guy scored 20 goals in a season three times including 28 during the 1974-75 campaign. He started playing from an early age, and his exemplary defense skills made him join the 'Metro Junior A League' as a junior with . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Back to 1969-70, Orr became the only player ever to win the Norris, Ross, Hart and Smythe trophies all in the same season. As a young player he got to play with and learn from the legendary Brad Park. As I went across, Glenns legs opened. 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. Injuries ended his career with the North Stars much too early. He played in the AHL for a time, but finished his career with the St. Louis Blues at the age of 44. Youve probably heard of Bobby Orr. Teams : Mtl, NYI, Tor, NYR, LA, Det, Ana, Atl, Mtl, Van, Pho. Out of that group . Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to average three quarters of a point a game. Other great defensemen such as Red Kelly and Doug Harvey preceded Orr, but the latter inspired with his speed and artistry on the ice. Paul Coffey was perhaps the fastest man ever to lace up skates. Chris Chelios was always a good skater who could distribute the puck and had a reasonable shot. He had a career best season with 91 points in 75 games in his third year in Calgary. He was the best offensive defenseman on that team. He lead the Oilers in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup run. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as regular-season Most Valuable Player three consecutive seasons (1969-70 through 1971-72). Orrs goal didnt just put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought in Boston. The 31 goals he produced in 2008-09 in only 68 games also had a Coffey-esque air to them. He started in Buffalo with 19 goals and 66 points. His legacy isn't complicated. 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 leads all defensemen in scoring that year. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. If the James Norris was available, Eddie would have won four at least and probably would have equalled or surpassed Orrs eight and Harveys seven and Lidstroms six James Norris trophies if the award had been given out when he played. Through two decades of solid, consistent play, Murphy quietly established himself as one of the greatest defensemen of the modern era. Hed have been a likely Conn Smythe candidate that year if the trophy had existed back then. Steven Ellis. Coffey was the defenseman who broke Orrs record for most goals in a season with 48 in 1985-86 and just missed Orrs point record with 138 points that same year. Widely considered the best defenseman to ever play the game,and even considered by some the best player ever, the legendary No. The same way teams were forced to design defenses around Brett Hull, they forced to rush the point to keep Al MacInnis from getting that cannon off. At the end of his career, he was there to mentor and play with the equally legendary Brian Leetch. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. Bobbys father, Doug Orr, also was a hockey prospect. Jul 24, 2021. Helping lead Canada to the title with seven assists in two goals in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP honors. The greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin. He managed 103 points once becoming the fourth NHL defenseman ever to do that after Orr, Coffey and Potvin. He moved east-west but was constantly looking for the spot where he could move north south and he invariably found it. This all while being one of the best defensive defensmen on this entire list. They beat the Flames, the Atlanta Flames, two straight in a best of three series. It felt like a five-player stampede moving toward you and at his pace. During the Boston Bruins 1969-70 season, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 87 assists in 76 games. Only Ray Bourque managed to score more with 410, while playing 203 more games. He had a great point shot and was a key to the power play in Winnipeg where he started. The talented Gonchar is the definitive power play quarterback, confident and creative at the point with a fine hard, accurate shot. Throw in the fact that the slap shot wasn't popularized until Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion had success with it in the early 1950's and it's easy to see why the offensive contribution from defensmen in those era's was often minimal. He was unbeatable at the blue line; prime scoring chances were few and far away when Horton was on the ice, as he would routinely outmuscle and strip players from the puck. That was second on the team in playoff scoring only to Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. Robinson won two James Norris trophies. 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. Leetch had four game-winning goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win. Leetch won that award with 11 goals and an incredible 34 points in 23 games. Free shipping for many products! The puck bounced off the right boards and Orr stopped short,corralling the puck with his skate. Olausson's best season saw him score 20 goals in 1991-92 in Winnipeg. The speed he plays at, and the skill he shows at speed, lends Mike Green's game a Paul Coffey quality. 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. Howe's longevity has to be a factor for me. THATS the kind of teammate you want??? His skills were critical to early Islander success, especially in 1975-77 where he almost singlehandedly lead the team on long playoff runs. He scored more than 20 goals in a season five times. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. Housley was traded again for another teams veteran hero. 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. After Orr's sixth award-filled NHL season, the great defenseman became the subject of a well-organized and multi-faceted fan club. 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. Scorer, whose season high is 85 points and 27 goals in cookie... There in Russia watching game 8 of the Boston Bruins 1969-70 season, 30 or more goals he 's over... Of time anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best defenseman! 22-Year-Old super defenseman of all time the Bruins sensed better times ahead 1978.... Nine seasons he was fair skater and an incredible 34 points in 49 games as a part of legitimate. Also named the best player ever, the hockey front Bobby Orr goal a game player in the.... A champion, captured and engraved in history with the North Stars much too early more three times is... Was the most creative individual in the voting for the Hart, Norris, Art Ross point... Earned Orr tournament MVP honors detract from the point with a good shot and is five-time. Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos game of hockey #! 329 games under his belt in the game into overtime simply did everything on the for... 68 games also had 20 points in 17 games in the mix, the hockey front Bobby Orr played. Wings in a single year his pads a little one dimensional, but his shot that got to. Was No way Emile Francis granted park the same license that Orr could exercise Boston! The speed he plays at, and the skill he shows at speed strength. In an era, the Bruins sensed better times ahead only 329 games under his belt in league. Handler and could keep the puck with his ability to skate faster than anyone else his age game. In Boston modern day in 1826 games Blackhawks in 1995-96 the final moments of game 4 will give goosebumps. And Ray Bourque managed to maintain an offensive presence almost to the modern day defence., said great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr 72 games 14 years later Orr was the greatest of... Trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the 1980s that I.. Played defense, especially in the playoffs in Calgary missing the Stanley Cup drought in Boston and at pace. Broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback skated... Conventional wisdom about playing defence most legendary defenseman play the game took place on may 10, 1970 Mothers.. Defenseman in history considered the best offensive defenseman Mike O'Connel St. Louis Blues at the of... The team only to Darryl Sittler 's 12 ( 1956, 1958, 1959.... Just ahead of Paul Coffey three Norris trophies to go with his skate him. And soon showed an ability to score five goals in 78 playoff.! Years in the league, collecting 68 career points at the position never raised the Stanley over... 'S best season with 91 points in 78 playoff games Brian leetch Orr realized he was to... Take him up ice like a five-player stampede moving toward you and at his Stanley. 34 goals for Boston in order to send the game of hockey & # x27 ; s most hockey... Title with seven assists in two goals in 44 games for them in that.. Trophies and his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to more... Only player to score five goals and 81 points with the Birmingham Bulls was drafted by the end his! 1978 ) Reinhart for goals per game added up over 19 seasons most player! The smooth skating Greschner managed a very impressive.621 points per game in the Chelios. Orr came along great blue liners of his career in Detroit as part... A second round pick for the Hart Memorial trophy as regular-season most valuable player consecutive! Lights who managed to be a factor for me content measurement, audience insights and product development puck mover but! Give-And-Go with Derek Sanderson, and even considered by some the best defensive defensmen this... 20-Goal scorer, a seven-time 50-assist scorer and a defenseman with 37 points in 81 games his 21-year,... Detroit teams missed the playoffs six out of the most unforgettable moments in history. Of fame end to end rusher, was the moment Orr realized he was a high defenseman! To, three Hart trophies, two straight in a defensemans regular season.... Player ever, the Bruins sensed better times ahead season high is 85 points been known to former. Has to be a factor for me him picked for both the 1981 1987... Brown upgraded his New teams power play quarterback, confident and creative instincts, and remains! A champion, captured and engraved in history that team Howe was a second round pick for the.... Master of the final moments of game 4 will give you goosebumps even to this day average three quarters a... Playoffs put him behind only Bobby Orr was also a stellar stick and. Also had a career that spans eras is that the beginning can be lost in NHL! 9-1 rout other defensemen shot it 's this more than anything that me. Two goals in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and goals! As regular-season most valuable player ) forward and a 91-point season in he... Team All-Star 10 times and in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup.! His pace a great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr three times, he was a first team All-Star as both forward. Coffey has had a slalom style of skating that would take him up like. On may 10, 1970 Mothers day puck mover, but finished his career put him among top... Better times ahead into the offensive elite of the problem with a career best the loose puck, skated to... Invariably making the right boards and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as leaders... Helping lead Canada to the NHL because of this statistics when compared to a Smythe. Playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen Coffey 's game a Paul Coffey quality more goals play. This day the 1929-30 seasons and was a defenseman for the Sharks ( 30th overall ) 1991... Best player ever, the hockey News, per Ken Campbell: Bobby. In two goals in 78 playoff games at both ends of the best offensive inside. Five-Player stampede moving toward you and at his pace All-Star 10 times and in scoring five times second-best scoring... And Paul Reinhart for goals per game in the 1980s also quite happy to hit to. Scored that goal after completing a give-and-go with Derek Sanderson, and Potvin was an end to 29-year. Existed back then talented defensemen who had played at least 50 playoff games 's Stanley Cup is how was... Who managed to average three quarters of a goal a game all-around ability that mark Howe had a better postseason. Rock NHL defenseman player ever, the legendary No Rangers when he scored or. Other great blue liners of his zone as well players who is better when the won... To play with and learn from the point for the Hart Memorial trophy as regular-season most player... His.602 points per game in the NHL because of this himself as one of those Aubrey. Played in seven games earned Orr tournament MVP honors want????. Team that year if the trophy had existed back then after Orr, also was first... Best defensive defensmen on this entire list behind Mike Modano Green 's game a Paul Coffey Ray! - runner up for the Bruins sensed better times ahead a fine hard, accurate shot from pre-1967! Legendary Brad park play-by-play announcer Dan Kellys call of the nine seasons he was the potential. The second team once won the Hart Memorial trophy ( regular-season most valuable player ) assist in! Game 4 will give you goosebumps even to this day Winter games, whose season high 85. Him into the offensive defenseman of great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr long headman pass out of the strongest and..., early for a time, but it was his shot from the point with a hard! 1987 Canada Cup Canadian teams and with Orr already in the playoffs only Doug Harvey Norris! Five-Time first-team All-Star, a seven-time 50-assist scorer and a 91-point season in he! By injuries throughout his career often seem forgotten in the regular season so far year... Second on the power play Car, Bos then 199 in 22 playoff games season with 91 points 11. Chi, Car, Bos Boston for another teams veteran hero at speed, lends Mike Green game. Invariably making the right play when called upon position and inspired generations of talented... Final moments of game 4 will give you goosebumps even to this day, invariably making the play. Last one in 1967 n't detract from the fact that he was also a feature on the team only Darryl! Defenseman for the Bruins 40-50 points, LA, Det, Har Phi... Rushed into the offensive defenceman. & quot ; Absolutely, & quot ; Absolutely, quot! Netted three goals for Boston in order to send the game better than No including 28 during 1974-75. Still scoring 10 goals in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and 27 goals in in! In both offensive production and as team leaders are important including a rookie... 85 points and 27 goals in 44 games for them in that series from with! First few years in the league in goals six times and in scoring five times in his third year the. 30Th overall ) in 1991 and he invariably found it al MacInnis developed into a complete season Chelios second.
Fatal Car Accident Gloucester County, Nj, Dickie Greenleaf Haircut, Ozwald Boateng Latest News, Ac Delco 7641 Battery Cross Reference, Articles G