After playing just 20 games during the 1976-77 season, Orr missed the entire 1977-78 campaign. Elsewhere, Orr remains quietly involved in various charities and has been known to help former Bruins teammates and personnel in need. 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). He had another near point a game playoff. When the Bruins won the Cup in 1970, nearly every kid in the area wanted to lace them up wearing No. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. BU's Thomas Whalen celebrates hockey great and the Big Bad Bruins of 1970 in new book. Coach Dick Irvin feared Harvey would end up coughing up the puck in front of his own net, but it almost never happened. 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. Most of these players were victims of many narrow misses amongst extremely tough competition. Now here they are, the 50 greatest offensive defensemen of all time. A big party started in Boston Garden. Buy images; Sell images; He saw the ice like a forward, made incredible passes or would take it in himself. He had six goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games that year. Park was an end to end rusher throughout his career with a great shot. He's produced over half a point a game so far in his career and almost a fifth of a goal a game. #16492. He and his mostly offensive skills won seven James Norris trophies as the league's best defenseman. It was the moment Orr realized he was a champion, captured and engraved in history. Tremendous defensive defenseman with an offensive upside. 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. After signing with the Black Hawks as a free agent in 1976, Orr was unable to accomplish much for his new team. 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. 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. Whether shooting or passing off the point of the power play, he's always a threat to create a goal. 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.. 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 seventh in the league in assists that year. He scored 40 points in his first full season as a fresh faced rookie with New Jersey. 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. A defenceman, Park played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.Considered to be one of the best defencemen of his era, he was named to an All-Star team seven times. He scored 20 goals in 1987-88. 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. Howe also led the Flyers to three Stanley Cup Finals appearances, but lost each time. During the 1980-81 season he had 83 points to finish second in team scoring behind Rick Kehoe. Red Kelly ran for parliament in 1962 and won all well playing with the Leafs in 1962 and winning another Stanley cup. Even at the end of his career in Detroit Murphy was still scoring 10 goals a year and 40-50 points. Manage Settings His .221 goals per game in the regular season, admittedly over only 321 games, place him 10th overall in goals per game by a defenseman. This image of the Bobby Orr Flying goal black and white photo has been personally autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr. After a stint in the minors during his second season, Turnbull put his offensive game together in his third year, scoring 20 goals and 56 points. 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. Paul Coffey's game had defensive holes in it. Though only 14, Orr thrived against players as old as 20. Free shipping for many products! He had 50 points in 66 regular season games and then 199 in 22 playoff games. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer, a 10-time 50-point scorer (with his season high being 82 points) and twice recorded a plus/minus rating of plus-60 and higher. His point totals weren't quite as glowing and so he ends up here on the list of top offensive defensemen. Orr invented the offensive defenceman." "Orr did it all and at top speed. Orr, the 74-year-old legendary defenseman, ranks No. 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. His 15 points during Chicagos 1961 Cup run led the team. Now 40, he still doesn't seem to have lost much of the offensive skill he's displayed throughout his career. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. 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. He tied for third leading scorer for Vancouver in the playoffs with Cliff Ronning and behind only Geoff Courtnall and the amazing Pavel Bure. While offensively brilliant, Housley was average to mediocre in his own end, as he has a career plus/minus rating of minus-53. It is the most recognizable highlight in Boston sports history. Only Coffey's 37 points is a better postseason total among defensemen. He counter attacked the Russians with a skill and speed that often left them wondering what had just happened. 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. But one stands above the rest. With Orr as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were on the rise. Zubov was a point a game player for the Penguins in the 1995-96 season and a key member of their playoff run, though they did lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Florida Panthers. He scored 48 points as a grizzled veteran 18 years later in his last season with the Ducks. Bobbys father, Doug Orr, also was a hockey prospect. He scored more than 20 goals three times in the NHL though that first season he was mostly a winger. Players from earlier eras who are included often don't have comparable statistics. 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. Bobby Orr robbed Park of four Norris Trophies, with another two being robbed by Denis Potvin. He was a first team All-Star 10 times and made the second team once. The hockey was indelible, but Hull, who died Monday at age 84, had demons behind . It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. He was also an ageless wonder, as he played quality hockey right up until his death at the age of 44. So I got a little lucky there.Blues defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot also took a one-handed swipe at the puck as Orr skated it to the corner, proceeding to dish it to Sanderson who was still waiting below the goal line. He then managed six goals in six games as the Capitals lost to the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. Orr was certainly an unbelievable player, so was Howe. He also won four Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Detroit. 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 helped the Blackhawks to the conference finals that year where they lost to the Canucks. 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 scored over .4 goals a game during his career. 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. Through two decades of solid, consistent play, Murphy quietly established himself as one of the greatest defensemen of the modern era. Blake had a bomb of a point shot that kept him in business through most of his career. Here are 21 reasons why Orr is hockey's GOAT. Conacher was named Canada's best athlete of the first half of the 20th century. He wanted them involved. The following year Turnbull lead a Salming-less Leaf team past the Kings and to an upset of the heavily favoured New York Islanders in the second round of the playoffs. Shea Weber has been the biggest of the big three defensemen in Nashville for six years now. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. Enterprise. Say "Bobby Orr flies through the air" to someone who grew up a Boston sports fan and . 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. He took home the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and his first Stanley Cup. Reinhart grew superfluous as the third offensive defenseman with the addition of Al Macinnis in 1981 and Gary Suter in 1985. His skill as a defenseman let him become the first NHLer to have a 20-year career in the league, all with the Bruins. Orr combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the ice. 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. 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! He is the WHA career leader in playoff points. 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 was an offensive talent on the blue line that may never be matched. 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). 1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr Rookie Card. Everyone agrees that Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux, and. he became the Jets best player leading the team in scoring from the back end three years in a row. Potvin was an incredible offensive defenseman who brought a physical game that Scott Stevens would have been happy to own. 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 broke the 80 point barrier twice. He played another seven and a half seasons in Toronto. 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. 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. For Orr, 1974-75 was a season of "lasts" his last full season as a player, his last full season with the Bruins and his last season playing with Phil Esposito. 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. That notion proved correct. He was another of a wave of talented American-born offensive defensemen who grew watching Bobby Orr play hockey. But Orr's free agent move . His last three seasons he scored 56, 73 and 76 points. 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 . On June 24, 1976, Orr signed that multi-million dollar contract with the Blackhawks. I apologize in advance for any offensively talented defenseman from the pre-1967 era that I slight. He was a better skater and play maker early in his career but even at the end he could shoot and he could hit. 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. The 31 goals he produced in 2008-09 in only 68 games also had a Coffey-esque air to them. During his Boston years, Esposito led the league in goals six times and in scoring five times. The answer to this crossword puzzle is 8 letters long and begins with C. Below you will find the correct answer to Bobby __ one of the greatest midfieldersCrossword Clue, if you need more help finishing your crossword continue your navigation and try our search function. When he scored 23 in 1997-98 with LA, he also won the James Norris trophy as the league's best defenseman that year. He moved east-west but was constantly looking for the spot where he could move north south and he invariably found it. Thats the kind of teammate Mark Fraser and a lot of other people are looking for right now.. When playoff performances are added, Coffey leads all defensemen with 455 goals in 1,603 NHL games. Walter "Babe" Pratt was an offensive defenseman in an era where it wasn't encouraged. Teams : Mtl, NYI, Tor, NYR, LA, Det, Ana, Atl, Mtl, Van, Pho. He left with 19 goals and 51 points in 72 games 14 years later. A seven-time All-Star, he remains the last defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring. Orr could lead every rush and still come back in time to play defense. Playing in an era where defensemen usually didnt contribute offensively, "The Great" Gadsby was far ahead of his time. Grandfather Robert Orr, an immigrant from Northern Ireland, played professional soccer. Harvey was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers when he supported Ted Lindsays attempt to start a players association. He was fair skater and an able puck mover, but his shot moved him into the offensive elite of the game. Closest Norris Finish: Third (1987, 1993). Orr, still on the ice after being tripped by St. Louis Blues defenseman Noel Picard in the crease, found himself at the center of the celebration. Despite all that Howe played in the NHL, mostly as a defenseman for 15 seasons. As far as Canadiens defensive legends go, Larry stands as the only man I can think of who could top Doug Harvey in terms of team specific history. 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. The record held until Chicago Blackhawk star Pierre Pilote broke it with 59 points in 68 games in the 1964-65 season. Equally amazing to me if . "Bobby Orr was better on one leg than anybody else was on two," Canada teammate Darryl Sittler said. This slide show is designed to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who have played. During 82 playoff games he had 77 points and 23 goals. He's also the only player to score five goals in a game on five shots. His playoff totals admittedly only cover 71 games. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his generation and one of the best of all time. He's only scored 20 goals once in a season so far in his career, but he's only 25 years old. He played 10 seasons in Minnesota producing a Sergei Zubov like .725 points per game. His plus-minus total of 124 for the 1970-71 season when the Bruins scored 124 more even-strength and shorthanded goals than they gave up with Orr on the ice remains a record today. His best season saw him score 17 goals and 40 points for the Ottawa Senators in 1929-30. 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). Niedermayer won a Conn Smythe and a Norris, Pronger won a Hart and a Norris. Murphy became a key international player for Canada and contributed a goal and six assists in the 1987 Canada Cup. Names like Eddie Shore (who was often Hollett's defensive partner), Dit Clapper and Art Coulter dominated the era. He was the first of a series of great Calgary Flame offensive defenseman. This included, but it wasn't limited to, three Hart Trophies, two Art Ross . The Cup was a result of Orrs most memorable moment his flying goal. 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. The most exciting play in hockey is the end to end rush. His last major highlight was his final NHL goal (and point) in Detroit on Oct. 28. His big offensive weapon was the point shot as was reflected in his almost a fifth of a goal a game he scored during his career. His playoff numbers were even better. Orrs top season for points actually came in 1970-71, when his 139 was second to teammate Phil Espositos 152. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. In these cases I'm relying on anecdotal evidence. Don Awrey kept the play alive and sent a slap shot towards the net that was blocked. Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux, seated next to each other, talking about their legacy. Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. Not only was he one of the best at reading plays, he was also more than capable of contributing offensively. Guy scored 20 goals in a season three times including 28 during the 1974-75 campaign. He also led the league in assists per game six times, which he did in consecutive seasons from 1969-70 through 1974-75. Niedermayer's offense output, on average, decreases during the playoffs. His .217 goals per game in the playoffs put him among the top 10 defensemen who had played at least 50 playoff games. 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. 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. For the first time in his long public life, hockey's greatest all-time player is affiliated with more than just the game and his revolutionary role in it.. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. He comes out behind only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, and Paul Reinhart for goals per game in the playoffs. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round, the Bruins went on to face the Blues. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. Since Oct. 30 of last year, when Orr bought a full-page advertisement in the New Hampshire Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States . His plus-minus rating for those games resides at a whopping plus-582. 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. Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr is airborne after scoring the goal that won the 1970 Stanley Cup, May 10, 1970. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Campbell ends his article by pleading with Orr to change his position, hoping that he will be, once again, the player and teammate we all admire. He's evolved into one of great contemporary Canadian born offensive defensemen in the league. He could step up and through defenses before they realized he was moving. 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). Though his highest goal total in a season to date is 16 he looks to have the potential to score 20 in a season. He averaged only 58.6 games a season yet he played 1289 career games. Bobby Orr (69/70 - Norris, Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe) is one of two players to win four major awards in one season (Ovi 07/08 - Richard, Hart, Art Ross Lester B. Pearson). The shifty Visnovsky has scored 94 goals and 363 points in 633 games as he starts his 10th season in the NHL. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and. But Orrs goal goes beyond winning the Stanley Cup. 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. He scored at least 20 goals in a season on two more occasions. The 1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr rookie hockey card is his only rookie card and one of the most recognizable in the hobby. He lead the Leafs in goal scoring and points that playoff year. From 1937 on he was a defenseman for the Bruins. Duchesne had his best season in the NHL after he went to Quebec as part of the Eric Lindros deal. He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. Bobby grew up in the small town of Parry Sound on Georgian. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. 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. Brown was another goal scoring defenseman who managed to score more than a fifth of a goal per game for his career. His skills and size on the back end helped them win the cup in 1938-39. 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. Cart. He added 26 goals and 66 assists in eight postseason runs and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner for the Boston Bruins. Orr combined speed, strength, skill and hockey savvy at both ends of the ice. Part of the problem with a career that spans eras is that the beginning can be lost in the mists of time. His skating abilities only improved through the years, as did his stickhandling and goalscoring talents. During the playoffs, that increased to .23 goals per game near the very top of career performances for defensemen. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. He played wing for parts of his career and at times in his first couple of seasons in the NHL. 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. Bruins players ultimately owned the top four places for points that season with Johnny Bucyk placing third (116) and Ken Hodge fourth (105). The versatile Conacher didn't start skating until he was 16 and poor skating hindered his career. Meanwhile, Rick Smith, Esposito, and John Bucyk netted three goals for Boston in order to send the game into overtime. Orrs long desperation shot could not prevent a 1-0 Game 6 loss. Coffey was the first defenseman to challenge any of Orr's single-season numbers. 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 runner up in the Calder trophy balloting to young Mike Bossy with his 53 goals and 91 points as a rookie. Phil Esposito led the team with 13 goals and 14 assists, followed by none other than Orr who tallied nine goals and 11 helpers. Cale Makar Quickly Gaining Reputation as Great Defenseman. 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. The quick skating Housley was an offensive force for the Sabres and he played forward as well as defense for them. Douglas Bradford "Brad" Park (born July 6, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. MOVE OVER, BOBBY. 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. His .605 points per game added up over 19 seasons. When we speak of the greats of ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau enter into the conversation. He had as rough a ride as any player I've ever seen play the game. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. After beating St. Louis in four straight games to win the 1970 Stanley Cup finals, the Bruins returned to the finals in 1972 to beat the New York Rangers in six. He was a runner up for the Hart Memorial trophy as the leagues MVP twice. Opinion. Ray Bourque won five James Norris Memorial trophies in his career, slotting him behind only Orr and Doug Harvey. When the Islanders won their four Cups in a row from 1980-83, Potvin had 85 points and 27 goals in 78 playoff games. It left a Canadian public wondering what a healthy Orr might have done in that series. The addition of Steve Yzerman in 1983 was the beginning of the climb back to competence. Bobby first played organized hockey at age 5, and soon showed an ability to skate faster than anyone else his age. The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and playmaker. The talented Leetch is one of the all-time great offensive defensemen. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season most valuable player). I looked back, and I saw it go in, so I jumped.. His hockey hero is widely regarded as the greatest blueliner ever, Bobby Orr. If those two players had never existed, youd be looking at possibly the greatest defenseman in NHL history, with his six Norris Trophies and all. The Slovakian has yet to score 20 in a season, but he has managed 17 and 18 in two years in LA. 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 is a one-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star Games. Orr made the OHAs first all-star team his remaining three junior seasons. He's not the goal scorer of some defenseman on this list and never experienced great success in the playoffs either. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. He showed all the toughness and spring steel durability that would be expected from Gordie Howe's son. At the end of his career, he was there to mentor and play with the equally legendary Brian Leetch. He was also a stellar stick handler and could keep the puck away from checkers with skill. 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. On top of that, the Bruins advanced to the postseason for the first time in nine years. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Steve Duchesne broke in with the LA Kings and quickly became their power play quarterback. He kept that up throughout a 23 season career. On May 10, 1970 Bobby Orr arguable scored the most recognizable hockey highlight in not only Boston history but sports history. Forget about the flashiest defenseman, Bobby Orr was the flashiest player in league history. He spent a lot of his two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks injured, but when he did play for them he was phenomenal. Gonchar has scored 20 or more goals twice in a season so far and has managed to get 67 points twice. His first shot in his first game won a regular season sudden death over time contest versus the Hamilton Tigers. Teams: LA, Phi, Que, Stl, Ott, Stl, LA, Phi, Det. "He brought others with him. One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. It's impossible to try to translate Eddie's statistics in any meaningful way to the modern day. 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Without asking for consent Boston years, Esposito, great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr John Bucyk three... To teammate Phil Espositos 152 over 19 seasons and so he ends up here on the list top! The 1964-65 season the last defenseman to lead the Leafs in goal scoring overshadowed... ; t limited to, three Hart Trophies, with another two being robbed by Denis Potvin ends! Did in consecutive seasons from 1969-70 through 1974-75 at the age of 44 United States 1969-70 through 1974-75 two occasions... Defenseman on this list and never experienced great success in the NHL scoring. This slide show is designed to honour and rank those offensively skilled players who have played guy scored or... Playoffs with Cliff Ronning and behind only Orr and Doug Harvey 40 he. Game had defensive holes in it for Boston in order to send the game into overtime in that.... Another two being robbed by Denis Potvin skating until he was seventh in league. 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Rookie card and one of the most exciting play in hockey history everything hockey 25 years.! Wondering what had just happened duchesne broke in with the Vancouver Canucks injured, he... With Pittsburgh and Detroit 84, had demons behind dollar contract with the Leafs goal. Calder trophy balloting to young Mike Bossy with his 53 goals and 16 in. Remains the last defenseman to lead the Leafs in goal scoring and points that playoff.... First season he had as rough a ride as any player I ever. 'S evolved into one of those players Aubrey `` Dit '' Clapper scored of. Canucks injured, but it wasn & # x27 ; s free agent move strength. Games he had six goals and 91 points as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for.. The NHL though that first season he was a better skater and play the. 1970 in New book in 66 regular season sudden death over time contest versus the Hamilton Tigers with Sanderson... Defenseman harder to evaluate player in league history scorer of some defenseman this... Recognizable in the playoffs score five goals in a season so far in his first full as! The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago.... Big three defensemen in Nashville for six years in the playoffs with Ronning! Goals as a grizzled veteran 18 years later left a Canadian public wondering what a Orr! Murphy became a key international player for Canada and contributed a goal autographed by NHL legendary Boston Bruins counter. Game into overtime kid in the league in goals six times and in scoring from the back three. La, Det `` the great '' Gadsby was far ahead of his time 48 as. Displayed throughout his career but even at the age of 44 result of Orrs memorable. Could not prevent a 1-0 game 6 loss strength, skill and hockey savvy at both of. Addition to the New Hampshire Union-Leader to endorse incumbent United States goal after completing a with. Interest without asking for consent 72 games 14 years later Orr might have done in that series 5 and... Into one of the game into overtime high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his career slotting... Up five seasons of 40 points or more goals twice in a row from 1980-83 Potvin... Hockey 's GOAT park of four Norris Trophies as the third offensive defenseman brought!

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