He scored 20 goals in 1987-88. His contributions are still undeniable. He then circled behind the net and stood patiently to theright of the goal. 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. Pisces Hockey Player #2. In his own zone he was just as solid; he was a strong player with a firm center of gravity who could clear the crease with ease. He is the only defenseman ever to win four Hart trophies as the leagues most valuable player. He showed all the toughness and spring steel durability that would be expected from Gordie Howe's son. Orr helped redefine his position, as he's probably the fastest and smoothest skating defenseman to ever play. Mark Howe spent, I hate to say wasted, the first six years of his professional career in the WHA playing for the Houston Aero's and then the New England Whalers. He also flashed that skill at the public that would have dazzled crowds in Detroit for generations. He had 71 points in 78 games for Dallas in 2005-06. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. Orr earned MVP honors in that game as the East Division All-Stars rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 win over the West Division All-Stars. Known as a devastating hitter, shutdown defenseman and long-time Devils captain, Stevens memorable and iconic career spanned 22 seasons and 1,635 games, and it's hard to believe that in that much time, he never won a Norris Trophy. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. The goal ranks up there with memories of the Boston Red Soxs 2004 World Series championship, the New England Patriots first Super Bowl win, and the Boston Celtics incredible streak of eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. According to photos and replays, however, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed tripped. The Bobby Orr Fan Club became so popular so fast that the organization ran out of membership kits. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. #16492. As a young player he got to play with and learn from the legendary Brad Park. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer and two-time 80-point scorer. Despite all of this, Park played at a time where Bobby Orr was breaking records every night, and therefore, never got the true recognition that he deserved. Phil Housley - A little one dimensional, but offered the exact same dimension that won Paul Coffey three Norris trophies. 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. For his career, Orrs nine regular-season hat tricks remain a record for NHL defensemen. He was a first team All-Star 10 times and made the second team once. The Florida Panthers spent three and a half seasons thinking about Dan Boyle before they gave up on him. Even in his 97-point season, he still managed to finish with a minus-14. 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. January 27, 2017, 9:36 PM. A return to Slovakia during the lockout seemed to awaken the offensive defenseman inside him. It did far more for the city than that. Andrei Markov is another hugely talented offensive defenseman whose numbers have suffered in the recent trap clogged, big pad NHL. If it had gone by me, its a two-on-one, said Orr. Add in his devastatingly accurate shot from the point and creative instincts, and Potvin was the second-best goal scoring defenseman in history. For 1973-74, the Bruins amassed the NHLs best regular-season record (52-17-9) while once again boasting the leagues top four points leaders in Esposito (145), Orr (122), Hodge (105) and Wayne Cashman (89). Coffey was also one of those rare offensive lights who managed to be a point a game player in the playoffs. Lapointe was named to the NHLs first All-Star team once and the second All-Star team three times. The Texan-born player has scored 20 or more goals in a season five times. His skating abilities only improved through the years, as did his stickhandling and goalscoring talents. Despite all that Howe played in the NHL, mostly as a defenseman for 15 seasons. The talented Chelios hasn't scored 10 goals in an NHL season since 1996-97 with Chicago. Orr also earned his final All-Star selection. The most productive years of his career were overshadowed by . Orr would be the first person to say pshaw, what-the-heck, forget-all-the-valentines routine . Besides his deft puck-handling and precise passing, Orr, who famously wore number 4, had a presence that made any team he played for better the moment he stepped on the ice. He was an extremely physical and at times reckless D-man, who received more than 600 stitches to his face during his career. Murphy became a key international player for Canada and contributed a goal and six assists in the 1987 Canada Cup. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. Howe also led the Flyers to three Stanley Cup Finals appearances, but lost each time. This was over a 21-season career. Most of the players on this list come from 1967 on. Larson followed this season up with 18 goals the next year five seasons in a row where he scored more than 20 goals as a defenseman. He was a strong skater with a great point shot and nose for the net. Larson was the first US born player ever to score 200 goals in the NHL and the sixth defenseman to do so. In total, No. An extra 20 years has got to mean a lot! In 1920 Conacher also became Canada's light heavyweight boxing champion. He was obviously a player who could play better when the games got tougher. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. This all while being one of the best defensive defensmen on this entire list. After signing with the Black Hawks as a free agent in 1976, Orr was unable to accomplish much for his new team. Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. Paul Coffey was perhaps the fastest man ever to lace up skates. Ray Bourque would be next with five wins. 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. 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. A . He just wasn't one of the great defensemen of all time. Orr did it seven straight seasons (1968-69 until 1974-75), five times scoring more . He got the 14 during the Stanley Cup winning run despite having to come back from a knee injury to play in the final. BU's Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the Big Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book. Al Iafrate was a huge train of a defenseman. In his 21-year career, he also never raised the Stanley Cup over his head. Despite a history of injuries, particularly to his left knee, Orr managed to twice play a full slate of games for the Bruins with 76 in 1969-70 and 80 in 1974-75. The Ducks look to be hoping his numbers with them will closer to the .686 points per game he's managed since coming back from Slovakia. 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). Photo by Ray Lussier/The Boston Herald via AP, File. He could step up and through defenses before they realized he was moving. Still in 1978-79 he scored 31 goals and 101 points. Dit managed to help the Bruins win a cup again in 1941. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. To achieve greatness Green will have to be able to put his game together in the playoffs which he hasn't managed yet. 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. But Orr was equally amazing to watch and let's not forget that he only played 36 games after age 27. 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. Guy Lapointe was the best offensive defenseman of Montreal's big three. The biggest debate seems to be in figuring out where he ranks in the pantheon of all time. The talented defender was phenomenal in San Jose right from the start. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. A powerplay quarterback his entire career, he scored at least 20 in a season twice, once in Montreal as a 24 year old and once with Detroit when he was 36. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. Last Name Orr #1. His three quarters of a point a game and almost quarter of a goal a game distinguish him as one of the great offensive defensemen of all time. Celebrating Alan Eagleson's plea deal in Boston, from left to right, are Bruins legend Bobby Orr, ex-Bruins defenseman Rick Smith, Russ Conway and Tom Lockwood at The Fours on Canal St. in. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. 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). His .240 goals per game is the sixth best career average for a defenseman in the NHL. Orr was bigger, stronger, faster, arguably as skilled offensively, and without doubt superior defensively. His defensive game was always suspect and his offensive numbers were never enough for Leaf fans. His physical play wasn't all that brutal, but it was effec. Derek Sanderson picked up the ricochet and took his own slap shot which whistled wide according to Kelly. He was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. 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. 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 considerable goal scoring ability improved in the post season where he managed to score almost a quarter of a goal a game. 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. 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. Zubov was named to the NHLs second All-Star team in 2006 and played in three All-Star Games over the course of his career. 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. The young defenseman was already turning heads with his ability to score goals and win fights. His obvious offensive skills were an immediate boon to the Devils. 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He started playing from an early age, and his exemplary defense skills made him join the 'Metro Junior A League' as a junior with . He was fifth in the league in assists in 1963-64 and third in 1964-65 and 1966-67. Grandfather Robert Orr, an immigrant from Northern Ireland, played professional soccer. Shea Weber has been the biggest of the big three defensemen in Nashville for six years now. 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. He set the record for assists by a defenseman in a season with 46 in 1959, and became the first defenseman in history to amass 500 points. He was an enthusiastic offensive skater with a great shot. He won the James Norris trophy in his last year in New Jersey. Lubomir is a creative point man who can make things happen offensively. Steve Duchesne broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback. He is a one-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star Games. This all while he was 33 and 34. Olausson's best season saw him score 20 goals in 1991-92 in Winnipeg. The hockey was indelible, but Hull, who died Monday at age 84, had demons behind . In between he managed to play almost 80 games a season every year. Leonard "Red" Kelly is another of those versatile players who was good enough to play forward or defense in the NHL. The year the Flames won the Cup, Al led the team and the league with an amazing 31 points in 22 playoff games. Unfortunately he only played 80 or more games four times in a season, in his 15-year NHL career. He was a first-team All-Star three times, a second-team All-Star three times and played in seven All-Star Games. He lead the Oilers in scoring during their abortive Stanley Cup run. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1964, 1969). (from Former Haverhill newsman captured Orrs famous flight, Eagle-Tribune, 05/11/2010) He was forever remembered as a superhero in the eyes of Bruins fans. He played in the AHL for a time, but finished his career with the St. Louis Blues at the age of 44. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and. 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. There is obviously no argument that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the history of the Red Wings. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round, the Bruins went on to face the Blues. Rafalski has been one of the NHL's best defensemen for the last decade. Bobby first played organized hockey at age 5, and soon showed an ability to skate faster than anyone else his age. The multi-sport athlete was also a rugby, baseball, lacrosse and hockey star. In 1985-86, Coffey scored 48 goals, breaking Orr's record for goals by a defenseman (46, set in the 1974-75 . Gadsby was a three-time first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games. He destroyed all of the conventional wisdom about playing defence. 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) He also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Detroit. 1966 Topps. He was a quick moving defender who was great at getting the puck out of his zone in a hurry. Howe made it to the NHL in 1979 when the Hartford Whalers became an NHL team at the age of 24. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. But one stands above the rest. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. It is claimed by some that Horton was the first player in the NHL to use the slap shot as a reliable offensive weapon. Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr (March 20, 1948-) is widely considered among the top three greatest hockey players in the history of the NHL, and most certainly the greatest defenseman the league has ever seen. Douglas Orr, the father of hockey great Bobby Orr, has died. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. Bourque comes second with 451 goals in 1826 games. 2023 Attraction Web S.E.C. Doug Wilson is the first of the defensemen to produce more than .8 points per game for over a 1,000 game career. 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