The Cup was a result of Orrs most memorable moment his flying goal. Without a devastating point shot it's his mobility and playmaking that set him apart from other defensemen. He finished up in Pittsburgh where injury cut his career short. Detroit tried to trade Kelly to the Rangers in 1960 but Kelly retired rather than report. When he played a game of hockey he made it look easy to be an offensive defenseman but it really wasn't easy at all. Duchesne is 20th in career scoring among all NHL defensemen. It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. Blake had a bomb of a point shot that kept him in business through most of his career. Douglas Bradford "Brad" Park (born July 6, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman who played with skill in every part of the rink. He was beaten out by the 24-year-old Petr Stasny, who had 109 points with the Nordiques that year for the Calder Memorial trophy as rookie of the year. He had the skills to rush from end to end and the desire to do it. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. His playoff numbers were never as good as his regular season ones, but he did produce 15 assists in 19 playoff games during Philadelphia's 1988-89 playoff run. He 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. Though his highest goal total in a season to date is 16 he looks to have the potential to score 20 in a season. Again only he, Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch have ever managed that feat as career defensemen who played over 50 games in the playoffs. He was the premiere offensive defenseman. "He brought others with him. Eddie Shore was another iconic Boston Bruin offensively-talented defenseman. Bobby Orr Highlights. Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux, seated next to each other, talking about their legacy. He scored well in the regular season and was another player who could gear it up for the playoffs. So rather than penalizing him for playing so long I want to reward the offensive skill he did show for over 1006 NHL games. That didn't detract from the fact that he was a skilled offensive contributor early on. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Orr also earned his final All-Star selection. That resistance to conformity apparently fueled his offensive instincts. Hockey. Andrei Markov is another hugely talented offensive defenseman whose numbers have suffered in the recent trap clogged, big pad NHL. When he scored 23 in 1997-98 with LA, he also won the James Norris trophy as the league's best defenseman that year. His 11 points in 10 playoff games were second on the team only to Darryl Sittler's 12. 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. 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. Still his .268 goals per game in that period makes him the sixth-best goals per game defenseman of all time among those defenseman who played at least 50 playoff games. A revolutionary player who forever changed the role of defensemen, Orr is widely considered one of hockey's greatest players. Both teams fought for possession along the left boards before the puck squeaked out and a streaking Sanderson took a shot from the left face-off circle which also missed the cage. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. Boyle blossomed almost immediately in Tampa Bay when exposed to the talent in the lineup there. Paul Coffey's game had defensive holes in it. This prompted many fans to look back at what legendary NHL defenseman Bobby Orr did months ago. He managed to contribute offensively for almost his entire career. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Free shipping for many products! 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. That's what made him so different. Brad Park was one of the most talented two-way defensemen in history. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. Ever since Bobby Orr came into the National Hockey League in 1966 and singlehandedly changed the concept of how to play defense, people have been waiting for . Leetch had four game-winning goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win. Olausson's best season saw him score 20 goals in 1991-92 in Winnipeg. Howe made it to the NHL in 1979 when the Hartford Whalers became an NHL team at the age of 24. Ice hockey never saw a better, more complete player than Bobby Orr. Orrs regular season totals rest at 270 goals and 645 assists (915 points) in just 657 games. He managed an impressive 80 goals in his 494-game career. Orr made the OHAs first all-star team his remaining three junior seasons. 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. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round, the Bruins went on to face the Blues. He was no slouch as a defender either. He was another of a wave of talented American-born offensive defensemen who grew watching Bobby Orr play hockey. Nobody played the game like him. 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. Players from that era were severely limited in what they were allowed to do offensively and often ostracized or traded if they tried to do more. Ray Bourque would be next with five wins. He scored 20 goals in 1987-88. It was the shot that made Al great. Out of that group . 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. Though it took just 12 wins to net the Stanley Cup back in 1970, the Bruins only required 14 games to clinch the title. 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. He suffered a nasty injury from a collision with a net the next year that degraded his offensive ability. Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. He was famous for his ability to steal the puck from attacking forwards. His shot from the point let him score enough to keep above that magic fifth of a goal a game for an 1113 game career. Pronger-esque defenseman with superb offensive proficiency. There is obviously no argument that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the history of the Red Wings. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. Paul had his best season in 1982-83 with 75 points in 78 games. That was second on the team in playoff scoring only to Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. But even in defeat, he remained humble and heroic. Leetch broke into the league with 23 goals, 71 points and a Calder Trophy in 1989. he also scored 21 goals that year breaking 20 for the first time. Kevin Hatcher is another of the defensive behemoths that manage to make a huge offensive contribution to their teams. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. Pronger is a man whose offensive production increases in the playoffs. During the postseason the defenseman went on to produce 26 goals and 66 assists (92 points) in 74 playoff appearances. 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). He scored 20 and had 82 points for his first and only point a game season. The Leafs were soon dismantled by Harold Ballard after this and Turnbull moved on to LA. Orr on '72: Best player misses greatest win. Chambers: Wayne Gretzky is right about Cale Makar. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and. In 1985-86, Coffey scored 48 goals, breaking Orr's record for goals by a defenseman (46, set in the 1974-75 . Not content to be Wayne Gretzky's teammate, swift-skating Oiler defenseman Paul Coffey suddenly is getting himself compared to Bobby Orrand not unfavorably, either. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season most valuable player). 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. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. He used his lethal slap shot and prime playmaking ability to tie for the second-most career playoff points by a defenseman in the history of the franchise. His plus-minus rating for those games resides at a whopping plus-582. In a 12-year NHL career that began in 1966, he revolutionized the role of the defenseman before he retired in 1978 at 30. It is the most recognizable highlight in Boston sports history. Conacher was named Canada's best athlete of the first half of the 20th century. Forced to play in Sweden and Finland for four years after graduating from university, Brian Rafalski was finally given a chance by the New Jersey Devils. Orr was great, he played 12 NHL seasons between the years 1966 and 1979. Iafrate was rushed into the league by a desperate Leaf team in 1984. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. 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! Impressively, he amassed more than 100 points for a sixth consecutive (and last) season. The talented Leetch is one of the all-time great offensive defensemen. In between he managed to play almost 80 games a season every year. Pronger has scored goals and points at a fractionally higher rate. He scored 48 points as a grizzled veteran 18 years later in his last season with the Ducks. 4. Photo by Ray Lussier/The Boston Herald via AP, File. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Widely considered the best defenseman to ever play the game,and even considered by some the best player ever, the legendary No. "Bobby Orr was better on one leg than anybody else was on two," Canada teammate Darryl Sittler said. 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) The physical Potvin was an abundantly talented skater, stick handler and playmaker. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Punch Imlach started Kelly at center, ostensibly to check the rival Canadiens star center Jean Beliveau. He destroyed all of the conventional wisdom about playing defence. The Lester B. Pearson Trophy (now the Ted Lindsay) was created the next season. Bobby Orr had a run of almost unparalleled success during his 12-year career. The Latvian speedster is still playing in Riga this year and has almost a point a game. 1966 Topps. 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. 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. Orr's peak from 1968-74 was tremendous. Steven Ellis. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1964, 1969). 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. His hockey hero is widely regarded as the greatest blueliner ever, Bobby Orr. These are all factors that are keeping Housley out of the Hall of Fame for now. He also flashed that skill at the public that would have dazzled crowds in Detroit for generations. "Absolutely," Orr, 68, said. For his career, Orrs nine regular-season hat tricks remain a record for NHL defensemen. 66 assists ( 915 points ) in 74 playoff appearances that did n't detract from the that... The Lester B. 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