Bobby Orr

Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC (born March 20, 1948 in Parry Sound, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenseman and is considered by many to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Playing career

Born in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, Orr's ice hockey talents were evident at a very early age, and he was signed by Boston Bruins' scout Wren Blair at the age of twelve. As a 14-year-old he played for the Oshawa Generals in the junior league Ontario Hockey Association, competing against eighteen, nineteen and twenty-year-olds. National Hockey League rules dictated that he could not join the Boston Bruins before reaching eighteen. His third season he led the Generals to the OHA championship, and in his final season with Oshawa he averaged two points a game. Prominent Toronto lawyer Alan Eagleson negotiated his first contract with the Bruins. At the time it made Orr the highest-paid player in league history.

In his first professional season — although missing nine games with a knee injury presaging such woes throughout his career — he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as outstanding rookie and, while the perennially-cellar dwelling Bruins finished in last place that season, sparked a renaissance that propelled the Bruins to make the playoffs the following twenty-nine straight seasons, a North American professional sports record. New York Rangers' defenseman Harry Howell, the winner of the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman that season, famously predicted that he was glad to win when he did, because "Orr will own this trophy from now on."

Injuries limited Orr to just 46 games in the 1968 season, but he nonetheless won the first of eight straight Norris trophies. In 1970 he did the unthinkable, doubling his scoring total from the previous season to score 120 points, six shy of the league record and becoming the first (and to date, only) defenseman in history to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer. Besides the Norris and Art Ross, Orr also captured the first of his three consecutive Hart Trophies as regular-season MVP and he later win the Conn Smythe Trophy for his playoff heroics, being the only player in history to win four major NHL awards in one season. He went on to lead the Bruins in a march through the playoffs that culminated on May 10, 1970 when he scored one of the most acrobatic goals in hockey history to give Boston its first Stanley Cup in 29 years. The subsequent image of Orr flying through the air, his arms raised in victory — he had been tripped by Blues' defenseman Noel Picard at the moment of shooting — became a prize-winning photograph and is arguably the most famous and recognized hockey image of all time.

The following year, 1971, in a season where the powerhouse Bruins shattered dozens of league offensive records, Orr finished second in league scoring while setting records that still stand for points in a season by a defenseman and for plus/minus. He would lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup again the following season, leading the league in scoring in the playoffs and scoring the championship-winning goal en route to his second Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

His knee woes would take an increasing toll after 1972. Despite being limited by knee injuries which would later force him to retire early, he dominated the National Hockey League during his career, leading the Bruins to another first place league finish and the Stanley Cup finals in 1974. In a shortened career, he still won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's most outstanding defenseman eight times, more than any other player in NHL history.

In 1976, despite several knee operations that left him playing in severe pain, Orr was named the most valuable player in the Canada Cup international competition.

At the end of the 1976 season, Orr's contract was over and the Boston Bruins needed to renew it. The Bruins offered Orr a lucrative contract, including over 18% ownership in the Bruins organization. However, Eagleson, who by this time was doubling as Orr's agent and executive director of the NHLPA, falsely told Orr that the Chicago Black Hawks had a better deal, something that was not revealed for a number of years. It later emerged that Eagleson had very good relations with Chicago's management, and frequently acted contrary to the interests of his clients in favor of teams whose management he favored.

Orr subsequently signed with Chicago, but his injuries rendered him too severely hurt to play, and — after playing in only 26 games over the next three seasons — retired in 1979. Famously, he never cashed a Chicago pay cheque, stating that he was paid to play hockey and would not accept a salary if he wasn't playing.

Orr retired having scored 270 goals and 645 assists in 657 games, adding 953 penalty minutes. At the time of his retirement, he was the leading defenseman in league history in goals, assists and points, 10th overall in assists and 19th in points. The only players in league history scoring more points per game than Orr are Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy.

Style of Play

Orr revolutionized the game of hockey, creating a new breed of defenseman with his offensive role, and influencing countless others who followed him, such as Brad Park, Dennis Potvin, and Ray Bourque. His speed, most notably a rapid acceleration, and his open ice artistry electrified fans as he set almost every conceivable record for a defenseman. In contrast to the traditional defensemen who hung back, Orr was known for his fluid skating and end-to-end rushing. Orr's rushing enabled him to be where the puck was, enabling him not only to score effectively but also defend when necessary. This explains why Orr was the NHL Plus/Minus leader in six of the nine full seasons he played.

Retirement

Forced to retire after more than a dozen knee operations, the mandatory three-year waiting period was waived and in 1979 he was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame at age 31. He was the youngest player to be inducted and one of only ten players to get in without having to wait three years. He has been honored with his name recorded on Canada's Walk of Fame.

A museum exists in his honor in his home town of Parry Sound called the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. In 1979 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was voted the greatest athlete in Boston history in the Boston Globe newspaper's poll of New Englanders, beating out Ted Williams, Bill Russell, Carl Yastrzemski and Bob Cousy.

Orr later played a role in the exposure of Eagleson's misconduct over the years. It eventually turned out that Eagleson had used the NHLPA pension fund to enrich himself over the years, in addition to misleading his clients about contract terms. He was convicted in American and Canadian courts and sentenced to 18 months in Canadian prison, of which he served six months. Orr, who once considered Eagleson a big brother, was one of several players who threatened to resign from the Hall of Fame if Eagleson wasn't removed. Eagleson resigned from the Hall soon after his conviction in 1998.

Subsequent to his playing career, Orr served briefly as an assistant coach for Chicago, and as a consultant at various points to the NHL and the Hartford Whalers, spending the bulk of his retirement years as a Boston-area bank executive. He is currently a player-agent in Boston. Every year, Orr coaches a team of top CHL players against a similar team coached by Don Cherry in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

Career achievements and facts

Currently 6th all-time by a defenseman in career goals, 11th in career assists and 9th in points.
Currently 51st overall in league history in career assists and 80th in career points.
Besides the Stanley Cup, captured the Norris Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy, and Conn Smythe Trophy in 1970, the only player in history to win four major NHL awards in one season.
Awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1967.
Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
Named to the Second All-Star Team in 1967.
Awarded the James Norris Trophy in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
As a result of Orr's influence, there was talk of creating a separate regular season award for old-style defenseman since it was presumed that the "offensive defenseman" would easily win the Norris Trophy from then on out; however Rod Langway won it twice with his traditional rearguard play.
Won the Art Ross Trophy in 1970 and 1975.
Awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1970 and 1972.
Stanley Cup winner in 1970 and 1972.
Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975.
NHL Plus/Minus leader in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1975.
Awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1975.
Named the Canada Cup Tournament MVP in 1976.
Awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1979.
Received Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award in 1970.
Voted second greatest hockey player of all time by an expert committee in 1997 by The Hockey News.

Records

Most points in one NHL season by a defenseman (139; 1970–71).
Most assists in one NHL season by a defenseman (102; 1970–71).
Highest plus/minus in one NHL season (+124; 1970-71).
Tied for most assists in one NHL game by a defenseman (6; tied with Babe Pratt, Pat Stapleton, Ron Stackhouse, Paul Coffey and Gary Suter).
Held record for most assists in one NHL season from 1971 to 1981 (102; broken by Wayne Gretzky).
Held record for most goals in one NHL season by a defenseman from 1971 to 1986 (37 in 1971, broke own record in 1975 with 46; broken in 1986 by Paul Coffey).

Career statistics

			Regular Season									Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PM	PP	SH	GW	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1963-64	Oshawa	OHA	56	29	43	72	0					6	0	7	7	21
1964-65	Oshawa	OHA	56	34	59	93	0					6	0	6	6	10
1965-66	Oshawa	OHA	47	38	56	94	92					17	9	19	28	14
1966-67	Boston	NHL	61	13	28	41	102	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	--	--	--	--	--
1967-68	Boston	NHL	46	11	20	31	63	+30	3	0	1	4	0	2	2	2
1968-69	Boston	NHL	67	21	43	64	133	+65	4	0	2	10	1	7	8	10
1969-70	Boston	NHL	76	33	87	120	125	+54	11	4	3	14	9	11	20	14
1970-71	Boston	NHL	78	37	102	139	91	+124	5	3	5	7	5	7	12	10
1971-72	Boston	NHL	76	37	80	117	106	+86	11	4	4	15	5	19	24	19
1972-73	Boston	NHL	63	29	72	101	99	+56	7	1	3	5	1	1	2	7
1973-74	Boston	NHL	74	32	90	122	82	+84	11	0	4	16	4	14	18	28
1974-75	Boston	NHL	80	46	89	135	101	+80	16	2	4	3	1	5	6	2
1975-76	Boston	NHL	10	5	13	18	22	+10	3	1	0	--	--	--	--	--
1976-77	Chicago	NHL	20	4	19	23	25	+6	2	0	0	--	--	--	--	--
1978-79	Chicago	NHL	6	2	2	4	4	+2	0	0	0	--	--	--	--	--
NHL Totals			657	270	645	915	953	+597	73	15	26	74	26	66	92	92

International play

Was named to Canada's 1972 Summit Series team, but did not play in a game due to injury
Played for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup

International Statistics

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972	Canada	Summit	0	0	0	0	0
1976	Canada	Canada Cup	7	2	7	9	8

Player Agent

ORR Hockey Group is a Boston based player agent majority owned by Orr and repurchased in Feb 2002. The group represents such surging young talent as Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Rick DiPietro, Nathan Horton, Jeff Carter, Anthony Stewart and Brian Boyle.

Spezza when asked on the experience of having Orr as an agent replied: "I don't think I have a true feeling for how great he is. I have so much respect for him. I watch him on tapes and it's just ridiculous how good he was compared to the guys he was playing against. He's a great guy and you don't even know it's Bobby Orr, the way he talks to you." interview

Cultural references

Orr is mentioned in the They Might Be Giants song "Wicked Little Critta", on their Mink Car album. He is mentioned in a song by The Tragically Hip, "Fireworks", from their 1998 album Phantom Power. The lyrics are: "If there's a goal that everyone remembers it was back in ol' 72 ...You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr..." The song refers to the 1972 Canada-USSR summit series. Actually, Orr missed this tournament because of an injury, although he was on the roster.

External links

Bobby Orr- Official Site
Stockey Center / Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Website
Career Stats

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