Bobby Orr is Greatest Hockey Player of All-Time

Bobby Orr Should Rank No.1 as Greatest Hockey Player of All-Time

Bobby Orr was a notable omission among our careers cut short countdown last week, which left some scratching their heads. Reasonable to question his exclusion since number four does fall under the category of injury shortened careers. Truth be told though, a simple countdown mention as top ranked doesn’t do the great Bobby Orr enough justice against the likes of Eric Lindros or Pat LaFontaine.

Although he was limited to 657 career regular season games, those who had the pleasure to watch Bobby Orr will tell you he was the greatest hockey player of all-time.

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Most would argue that “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky ranks first all-time. Statistically speaking, they would be correct.

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We’re talking about very different eras though. Yes, no.99 set many records that are unlikely to ever be broken, but it was also the highest scoring era in NHL history; a time when Wayne Gretzky could sit in his office behind the net untouched and feed teammates for goals.

That was the same era goaltenders were winning the Vezina Trophy with a goals-against-average above three.

So while no one wanted to touch no.99 for fear of being penalized or facing retribution from the likes of Dave Semenko, Bobby Orr was truly untouchable due to his speed and open-ice creativity.

“No matter how fast an opponent was, Bobby could skate faster than him if he needed to do it in the framework of a play. If he was caught up-ice and the other team had an odd-man rush, that’s when you saw his truly great speed. Very seldom did he not get back to have a hand in breaking up the play.” – Phil Esposito

Few (if any others) in NHL history could carry the puck from behind their own net and go end-to-end to either score or set up a goal with as much regularity as Bobby Orr. If for some reason, the play was broken up and no.4 was caught deep, he could still find a way to get back and play defense.

Say what you want about Wayne Gretzky’s mind-boggling statistics, but an argument can be made that Orr was the most decorated player from year-to-year.

It was only recurring knee injuries that eventually forced Bobby Orr to retire after 12 short seasons.

The following are comments from those who were lucky enough to watch Bobby Orr live in action (courtesy of “The Top Tens”):

“Orr revolutioned the game in a way no ever did- not Gretzky-not Howe-not Hull. I once heard this analysis from a respected NHL player who played against all those players. Howe could do everything but not at top speed. Hull would always perform at top speed but he couldn’t do everything. Orr could do everything- and at top speed. Orr invented the offensive defenceman.”

“Orr did it all and at top speed. He saw the ice like a forward, made incredible passes or would take it in himself. Not only was he fast, his acceleration was amazing, he reached his top speed faster than anyone. Great stick handler, hard slap shot, blocked shots and while playing defense won scoring titles while having the best plus / minus in the league. In addition he was humble and a class person who never went out of his way to show up an opponent. To me the best ever.”

“Most dynamic of all the superstars. Skated better, handled the puck better, saw the ice better, was tougher and gutsier than anyone of his time. A defensemen who could win scoring titles? – who does that?! A player that could kill a penalty on his own, rush the length of the ice and either score or set someone up and still make it back on D to block a shot if needed. Only Orr. As Mr. Hockey said “I’ve never seen a player dominate both ends of the ice like that young man did”. There will never be another that could do as much – only his knees prevented him from doing it longer.”

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Bobby Orr Resume:

– Calder Trophy Winner (Top Rookie) – 66-67
– Only defenseman to win Art Ross Trophy
– Only player to win Norris, Art Ross, Hart, and Conn Smythe in a single season
– Only defenseman to record nine (9) hat tricks
– First player to record 100 assists in one season
– Holds record for highest plus/minus in a single season at plus-124 (+124). Sits second all-time with plus-597 (+597) for his career.
– Sits 4th on all-time list for points-per-game (PPG)
– Canada Cup Champion/MVP – 1975-76
– Seven All-Star Game appearances (six in a row) – 67-68, 68-69, 69-70, 70-71, 71-72, 72-73, 74-75
– Eight-time Norris Trophy Winner – 67-68, 68-69, 69-70, 70-71, 71-72, 72-73, 73-74, 74-75
– Two-time Art Ross Trophy Winner – 69-70, 74-75
– Three-time Hart Trophy Winner – 69-70, 70-71, 71-72
– Two-time Stanley Cup Winner/Conn Smythe Winner – 69-70, 74-75

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Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr surpassed 100 points in a single season on six occasions (in a row).

Although knee injuries limited him to a mere 657 career regular season games, Orr still managed to score 270 goals, 645 assists (915 points) – (1.39 PPG average). He also scored 26 goals, 66 assists (92 points) in 74 playoff contests – (1.25 PPG average).

A player who not only changed/revolutionized the defensive position, but changed the game completely. It was because of Orr that players such as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were able to flourish the way they did.

As those two were approaching or surpassing 200 points in a season, it was defenders like Paul Coffey (who played with Gretzky in Edmonton, and Lemieux in Pittsburgh) posting over 100 points (on five occasions) in the background that helped make it possible.

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Perhaps it’s unfair to compare players from different eras. After all, players such as Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and so on were all-time greats of the game in their own ways. Consider this though; the hockey world lumps Bobby Orr into the same conversation as a man who spanned five decades playing, and another who set records that are unlikely to be broken. If Bobby Orr had even 20 healthy seasons under his belt, he would easily be considered the greatest of all-time.

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