Zander Manning: Building an All-Centennial team for the Bruins

BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1974: Bobby Orr #4 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers during an NHL Hockey game circa 1974 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Orr played for the Bruins from 1966-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1974: Bobby Orr #4 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers during an NHL Hockey game circa 1974 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Orr played for the Bruins from 1966-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Defensemen

Ray Bourque-Eddie Shore
Bobby Orr-Mike Millbury
Zdeno Chara-Don Sweeney

Honorable Mentions: Brad Park, Lionel Hitchman, Johnny Boychuk. 

Analysis:
Now this was a very tough group to choose from, and had to be very closely examined. There are some very good defenseman from the common era, like Charlie McAvoy, who very well could be named Boston’s next captain, but in order to draw from the best of the best it had to come down to just one modern day Bruin.

Chara showed excellence both on, and off, the ice with leadership qualities that showed throughout the community, and that is why he had to, unequivocally, be a part of this group.

However, when it came to play on the ice, there was no one better than the old school players. It hurt me to put Orr on a second line with Millbury (not to mention leave Boychuk out period), but the truth is, you can’t put him and Bourque together, the two need their space on the ice to do what they do best… Separately.