Bobby Orr..can you believe it..

[Pargolfer]

An icon turned 60 today...What an unbelieveable hockey player who's career was cut short too soon...

 

[blueline]

An icon turned 60 today...What an unbelieveable hockey player who's career was cut short too soon...

Greatest player of all-time. A little bit of trivia on Orr's famous Cup winning goal in 1970:

-Picard, who wore number 4, was the player who tripped Orr (number 4) on the game winning goal.
-It was in the 4th period (1st OT period)
-4th game of the series
-goal scored at 40 seconds
-4th goal of the game for Boston (final score 4-3)
-It was the Bruins 4th Stanley Cup championship

Anyone know how many goals Orr scored in the Cup final? Any other 4's associated with the goal that I have missed?

 

[bullitt]

the overtime goal he scored, was the only goal he had against the blues in that series.

 

[bullitt]

And one of the most famous OT goals in Stanley Cup history!

Bobby Orr - the best hockey player of all time (IMHO, and I'm not from Kingston, Parry Sound, or Boston [despite my namesake]).

amen to that brother!

 

[shack]

It's too bad the Bruins were such goons then because that caused me to dislike anything that related to them which in turn made me not appreciate Orr as much as I should have (along with the fact that he was just so hyped by the media).

A few months ago I watched the Canada Cup (1976, I think) with my kids and Orr was easily the best player on the ice most games and that team was loaded with Hall of Famers in their prime. Possibly the best team ever assembled. And that was when he was skating on one leg.

 

[Neverenuff$]

Greatest player of all-time. A little bit of trivia on Orr's famous Cup winning goal in 1970:

-Picard, who wore number 4, was the player who tripped Orr (number 4) on the game winning goal.
-It was in the 4th period (1st OT period)
-4th game of the series
-goal scored at 40 seconds
-4th goal of the game for Boston (final score 4-3)
-It was the Bruins 4th Stanley Cup championship

Anyone know how many goals Orr scored in the Cup final? Any other 4's associated with the goal that I have missed?

2 x 4 = norris's for Orr !

 

[Neverenuff$]

I believe Orr to the best player of all time.. He could set the tempo for the game ...

Kill a 2 min penalty by playing keep away,
Lead the league in scoring , make Phil Esposito look good, and win a fight with the best of them
without the wild eyed drama or prima dona attitude (Rocket Richard comes to mind)

and he seemed to be a pretty humble guy about it all as well

 

[blueline]

It's too bad the Bruins were such goons then because that caused me to dislike anything that related to them which in turn made me not appreciate Orr as much as I should have (along with the fact that he was just so hyped by the media).

Oh - and who exactly were these goons? They were known as the Big Bad Bruins but they certainly paled in comparison to the Broadstreet Bullies or the Hanson Brothers. Those two cup winning teams 1970 and 1972 were loaded with stars, many who could do more than merely drop their gloves. You do know the Bruins set a ton of scoring records in the 1970-71 season, so they obviously had more going for them than goonery. McKenzie, Hodge, Sanderson, Cashman, etc were all tough and terrific hockey players in that era. Even Orr could handle himself very well - ask Pat Quinn about the two decisive losses he took from Orr, never mind that infamous hit on Orr. Man on man Orr took care of him. Was Orr a goon? Hey John ferguson was as tough as they come but I would never consider him a goon. He had some productive seasons.

When I hear goons of the 70's I think of Schultz, Saleski, Dupont, Kelly etc. Add in a guy like Steve Durbano, etc. Guys who were known more for using their fists and initimdation rather than their hockey skills. The BB Bruins could intimidate you as well, but the guys who did were among their best players, unlike the Flyers. You can add up all the points of those 4 Flyers and they barely break 100 combined. Those Bruins I listed above were among the team leaders in PIM and points.

I just have to disagree with the Bruins being known as goons. Don't foget too, that era in the 1970's was known for brawls, many of the bench clearing, Slap Shot type, especially in the WHA. I would like to think that you would agree that many of the 'tough guys' in that era were also decent hockey players, unlike many of them today. Guys who would take a regular shift, play on the top lines and contribute offensively, unlike the 'goons' of today who sit for 55 minutes a game.

 

[blueline]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Esposito

How come Phil Esposito is never mentioned when we are talking about all-time great players ... I am not saying he was greatest but he isn't usually mentioned when we have conversations about great players ..

76 goals 66 goals 55 goals 68 goals and 61 goals in a 5 year stretch ... Not bad .. The year he scored 76 goals only one other player had 50 ..

I don't consider Espo to be one of the greatest players. He did basically one thing and that was stand in the slot and use his famous snap shot to score goals. He had two great corner men in Hodge and Cashman and when Orr had that season of 102 assists, I would bet Espo was on the receiving end of more than a few passes.

Great goal scorer indeed - one of the greatest players, no.

 

[Neverenuff$]

like I typed Bobby did....

make Phil Esposito look good,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[TechSeller]

Orr looks like he could still play today. I agree with those that feel he was the best and without the bad knees, there is no debate.

Anyone read "Finding Bobby Orr" by Stephen Brunt? From all accounts a must-have for any Orr fan.

 

[amber-jade]

i met him a few years ago,
now i have a signed print of '' the goal ''

i was very young when he played hockey
(like 1 or something when he retired..lol)
but still sort of cool


.

 

[blueline]

Even Orr could handle himself very well - ask Pat Quinn about the two decisive losses he took from Orr, never mind that infamous hit on Orr. Man on man Orr took care of him.

Thought I would post this picture before anyone came back and said "oh yea - no way Orr took Quinn"

Oh I loved it, I think I may have to get me a copy of this picture...... lol

http://cgi.ebay.ca/BOBBY-ORR-FIGHT-...50129QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

 

[hooktonsc]

Espo was lucky to have Orr, but it worked both ways. His 76 goal mark looked like it was never going to be broken until Gretzky came in (even then it seemed unlikely, since Gretzky was known more for assists). In '72, he was the best player on team Canada, IMHO, and in the opinions of several of that Russians on that squad.

 

[shack]

Oh - and who exactly were these goons? They were known as the Big Bad Bruins but they certainly paled in comparison to the Broadstreet Bullies or the Hanson Brothers. Those two cup winning teams 1970 and 1972 were loaded with stars, many who could do more than merely drop their gloves. You do know the Bruins set a ton of scoring records in the 1970-71 season, so they obviously had more going for them than goonery. McKenzie, Hodge, Sanderson, Cashman, etc were all tough and terrific hockey players in that era. Even Orr could handle himself very well - ask Pat Quinn about the two decisive losses he took from Orr, never mind that infamous hit on Orr. Man on man Orr took care of him. Was Orr a goon? Hey John ferguson was as tough as they come but I would never consider him a goon. He had some productive seasons.

When I hear goons of the 70's I think of Schultz, Saleski, Dupont, Kelly etc. Add in a guy like Steve Durbano, etc. Guys who were known more for using their fists and initimdation rather than their hockey skills. The BB Bruins could intimidate you as well, but the guys who did were among their best players, unlike the Flyers. You can add up all the points of those 4 Flyers and they barely break 100 combined. Those Bruins I listed above were among the team leaders in PIM and points.

I just have to disagree with the Bruins being known as goons. Don't foget too, that era in the 1970's was known for brawls, many of the bench clearing, Slap Shot type, especially in the WHA. I would like to think that you would agree that many of the 'tough guys' in that era were also decent hockey players, unlike many of them today. Guys who would take a regular shift, play on the top lines and contribute offensively, unlike the 'goons' of today who sit for 55 minutes a game.

Now calm down a second bl.

First of all they weren't called the Big Bad Bruins for nothing. Granted, they weren't nearly as bad as the Flyers but they did set the standard for their time. In 1970 Cashman, Mckenzie, Sanderson, Hodge and Awrey all had over 100 minutes in penalties. I'm not saying they weren't talented but they were all plenty dirty. Lots of stickwork from guys like Turk and Cashman. Ted Green was plenty dirty as well. Carol Vadnais in '72 had 127 PIM and knew how to use his stick. Ace Bailey had 89 PIM in 57 games. From what I recall they were the team that caused a lot of the bench clearing brawls because they were the first team that used a gang attack mentality. Fight one, fight 'em all.

You have to remember when there were only 12 teams nobody could make it in the league without having talent and everybody had to stick up for themselves in those days so just about everyone was tough. But Boston had a lot of dirty players. Orr was definitely tough but was in no way dirty. Don Marcotte was also tough but relatively clean. Ed Westfall was tough but clean. But they still had lots of dirty players and prior to the Flyers they were the gooniest team.

 

[hunter001]

Good Orr fight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3AhKTaenqQ&feature=related

Tribute video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYqrRh-Tzo

 

[blueline]

You have to remember when there were only 12 teams nobody could make it in the league without having talent and everybody had to stick up for themselves in those days so just about everyone was tough.

Just as I said. Doesn't make them goons to the extent of how the Flyers operated. The 4 Bruins I named went on the ice and you knew there was a very good chance they could do something productive. When any of the four Flyers I named came on the ice, you expected some kind of circus act to follow. The tough guys on the Bruins were tough when they had to be. You start trouble, you touch Orr, they finished it. You could say that about any team, touch their star and you got it. Semenko made a living off of it. The Flyers tough guys were mostly known for one thing and that was to stir up trouble. Big difference. I'd hardly refer to Carol Vadnais as a goon .... lol. Stick work, brawls etc was pretty much the norm in that era. I also wouldn't refer to Wayne Maki as a goon just because he swung his stick at Terrible Ted. Tough hockey players are not necessarily goons, especially the ones who can play the game. You are equating stick swinging incidents (how many were there by the way?) to that of a goon acting out and that is inaccurate stereotyping of all players who did it. I suppose Ciccarelli is a goon because he swung a stick at Luke Richardson. I recall an incident involving Dave Forbes of the Bruins and Henry Boucha of the North Stars. Forbes attacked him as they came out of the box, but I'd hardly call Forbes a goon. Things happen in the heat of the moment by the mildest of players, it doesn't make them a goon.

As for the Bruins starting all the bench clearing brawls, I think you are reaching there. What is the first thing you would see when a fight broke out in that era? Everyone on the ice would drop thier gloves and find a partner. Jumping over the boards was a pretty common practice you would see in many games, not just Bruins games. Sorry, Bruins were not goons, at least no more than many other teams of that era.

 

[shack]

Just as I said. Doesn't make them goons to the extent of how the Flyers operated. The 4 Bruins I named went on the ice and you knew there was a very good chance they could do something productive. When any of the four Flyers I named came on the ice, you expected some kind of circus act to follow. The tough guys on the Bruins were tough when they had to be. You start trouble, you touch Orr, they finished it. You could say that about any team, touch their star and you got it. Semenko made a living off of it. The Flyers tough guys were mostly known for one thing and that was to stir up trouble. Big difference. I'd hardly refer to Carol Vadnais as a goon .... lol. Stick work, brawls etc was pretty much the norm in that era. I also wouldn't refer to Wayne Maki as a goon just because he swung his stick at Terrible Ted. Tough hockey players are not necessarily goons, especially the ones who can play the game. You are equating stick swinging incidents (how many were there by the way?) to that of a goon acting out and that is inaccurate stereotyping of all players who did it. I suppose Ciccarelli is a goon because he swung a stick at Luke Richardson. I recall an incident involving Dave Forbes of the Bruins and Henry Boucha of the North Stars. Forbes attacked him as they came out of the box, but I'd hardly call Forbes a goon. Things happen in the heat of the moment by the mildest of players, it doesn't make them a goon.

As for the Bruins starting all the bench clearing brawls, I think you are reaching there. What is the first thing you would see when a fight broke out in that era? Everyone on the ice would drop thier gloves and find a partner. Jumping over the boards was a pretty common practice you would see in many games, not just Bruins games. Sorry, Bruins were not goons, at least no more than many other teams of that era.

By your definition then there were no, or very, very few goons before the Flyers came around. My point is that the Big Bad Bruins were the dirtiest team before the Flyers. It's hard to dispute that. Hence, back to my original point of not appreciating Orr enough because he played for the widely despised Bruins. (I know they had their loyal fans and supporters but so did the Flyers.)

 

[blueline]

By your definition then there were no, or very, very few goons before the Flyers came around.

That about sums it up - yes.

My definition of a goon is a guy who sits on the bench most of the game, jumps on the ice and you expect to see a fight or some kind of an incident. (eg. Dave Schultz and more recently Peter Worrell, Andrew Peters, Brian McGratton, Wade Belak, Cam Janssen, our own 21pro )

I can't think of any Bruin player on those cup teams who played that role.

 

[shack]

That about sums it up - yes.

My definition of a goon is a guy who sits on the bench most of the game, jumps on the ice and you expect to see a fight or some kind of an incident. (eg. Dave Schultz and more recently Peter Worrell, Andrew Peters, Brian McGratton, Wade Belak, Cam Janssen, our own 21pro )

I can't think of any Bruin player on those cup teams who played that role.

Really it's just a matter or semantics. The Bruins had a bunch of dirty players if you prefer that over the term goons. It doesn't change my original point.