Boston Bruins: Top Five Defensemen (All-Time)
The second top-five to be evaluated will be defense. 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.
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1. Brad Park
After being dealt to the Bruins in the Phil Esposito trade, Park immediately became a force for the Bruins. In his nearly eight seasons with Boston, Park put up 417 points, a point total that is only surpassed by Ray Bourque and Bobby Orr. While never winning the Norris Trophy, Park was a runner-up in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, and twice while with the Bruins in 1976 and 1978. Every team wants a Norris Trophy winner, but not every team has the opportunity to employ a consistent Norris Trophy contender. Park was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988, and should always hold a special place in the hearts of Bruin’s fans.
2. Zdeno Chara
When Zdeno Chara joined the Bruins in 2006, it was clear that the Boston Bruins were getting a beast in every sense of the word. Chara was named captain upon signing, and close to a decade later, the decision still looks pretty good. Standing at a league-tallest 6’9″, Chara has brought a skill-set to the Bruins that has allowed the team to be contender almost every year he’s been in the hub. Chara has participated in six all-star games, five of which during his tenure with the Bruins, including 2012 when he was a captain. Speaking of All-Star games, Chara is the owner of the record for fastest slap shot, after firing one at 108.8 mph. A Norris Trophy winner in 2009, and finalist in 2011, 2012, and 2014, Chara has been consistently acknowledged as one of the leagues best. The 2011 season resulting in a Stanley Cup will forever ingrain Zdeno Chara as one of the greatest Bruins defenseman of all time.
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3. Eddie Shore
Eddie Shore spent parts of 14 seasons with the Boston Bruins, and was a part of their two first Stanley Cup victories in 1929 and in 1939. Unfortunately for Shore, Norris Trophies didn’t exist at the time, but he was still recognized as one of the leagues best as he was the recipient of four Hart Trophies. Shore’s 279 points rank 6th in franchise history, and his 1038 penalty minutes rank 6th as well, however the seasons were around half of what they are now, making his totals more impressive in a pro-rated scheme. Shore’s jersey number 2 was retired in 1947, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year. Shore was the prototypical Boston Bruins and his number 2 hanging in the rafters of the Garden will forever solidify his legacy in the city of Boston, and in the sport of hockey
4. Ray Bourque
Bourque took the league by storm in his first season in the NHL, scoring 65 points and winning the Calder Trophy. With 1518 career games for the Boston Bruins, Ray Bourque holds the distinction as the Bruin to play the most games in franchise history. Even more impressive than his game total, was his franchise-leading 1506 points. In addition to leading the franchise in those two statistical categories, he also leads the hub in assists, power-play goals, and is the NHL leader in points among defensemen. With five Norris Trophy victories, Bourque was more than just an offensive force. He wasn’t only honored with Norris Trophies however, as he was a First or Second Team All-Star in 19 of his 21 seasons. Bourque’s jersey number 77 was retired by the Bruins in 2001 and he was inducted to the hall of fame in 2004. The longest tenured Captain in Bruins history is one of the best Bruins, and best NHL players, not just defensemen, of all time,
5. Bobby Orr
Was there every any doubt that Bobby Orr would be on this list? Bobby Orr is considered to be the greatest defenseman of all time, and is even in the picture of best player of all time with the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, and others. The list of accolades is long, so it’s best to just dive right into it. Bobby Orr ranks first in franchise history in plus-minus with a plus-589 rating, second in points-per-game with 1.41, the NHL single-season record for points by a defenseman with 139, and a single season plus-minus mark of plus-124. Orr was the recipient of eight Norris Trophies, two Art Ross trophies, as well as the Hart Trophy in three consecutive years. Bobby Orr helped capture two Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 1970 and 1972, and was named the playoff MVP twice. Bobby Orr’s career was ended early due to injury, and in only 631 games with the Bruins, he put up an insane 888 points. Bobby Orr’s jersey number 4 was retired in 1979, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year. Every hockey fan (should) knows the goal that cemented Bobby Orr’s legacy in hockey history, and if they don’t for some strange reason, they can physically see it in statue-form as his flying goal will forever be cemented in history outside of the TD Garden.
Honorable mentions: Dit Clapper, Lionel Hitchman
What did YOU think of the list? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below, as well as your own top-five defense group!
Next up: Goaltenders