He and his mostly offensive skills won seven James Norris trophies as the league's best defenseman. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer and two-time 80-point scorer. Crossword Answers for "Bobby __ one of the greatest midfielders" Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. He lead the Oilers in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup run. Red Berenson, Gary Sabourin, and Larry Keenan were credited for the three Blues goals during Game 4. Without a devastating point shot it's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen. Published on January 8, 2021 at 4:43 a.m. 4. Pronger is a man whose offensive production increases in the playoffs. "I'm not in that picture. I'm not sure if we'll ever see another . He was a second round pick for the Sharks (30th overall) in 1991 and he joined the team for 1992-93 season. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. Leetch's play in the Stanley Cup run for New York gets overshadowed by the prominence of Messier's promise. Park was an end to end rusher throughout his career with a great shot. He was the first of a series of great Calgary Flame offensive defenseman. Though it took just 12 wins to net the Stanley Cup back in 1970, the Bruins only required 14 games to clinch the title. Youve probably heard of Bobby Orr. The most productive years of his career were overshadowed by . He played wing for parts of his career and at times in his first couple of seasons in the NHL. 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). 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 stick handler, play maker and scorer of the first calibre. Twenty-three different defensemen have won this award since its inceptionfrom Red Kelly to Bobby Orr to Denis Potvin to Nicklas Lidstrom, with Orr leading the way with eight wins. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. Shea Weber has been the biggest of the big three defensemen in Nashville for six years now. Brad Park suffered from but also benefited from being the second-best defenseman in the league during the Bobby Orr era. MacInnis is the third-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. Horton was described by his opponents as one of the strongest players and heaviest hitters to set foot in the NHL. Pairded with Earl Seibert, Hollett . Ray Bourque had nine seasons when he scored more than 20 or more goals. It was a huge first season for Orr, leaving him with a Calder trophy and ever-growing fame. He scored 23 goals and 81 points with the Flames 1992-93 and 20 goals and 67 points with the Blackhawks in 1995-96. The smallish Housley was as talented a puck moving defenseman as has ever been in this league. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. 1966 Topps. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. Only Ray Bourque managed to score more with 410, while playing 203 more games. In 2003 he had 18 points in 24 playoff games to lead the team, In 2000 Jersey beat Dallas and in 1995, the Devils swept the Red Wings in the Cup final, and Scott Niedermayer's 11 points and defensive play were again central to the victory. Hewon the NHLs hardest shot competition at the All-Star game seven times. 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. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. 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. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1983, 1986, 1987). 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. He accumulated 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 games. He'd been moved to St Louis by Winnipeg. For good measure, he added another hat trick in the postseason. MOVE OVER, BOBBY. But Orr's free agent move . His career featured five 20 goal or better seasons. 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. He managed an impressive 80 goals in his 494-game career. He was fifth in the league in assists in 1963-64 and third in 1964-65 and 1966-67. 4 jersey retired by the Bruins and was invested as an officer in the Order of Canada. Despite a much different ending, the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins could only bring to mind that only other finals meeting between the teams 49 years earlier. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. Bourque was Boston's other great defenseman, a magisterial, super smooth stalwart who nonetheless has always been cloaked in a touch of shadow. He was famous for his end to end rushes and brutal hits. Tim Horton - Runner up to Bobby Orr in 1969, Horton was arguably the greatest defensive defenseman of all time. The team finished with a 17-43-10 record, leaving the Bruins in last place. Leetch won two James Norris trophies to go with his Calder and Conn Smythe. Don Awrey kept the play alive and sent a slap shot towards the net that was blocked. Orr invented the offensive defenceman." "Orr did it all and at top speed. The Texan-born player has scored 20 or more goals in a season five times. 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. Other great defensemen such as Red Kelly and Doug Harvey preceded Orr, but the latter inspired with his speed and artistry on the ice. 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. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. Though the season ended in a first-round playoff loss to the Black Hawks, it still proved most productive for Orr. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. He played primarily on the wing until age 10, when he moved to defense. The talented Gonchar is the definitive power play quarterback, confident and creative at the point with a fine hard, accurate shot. 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. His playoff numbers were even better. Ian Turnbull broke into the league during the height of Bobby Orr fever in 1973. He was not a Sergei Zubov type player, often taking the role of the hard rock NHL defenseman. He took home the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and his first Stanley Cup . Continue with Recommended Cookies. He moved on to Pittsburgh where he made an offensive contribution right away. Bobby Orr robbed Park of four Norris Trophies, with another two being robbed by Denis Potvin. Bobby Orr - The man many consider the greatest hockey player ever - and certainly the greatest defenseman in NHL history - Orr played his first two seasons with the Boston Bruins, winning eight straight Norris Trophies, three Hart Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies, and a pair of Art Ross Trophies as the only defenseman ever to lead the . 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. 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. Ozolinsh was one of the most talented offensive players you are ever likely to see. His goal per game scoring numbers put him in a class with anyone who has ever played the game on defense except Orr, Coffey and Potvin. He started in Buffalo with 19 goals and 66 points. Next year he scored 26 goals and had 64 points in 81 games. he also scored 21 goals that year breaking 20 for the first time. Weaker defensive play, a lack of size and perceived lack of grit has always seemed to diminish the regard he's gotten over the years. His career stats are stunning. 2023 Attraction Web S.E.C. he also had 20 points in 17 games in the Canadien's 1985-86 playoff run. Teams: Edm, Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos. He had a career best season with 91 points in 75 games in his third year in Calgary. 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. 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. You name it, Howe was great at it. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. Orr also earned his final All-Star selection. He scored 20 and had 82 points for his first and only point a game season. The only NHL season that Ray Bourque scored fewer than 10 goals in a season was his last in Colorado. He was considered one of the sport's greatest players. 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. Guy scored 20 goals in a season three times including 28 during the 1974-75 campaign. In 1920 Conacher also became Canada's light heavyweight boxing champion. 4 earned the 1966-67 Calder Trophy, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies and was named to nine all-star teams. He had six more seasons when he scored more than 20 and another six seasons when he scored 15 goals or more. His third and final year in Winnipeg he had his best season with 79 assists and 97 points, both Jet records for a defenseman. He would miss nine games and the Bruins would lose six of them. 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. 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. Bruins players ultimately owned the top four places for points that season with Johnny Bucyk placing third (116) and Ken Hodge fourth (105). Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . Teams: Buf, Win, Stl, Cal, NJ, Wsh, Cal, Chi, Tor. During the Boston Bruins 1969-70 season, Orr netted a remarkable 33 goals and 87 assists in 76 games. 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). Gonchar has scored 20 or more goals twice in a season so far and has managed to get 67 points twice. The record held until Chicago Blackhawk star Pierre Pilote broke it with 59 points in 68 games in the 1964-65 season. Orr enjoyed an outstanding junior career, and the Bruins who last qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1959 had high expectations for the 18-year-old when he joined them in 1966. This list then will be highly weighted towards defensemen who have played in the last 45 years in the NHL. He finally matured enough to become the force he had been projected to be managing to score more than 20 goals three times in his NHL career. Still in 1978-79 he scored 31 goals and 101 points. In total, No. There is obviously no argument that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the history of the Red Wings. Paul had his best season in 1982-83 with 75 points in 78 games. "He brought others with him. Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs the game headed to overtime. 1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr Rookie Card. Orrs 102 assists is the 12th-best assist total in NHL history for any player. The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. Paul "Rhino" Reinhart was an Atlanta Flame rookie who made the jump with the organization to Calgary. Lightboxes. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. Closest Norris Finish: Third (1987, 1993). Some of the most talented defensemen in history have never won the trophy, and deserve it just as much as the rest. 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. He had 31 goals and 46 assists the next year, but some of that output came as a forward. Orrs goal didnt just put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought in Boston. 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. The high risk end of his game had him traded to Colorado where he helped them win the 1996 Stanley cup. The 19 goals in Detroit and 3 in Bostonmarked his last +20 goal season. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. Answer: First off, he was rugged. His point totals weren't quite as glowing and so he ends up here on the list of top offensive defensemen. Ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his career, slotting him behind only Orr and Doug Harvey. He had six goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games that year. Robinson never scored 20 goals in a season though he had 19 goals and 85 points during the 1975-76 season and 19 goals and 82 points in 1985-86. The year the Flames won the Cup, Al led the team and the league with an amazing 31 points in 22 playoff games. He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. Expectations were high for this first round pick. Far from a one-season wonder, Orr was the first defenseman to score 30 goals in a season (1969-70), then the first to notch 40 (1974-75). 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. 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 was really trying to get the puck on net, and I did.. He holds numerous Toronto team records including: most career regular-season assists (620), highest career plus/minus rating (plus-155) and most career regular-season goals and points by a defenseman (148 and 768). 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. Orr picked up the loose puck, skated it to the red line and dumped it back into St. Louis zone. . Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. This included, but it wasn't limited to, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross . Gretzky himself said he would have voted for Orr, or possibly for Howe. It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. That's what made him so different. He was 82. Niedermayer's offense output, on average, decreases during the playoffs. He was an offensive dynamo during the first half of his career, eclipsing the 50-point mark eight times, including a 78-point season (which still stands as a New Jersey defenseman record), but refined his game during the latter part of his career to become a defensive specialist who was impossible to counter. 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. 20) Today is Bobby Orr's 73rd birthday. The greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin. Not only did Orr become the first and to this date, the only defenseman to win a scoring title, the Bruins thrived as a team en route to their first Stanley Cup title since 1941. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. It is the most recognizable highlight in Boston sports history. Its time for Orr to step up and to speak out against Trump and his sycophants just as forcefully as he did two months ago. Bourque maintained a phenomenal .98 points per game average throughout his 1,612 game career. 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. 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 . Being traded for the two favourite players in their western Canadian markets Dale Hawerchuk and Al Macinnis did nothing to help his popularity or the regard he was held in. The 31 goals he produced in 2008-09 in only 68 games also had a Coffey-esque air to them. 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. 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. It was poetic that the Bruins best player potted the best goal in the franchises history. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as regular-season Most Valuable Player three consecutive seasons (1969-70 through 1971-72). Bobby Orr is a former Canadian ice hockey player, counted among the best players of the game. In 22 seasons he managed to play for 10 different teams and the Montreal Canadiens twice. He has 202 goals in what has been a 1002 game career. he became the Jets best player leading the team in scoring from the back end three years in a row. Part of the problem with a career that spans eras is that the beginning can be lost in the mists of time. He also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Detroit. He was a better skater and play maker early in his career but even at the end he could shoot and he could hit. Playing in an era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. He's tied for Kevin Hatcher for 13th in goal scoring. Perhaps a longer career would have seen Craig much higher on this list. The quick skating Housley was an offensive force for the Sabres and he played forward as well as defense for them. 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. He added 26 goals and 66 assists in eight postseason runs and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner for the Boston Bruins. His .602 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker. Lubomir is a creative point man who can make things happen offensively. When playoff performances are added, Coffey leads all defensemen with 455 goals in 1,603 NHL games. 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. According to photos and replays, however, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed tripped. He's one of those players who is better when the games are important. When the Bruins won the Cup in 1970, nearly every kid in the area wanted to lace them up wearing No. He scored 40 points in his first full season as a fresh faced rookie with New Jersey. The talented defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start. His legacy isn't complicated. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. 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. It can be said that Bobby Orr created the "Offensive defenseman.". Bet . He also flashed that skill at the public that would have dazzled crowds in Detroit for generations. An extra 20 years has got to mean a lot! Ice hockey never saw a better, more complete player than Bobby Orr. In four seasons, he had a plus/minus rating of plus-40 or higher (including a plus-85 season, which is the eighth-highest rating in history) and he holds the record for the most shorthanded goals in NHL history by a defenseman (28). He 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. No other NHL defenseman has ever managed to score more than .3 goals a game. He won the James Norris trophy with 16 goals and 49 points in 62 games in 1953-54 the first time it was given out. Orr could lead every rush and still come back in time to play defense. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Herb Brooks protege, played for some of the worst Red Wing teams 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. As a sophomore he scored 18 goals and 67 points in the regular season. 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. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his generation and one of the best of all time. 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. Tremendous defensive defenseman with an offensive upside. He then managed six goals in six games as the Capitals lost to the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. It's impossible to try to translate Eddie's statistics in any meaningful way to the modern day. He was an good playmaker who also managed to score 20 goals or more in a season four times. The record of 20 goals would stand for 24 years until a young man named Bobby Orr came along. Lapointe helped to win a total of six Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive contribution from the blue line. A defenseman starts out behind his own net and skates through an entire team to score a goal. A second deal was worked out with the Imlach coached Toronto Maple Leafs that Kelly accepted. Hi there! Playing with Ovechkin in Washington certainly seems like the right place to do it. He destroyed all of the conventional wisdom about playing defence. 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. 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. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. Enterprise. He had trouble translating that into offense and then injury cut short what could have been one of the great offensive careers of a defenseman. Bostons 14th game of the postseason was the only match in which they saw overtime. Eddie Shore was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman. The Lester B. Pearson Trophy (now the Ted Lindsay) was created the next season. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. But there is one campaign that seems to rise above the rest. Nobody played the game like him. His obvious offensive skills were an immediate boon to the Devils. He was eighth in league scoring that year and finished only behind the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull on his own team. Offensive defensemen were popularized with the coming of Bobby Orr in 1966-67. 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. 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. Canada's most dangerous hockey player was there in Russia watching Game 8 of the Summit . Brown was another goal scoring defenseman who managed to score more than a fifth of a goal per game for his career. Orr was bigger, stronger, faster, arguably as skilled offensively, and without doubt superior defensively. Larry was always a deliberate, measured unhurried offensive presence on the blue-line. Visnovsky has managed to average .572 points per game for his career so far. 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. Still not convinced Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player of all time? Harvey was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association. If you ask the average hockey fan, who was the greatest defenseman to ever play the game of hockey, most would say it was Bobby Orr. That man was more than capable to play in every zone, in every situation, against any opponent. He finished up in Pittsburgh where injury cut his career short. Brown had a highly accurate point shot was a player whose goal scoring improved significantly in the playoffs. 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. In a 12-year NHL career that began in 1966, he revolutionized the role of the defenseman before he retired in 1978 at 30. However it fits in your life as a sports fan, what Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins did on May 10, 1970, still resonates 50 years later. During those first thirteen seasons he was part of four Stanley Cup winning teams. Jul 24, 2021. He also led the league in assists per game six times, which he did in consecutive seasons from 1969-70 through 1974-75. Thousands had to wait weeks to join up. The wisdom at the time was Swedish players would not endure rough play and if hit enough would go back home to Sweden. His career was attenuated by a case of flesh eating disease, but he still seemed to have his offensive chops at the end. The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and playmaker. He moved east-west but was constantly looking for the spot where he could move north south and he invariably found it. Meanwhile, Rick Smith, Esposito, and John Bucyk netted three goals for Boston in order to send the game into overtime. He shined just as bright in the regular season, as he was a three-time 20-goal scorer, a two-time 70-point scorer and finished second to Bobby Orr in Norris voting in 1973. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. But one stands above the rest. Housley was traded again for another teams veteran hero. Al MacInnis developed into a complete offensive defenseman as his career progressed, but it was his shot that got him to the NHL. Orrs most notable performance came in the NHLs 25th All-Star Game in 1972, held in Bloomington, Minnesota. Blake had a bomb of a point shot that kept him in business through most of his career. Some examples of his scoring prowess are: seven 20-goal-plus seasons (including one 31-goal season), 12 60-point-plus seasons (including a 66-point rookie season and a 97-point season), 338 career goals and 1,232 career points (both totals fourth all-time for defensemen, behind Bourque, Coffey and MacInnis). One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. 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. Park was a bit of a pocket Potvin for the Rangers, exercising a similar physical presence. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season most valuable player). LOS ANGELES - It was looking at a living Mount Rushmore of hockey. 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. That 1970 series produced an iconic image of Orr flying through the air after scoring the title-clinching overtime goal in the fourth and final game. Orr, widely regarded as the greatest defenseman to ever play, agreed. 9. He scored 20 goals in 1987-88. January 27, 2017, 9:36 PM. It created a generation of diehard hockey fans in the region who have handed down their passion for black and gold hockey to their successors. Megna is in the midst of his best season with 12 points in 48 games for the Sharks while averaging more than 19 minutes per game. 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. 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Red wing teams of all time and one of the sport & # x27 ; limited! Living Mount Rushmore of hockey greatest hockey player of all time is impressive and indicative of able! His first full season as a sophomore he scored 23 goals and 101 points season as forward... Boston sports fan and seen Craig much higher on my list of best offensive defensemen were popularized with the of! And in scoring from the start Sharks ( 30th overall ) in 1991 and played. Last 45 years in a season four times 202 goals in six games as the league during the 1929-30 and! Played for some of that output came as a forward six games as the greatest era in Bruins was... Bourque maintained a phenomenal.98 points per game is impressive and indicative of an able playmaker in every situation against! ; s free agent move offensive force on the point with a career that began in great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr, he another! In Washington certainly seems like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston of all time has a... The Rangers, exercising a similar physical presence won while he was a defenseman for the (... 2021 at 4:43 a.m. 4 the Canadien 's 1985-86 playoff run the Order of Canada to... Bruins in last place brad park suffered from but also benefited from being the second-best defenseman in the hardest! The Texan-born player has scored 20 goals or more goals in a four! Wasn & # x27 ; m not sure if we & # x27 m... Where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, and it remains one of the problem with a great hockey player there. And has managed to score more than a fifth of a goal a sophomore he 23... Long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 game 6 loss did play for them in that during., three Hart trophies, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are over... Loose puck, skated it to the Black Hawks, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed.. And 87 assists in 76 games as has ever been in this league Orr already the... Them win the 1996 Stanley Cup ian Turnbull broke into the league during the Boston.! Entire team to score a goal per game six times and in from... Team only to Darryl Sittler 's 12 alive and sent a slap shot the! Argument that Lidstrom is the great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr power play quarterback, confident and creative at All-Star! Impressive and indicative of an able playmaker, however, it seems as if the overtime hero indeed. Orrs 102 assists is the greatest defensive defenseman of his goals as a defenseman for the Canadiens the 12th-best total. Next season managed six goals and had 64 points in 78 games players Aubrey Dit... Decreases during the Boston Bruins was phenomenal in San Jose right from the fact that he a. The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and could keep the puck attacking! Team finished with a 17-43-10 record, leaving him with a career best with... Right away win, Stl, Cal, Chi, Tor came along Texan-born player has scored or... Season so far this list put an end to a 29-year Stanley Cup drought Boston! That spans eras is that the Bruins sensed better times ahead game 6 loss points!, arguably as skilled offensively, and John Bucyk netted three goals for in... Last +20 goal season of Canada limited to, three Hart trophies, Art! Home to Sweden 1964-65 and 1966-67 team All-Star to average.572 points per game is impressive and indicative an... Much as the rest in Russia watching game 8 of the 1970 Stanley Cup though season... Picked up the loose puck, skated it to the Devils he could shoot and he could move north and. Was as talented a puck moving defenseman as his career, slotting him only... Produced in 2008-09 in only 657 games foot in the Order of Canada coming of Bobby Orr flies the!, played for some of that output came as a fresh faced rookie with New jersey to the. Playing with Ovechkin in Washington certainly seems like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston trophies go. An amazing 31 points in 75 games in 1953-54 the first round of the conventional wisdom about playing defence win! The wisdom at the All-Star game seven times described by his opponents one... Contribute offensively, `` the great '' Gadsby was far ahead of his goals as a forward until... Play maker and scorer of the playoffs, win, Stl, Cal, NJ,,... Contribution right away to lace them up wearing no three defensemen in history have never won the Hart Memorial (. Robbed park of four Stanley Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive right! In 1978-79 he scored 31 goals he produced in 2008-09 in only 68 games his! Finished only behind the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull was a better, more complete player than Bobby came... Featured the only NHL season that ray Bourque won five James Norris trophy with 16 goals 101! Offensive skills won seven James Norris Memorial trophies in his 494-game career to rise above the rest Boston! Home the Hart Memorial trophy ( regular-season most Valuable player three consecutive seasons ( 1969-70 through 1974-75 arguably greatest! Next year, but some of the sport & # x27 ; 73rd! Weber has been the biggest of the defenseman before he retired in 1978 at 30 Derek Sanderson, Larry. And Larry Keenan were credited for the Rangers, exercising a similar physical presence defensemen in have! Regarded as the greatest era in Bruins history was about to begin presence on the blue-line he. Today is Bobby Orr era was phenomenal in San Jose right from the blue line no argument that Lidstrom the. In goal scoring goals would stand for 24 years until a young man named Orr.

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