Boston Bruins: Top Five Forwards (All-Time)

With talks of Franchise Four players within sports teams being all of the rage right now, it seems fitting to take that up a notch and rank the all-time top five Boston Bruins players at each “position”. While there is enough history within the Bruins organization to list off five of each forward position, the “positions” will be limited to forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders, and if enough comments show interest, even coaches. It would be easy to write about fifteen forwards, but the prestige to go along with a “top-five” list should really be limited to the top-five.

To start this series off, the forward group will be evaluated first. The list will evaluate overall impact that the player brought to the team throughout their tenure, and is not entirely reliant on points. It should also be noted that the list will be purely subjective, and won’t be entirely agreed upon by everybody who reads it. The top five is in no specific order, as each player affected the team in a different way, at a different time.

1. Phil Esposito – Center

To this day, Esposito is one of the greatest scorers to ever lace up a pair of skates in the NHL. His knack for scoring goals was never unnoticed, as he won the Hart Trophy twice, the Art Ross five times, and was an all-star in each of his eight season with the Bruins. To go along with those accolades, he won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1970 and 1972. Leading the Bruins in points five times in his career, he ranks among the top in the franchise in points (third with 1012), goals (second with 459), and points-per-game (first with 1.62). Having scored the tenth most points in league history, he was rewarded with a Hall of Fame induction in 1984, and the honor was reciprocated by the Bruins, who were also quick to retire his jersey number 7 the same year. Esposito will forever be one of the greatest NHLers and greatest Bruins to ever play the sport.

2. Johnny “Chief” Bucyk – Left Wing

No top-five list involving the Bruins can ignore Chief. Having played in Boston for 21 seasons, and wearing the captaincy for five, Bucyk is the type of player that every team would love. Bucyk, like Esposito, is among the Bruins franchise leaders in goals (first with 545), assists (second with 794), points (1339) as well as games played (second with 1436). Bucyk was part of the Bruins two cup wins in 1970 and 1972, and was a seven-time all star, with two Lady Byng awards to close it off. Chief was inducted to the hall of fame in 1981, and his jersey number 9 was retired by the Bruins a year earlier in 1980. The word Chief will always hold greater sentimental value for Bruins fans, as Bucyk was a true leader for the team.

3. Patrice Bergeron – Center

At only 29-years old, Patrice Bergeron has earned a place on the all-time great list for the Bruins. Having played in 11 NHL seasons, appearing in the Stanley Cup Final twice, and winning once, Bergeron has been a fan-favorite since he first skated for the Bruins in 2003 at the age of 18. Bergeron is widely considered one of the best all-around players in the league, and his three Selke Trophy wins, combined with his consistent point totals can attest to that. Bergeron is arguably the best face-off man in the league, and one can only assume he is the heir-apparent to the Bruins captaincy once current-capitain Zdeno Chara‘s tenure with the Bruins is over. Having reached the thirty goal mark twice, and scoring over 50 points in 7 of his 11 seasons (some of which were shortened by lock-out, or concussion issues), Bergeron has consistently been a clutch player for Boston, scoring timely goals and providing energy on each and every one of his shifts. Bergeron’s contract runs until the 2021-2022 season, meaning he has the potential to continue impressing and earning his place on this list.

4. Milt Schmidt – Center

Milt Schmidt is one of the most recognizable names in the entire franchise, having played his entire 16 year career with the Bruins, serving as the captain for four, and even taking three years off to serve in World War II. Schmidt led the league in points in the 1940 season, and was the winner of the Hart Trophy in 1951. Schmidt was integral at just about every level of the Bruins organization, having been the coach and general manager of Boston later in his career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961 and his jersey number 15 was retired in 1980. The legacy of Milt Schmidt will always be one of the greatest in Bruins history.

5. Cam Neely – Right Wing

Before Cam Neely became the team president of the Bruins in 2010, he was a fan-favorite, known for his hard-hitting style of play. Neely is arguably one of the best power-forwards in the history of the game, having scored 50 goals three times in his career with Boston. Neely also ranks among the top in the franchise in goals (fifth with 344). He appeared in two Stanley Cup finals as a player, unfortunately losing both, but was able to hoist the cup following the 2011 season as the team President. His jersey number 8 was retired in 2004, forever cementing him in Bruins history as one of the greatest players in the franchise. Injuries shortened Neely’s career, and while his tenure only lasted 10 seasons (13 in total), he has earned his place on this list.

Honorable mentions: Adam Oates, Bill Cowley, Wayne Cashman, Rick Middleton, Ken Hodge

What did YOU think of the list? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below, as well as your own top-five forward group!

Next up: Defensemen

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