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Bobby Orr

[awr]

Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC (born March 20, 1948 in Parry Sound, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenseman, and is considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He played for the NHL teams Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks.

Playing career

Born in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, Orr displayed his ice hockey talents at a very early age. He started skating and playing shinny at age four, and 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. In his third season Orr led the Generals to the OHA championship, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and competing in the Memorial Cup Final in 1966. 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 the league's 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. New York Rangers defenseman Harry Howell, the winner of the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman in Orr's rookie year, famously predicted that he was glad to win when he did, because "Orr will own this trophy from now on."

An injury to his right knee 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 later won 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 famous 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 (+124) by any position player. Orr's Bruins were heavy favorites to repeat as cup champions, but were upset by the Montreal Canadiens and their rookie goaltender Ken Dryden. Orr led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup again in 1972, 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 problems would take an increasing toll after 1973. Despite being limited by knee injuries which would later force him to retire early, he continued to dominate the National Hockey League during his career, leading the Bruins to another first place league finish and the Stanley Cup Final 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.

Free agency, and the move to Chicago

At the end of the 1976 season, the Bruins offered Orr one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history, 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. Conventional wisdom in NHL circles has long held that Eagleson never told Orr about the Bruins' offer of part-ownership. That conventional wisdom is belied by Eagleson's public disclosure of the Bruins' ownership offer. For example, the day before Orr signed with Chicago, Eagleson was quoted in the Toronto Star as saying "[Boston] offered a five-year deal at $925,000 or 18.6 percent ownership of the club in 1980." Then on June 9, 1976, after Orr signed with Chicago, Eagleson again disclosed the ownership offer, telling the Toronto Globe and Mail "Orr was to receive $925,000 in cash payable in June 1980. That was to be a cash payment or involve Orr's receiving 18.6 percent of the Bruins stock. Nonetheless, it is beyond dispute that Eagleson misrepresented the Hawks' offer as a better deal. Years later, it emerged that Eagleson had very good relations with Black Hawks owner Bill Wirtz, and frequently colluded with owners he favored to hold down salaries.

Orr subsequently signed with Chicago, but his injuries rendered him too severely hurt to play effectively, and, after playing in only 26 games over the next three seasons, retired in 1979. Famously, he never cashed a Chicago pay check, 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 the following: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy.

Style of play

Orr inspired the game of hockey with his command of the two-way game, which was unique for a defenseman. Defensemen with goal-scoring ability were not common in the NHL prior to his arrival. Orr was unique in that he could score goals as well, and he influenced countless defensemen who followed him. 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 style of hanging back defensive play common in the later 1950s and 1960s, 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. According to longtime Bruins' coach and general manager Harry Sinden, "Bobby became a star in the NHL about the time they played the National Anthem for his first game with us.

Orr also benefited from playing most of his career in Boston Garden, which was nine feet shorter and two feet narrower than the standard NHL rink. This suited his rushing style very well, as he was able to get from one end of the ice to the other faster than in a standard rink.

His style of play was also hard on his knees and shortened his career. "It was the way I played", Orr has said. "I liked to carry the puck and if you do that, you're going to get hit." He, however, does not regret it. "I wish I'd played longer, but I don't regret it." Orr stated in 2008. "I had a style — when you play, you play all-out. I tried to do things. I didn't want to sit back. I wanted to be involved.

Retirement

After more than a dozen knee operations forced Orr's early retirement in 1979, the NHL waived the mandatory three-year waiting period for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and he was enshrined at age 31—the youngest player ever to be inducted, and one of only ten players to get in without having to wait three years. "Losing Bobby", said Gordie Howe, "was the greatest blow the National Hockey League has ever suffered." One of Orr's lasting legacies is that his popularity helped to cement the expansion of the NHL in America and his 4 jersey—which was retired by the Bruins in January 1979—was popular with fans there.

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.

Orr later played a role in the exposure of Eagleson's misconduct over the years. He'd once considered Eagleson a "big brother", but broke with him after suspecting that Eagleson wasn't being truthful with him. In addition to misleading his clients about contract terms, Eagleson used the NHLPA pension fund to enrich himself. Eventually, Eagleson was convicted in American and Canadian courts and sentenced to 18 months in Canadian prison, of which he served six months. Orr was one of 19 former players who threatened to resign from the Hall of Fame if Eagleson wasn't removed. Facing certain expulsion, 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 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. For a number of years, Orr coached a team of top Canadian Hockey League 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.
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 Calder Memorial Trophy in 1967.
Awarded the James Norris Trophy in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
Won the Art Ross Trophy in 1969–70 and 1974–75, the only defenseman to ever lead the league in scoring.
Awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1970 and 1972, the first two-time winner of the playoff MVP award.
Stanley Cup winner in 1970 and 1972.
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.
Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975.
Won Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian athlete of the year in 1970
NHL Plus/Minus leader in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1975, the most in history.
Awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1975.
Named the Canada Cup Tournament MVP in 1976.
Awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1979.
Named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1979.
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979, with the mandatory three-year waiting period waived, making him the youngest inductee at 31 years of age.
Received Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award in 1970.
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.
Voted the 2nd greatest hockey player of all time by an expert committee in 1997 by The Hockey News. He's behind only Wayne Gretzky and ahead of Gordie Howe as well as being named the top defenseman of all time.

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 and also bettered by Mario Lemieux), this is still a record for a defenseman.
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 with 48).

Career statistics

Career highs in each statistical category are marked in boldface.

			Regular Season									Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PP	SH	GW	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1962–63	Oshawa Generals	Metro Jr.A	34	6	15	21	45
1963–64	Oshawa Generals	OHA	56	29	43	72	142					6	0	7	7	21
1964–65	Oshawa Generals	OHA	56	34	59	93	112					6	0	6	6	10
1965–66	Oshawa Generals	OHA	47	38	56	94	92					17	9	19	28	14
1966–67	Boston Bruins	NHL	61	13	28	41	102	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Boston Bruins	NHL	46	11	20	31	63	+30	3	0	1	4	0	2	2	2
1968–69	Boston Bruins	NHL	67	21	43	64	133	+65	4	0	2	10	1	7	8	10
1969–70	Boston Bruins	NHL	76	33	87	120	125	+54	11	4	3	14	9	11	20	14
1970–71	Boston Bruins	NHL	78	37	102	139	91	+124	5	3	5	7	5	7	12	10
1971–72	Boston Bruins	NHL	76	37	80	117	106	+86	11	4	4	15	5	19	24	19
1972–73	Boston Bruins	NHL	63	29	72	101	99	+56	7	1	3	5	1	1	2	7
1973–74	Boston Bruins	NHL	74	32	90	122	82	+84	11	0	4	16	4	14	18	28
1974–75	Boston Bruins	NHL	80	46	89	135	101	+80	16	2	4	3	1	5	6	2
1975–76	Boston Bruins	NHL	10	5	13	18	22	+10	3	1	0	—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL	20	4	19	23	25	+6	2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL	6	2	2	4	4	+2	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
OHA Totals			193	107	173	280	391					29	9	32	41	45
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 Series	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 February 2002. The group represents such surging young talent as Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Marc Staal, Rick DiPietro, Nathan Horton, Jeff Carter, Steve Downie, and Anthony Stewart.

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.