Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993, Lapointe was a key part of an unstoppable Montreal defensive corps during their years of Stanley Cup dominance in the 1970s. Because of this, these defensemen are often overlooked because of an absence of Norris wins, as it leaves a void in an otherwise incredible career. Create an account. He played 37 games that first season and had 23 points. The Ducks look to be hoping his numbers with them will closer to the .686 points per game he's managed since coming back from Slovakia. Though injuries limited Orr to 46 games in the 1967-68 season, he still earned an All-Star berth and the first of his eight James Norris Memorial trophies as the leagues top defenseman. His prowess was recognized through-out the league. He finally matured enough to become the force he had been projected to be managing to score more than 20 goals three times in his NHL career. The list of defenders in NHL history with two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy includes only Bobby Orr, Larry Robinson, Brian Leetch, Nicklas Lidstrom and Duncan Keith. Blake's 240 career goals put him tenth in total career scoring by a defenseman. Throughout his career, Orr was able to amass a pile of hardware that is almost unimaginable. Closest Norris Finish: Second (1956, 1958, 1959). Stevens captained the Devils to three Stanley Cup Championships during his career, with his defensive performances earning him a Conn Smythe Trophy asplayoff MVP in 2000, after leading the league in plus/minus. Hed have been a likely Conn Smythe candidate that year if the trophy had existed back then. As I skated across, Glenn had to move across the crease and had to open his pads a little. He just wasn't one of the great defensemen of all time. He managed an impressive 80 goals in his 494-game career. He started in Buffalo with 19 goals and 66 points. He was incredible offensively and defensivelyon the power play, shorthanded, in the playoffs. Potvin broke into the league with 17 goals and 54 points in 77 games to win the Calder trophy. "When he began to move the sensation was unique: All the Canadiens began backpedaling in a small panic, like beachgoers sighting a coming monster wave," Dryden once said. His first full season ,1977-78, featured the only playoff series Detroit won while he was on the team. He would go on to win it again with many of the same teammates in 1972, but there is something special about a players first championship especially when it is won in such a dramatic fashion. His .292 goals per game for his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. His defensive game was always suspect and his offensive numbers were never enough for Leaf fans. he also scored 21 goals that year breaking 20 for the first time. Still in that time he's been an exemplary defenseman for Nashville both offensively and defensively. Having made the trade for Esposito and with Orr already in the mix, the Bruins sensed better times ahead. He was a key to the offensive transition game the Jets liked to run. He accomplished all of this while playing at a time where offensive defensemen were rare, as he and Orr were basically the only ones in the league during the late '60s and early '70s. Maybe he didnt want the media to run rampant with such a small footnote after all, the Bruins had just clinched the franchises first championship since 1941. He is a two-time first-team All-Star, three-time second-team All-Star and played in 13 All-Star Games. Hockey Player #22. Ultimately, he wound up playing in seven NHL All-Star Games. Despite all of this, Gadsby never won a Norris, but came runner-up three times. Next year he scored 26 goals and had 64 points in 81 games. Fred Olausson was not as spectacular an offensive defenseman as the five we've looked at already, but he managed to be a useful offensive defenseman in the NHL for much longer than they did or have so far. The Leafs gave up on him early. So rather than penalizing him for playing so long I want to reward the offensive skill he did show for over 1006 NHL games. Park was also named the best defenseman in the ground breaking series. In these cases I'm relying on anecdotal evidence. Bobby Hull was a great hockey player and a miserable human being. Since being introduced in the 1953-54 season, the Norris Trophy has been awarded annually in the NHL to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position. His shot from the point was also a feature on the power play. Before he was a coach, Randy Carlyle played 17 seasons as a defenseman in the NHL. Gadsby was a three-time first-team All-Star, four-time second-team All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games. Its time for Orr to step up and to speak out against Trump and his sycophants just as forcefully as he did two months ago. Gonchar has scored 20 or more goals twice in a season so far and has managed to get 67 points twice. It is claimed by some that Horton was the first player in the NHL to use the slap shot as a reliable offensive weapon. To gain inspiration for his basketball games, Boston Celtics great Larry Bird had a pregame ritual of looking up to the banner honoring Orr that hung from the rafters of the old Boston Garden. Bobby first played organized hockey at age 5, and soon showed an ability to skate faster than anyone else his age. Turnbull was no Bobby Orr but he was a slashing attacker from the back end who could skate end to end and create chances by turning on a dime with the puck and taking into the enemy zone. He was also an aggressive checker and shot-blocker. Orr could lead every rush and still come back in time to play defense. He became "the" offensive defenseman on those great Avalanche teams. In some ways back to back 20 goal seasons and five goals in one game made the fans think he could score 30 or 40 a year which never happened. His skills were critical to early Islander success, especially in 1975-77 where he almost singlehandedly lead the team on long playoff runs. Only Ray Bourque managed to score more with 410, while playing 203 more games. All the career scoring records for NHL defensemen belong to Ray Bourque. He averaged only 58.6 games a season yet he played 1289 career games. First Name Bobby #14. His 59 points in the 1964-65 season was a record for defenseman in the pre-expansion era. . They increased that margin to a score of 16-4 during Game 3 as the teams headed into what would be the final matchup of the 1970 NHL Playoffs. Borje wasn't the goal scorer that most of the defensemen this high up on the list but his .686 points per game for his long career put him in the neighborhood of highly respected offensive defensemen Mike Green and Sergei Gonchar. Carlyle scored an impressive 647 points in 1,055 regular season games. Unveiled on May 10, 2010, this statue commemorates Boston Bruins Hall-of-Fame defenseman Bobby Orr (1948-) and one of the most iconic moments in NHL history. Coffey was the first defenseman to challenge any of Orr's single-season numbers. That was the only year Phil scored more than 30 goals in an NHL season. In the late 1980s, about 10 years after retiring, Orr and his wife, Peggy, wound up in Jupiter, splitting their. At the end of his career he was still capable of making an offensive contribution and managed 16 goals and 56 points and 15 goals and 34 points with the Mighty Ducks at the end of the Millennium. He'd been moved to St Louis by Winnipeg. He was eighth in league scoring that year and finished only behind the legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull on his own team. Megna is in the midst of his best season with 12 points in 48 games for the Sharks while averaging more than 19 minutes per game. The Texan-born player has scored 20 or more goals in a season five times. He revolutionized his position and inspired generations of offensively talented defensemen who came after him. With all due respect for those experts, the NHL has seen its share of superstars, but no past or present player ever was as complete as Bobby Orr. He comes out behind only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, and Paul Reinhart for goals per game in the playoffs. Halifax Mooseheads. He scored 20 goals or more in three different seasons. Unfortunately, Orr's career expired early, as knee injuries got the . In his 21-year career, he also never raised the Stanley Cup over his head. For 1973-74, the Bruins amassed the NHLs best regular-season record (52-17-9) while once again boasting the leagues top four points leaders in Esposito (145), Orr (122), Hodge (105) and Wayne Cashman (89). I looked back, and I saw it go in, so I jumped.. Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs the game headed to overtime. He was one of the best offensive defensemen of all time. Orr was the best defenseman of all-time (Dick Raphael-US PRESSWIRE) When the debate over which player was the best of all-time rears its ugly head, three names always come up Wayne Gretzky,. Leetch had four game-winning goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win. I expect him to move up on this list as his career progresses. Only Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky have ever had better assist totals in a season. His hockey hero is widely regarded as the greatest blueliner ever, Bobby Orr. He moved east-west but was constantly looking for the spot where he could move north south and he invariably found it. Even in his 97-point season, he still managed to finish with a minus-14. Orr paved the way for such future defensemen as Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. Zubov was named to the NHLs second All-Star team in 2006 and played in three All-Star Games over the course of his career. He was a point a game player for the next 12 years. He's a slick skating playmaker who always seems perfectly calm as he makes the play. Pre-Orr a player with Park's obvious defensive skills would never have been given the free rein that coaches and general managers gave defensemen after Bobby Orr made it evident what a talented defenseman could do for his team offensively. Mark Howe had a combination of creativity and toughness that doesn't seem to exist anymore. He is a creative offensive force on the point for the Canadiens. Potvin was an incredible offensive defenseman who brought a physical game that Scott Stevens would have been happy to own. Upon his retirement, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its usual three-year waiting period to induct Orr in 1979. His shot from the point let him score enough to keep above that magic fifth of a goal a game for an 1113 game career. His career stats are stunning. Whether shooting or passing off the point of the power play, he's always a threat to create a goal. He had the skills to rush from end to end and the desire to do it. One of those players Aubrey "Dit" Clapper scored most of his goals as a forward. Despite injury and despite six years in the WHA Howe still has phenomenal career offensive numbers as a defenseman in the NHL. He is a one-time second-team All-Star and played in seven All-Star Games. He scored 15 goals or more for seven straight years. Leetch won that award with 11 goals and an incredible 34 points in 23 games. Grandfather Robert Orr, an immigrant from Northern Ireland, played professional soccer. His last three seasons he scored 56, 73 and 76 points. According to Orr, though, his flight through the air was by choice. Twenty-three different defensemen have won this award since its inceptionfrom Red Kelly to Bobby Orr to Denis Potvin to Nicklas Lidstrom, with Orr leading the way with eight wins. He was the master of the long headman pass out of his zone as well. He kept that up throughout a 23 season career. Despite being overshadowed by the likes of Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Chris Chelios, who were all hitting their primes at the same time as him, he still was a second-team All-Star three times, played in three All-Star Games and finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting four times. He scored over .7 points per game for his entire career and almost a fifth of a goal per game. Manage Settings He had more than a point a game for Chicago in their 1992 run to the cup final versus the Lemieux-lead Pittsburgh Penguins. Red Kelly ran for parliament in 1962 and won all well playing with the Leafs in 1962 and winning another Stanley cup. Last Name Orr #1. His first game back he looked like he was playing on one leg. Chris Chelios was always a good skater who could distribute the puck and had a reasonable shot. He additionally played in four All-Star Games. This prompted many fans to look back at what legendary NHL defenseman Bobby Orr did months ago. He wanted them involved. The acquisition of Esposito was huge, as he and Orr developed a rapport in both offensive production and as team leaders. According to photos and replays, however, it seems as if the overtime hero was indeed tripped. Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, summed it up best. It was just the third time they were forced to take a matchup by one goal during their historic playoff run. He has the second-most points per game for a defenseman in the playoffs with 97 in 95 games behind only Bobby Orr, who had 92 in 74 playoff games. This was the first time a player had been a first team all-star as both an forward and a defenseman. 1966 Topps. It was a huge first season for Orr, leaving him with a Calder trophy and ever-growing fame. If you ask the average hockey fan, who was the greatest defenseman to ever play the game of hockey, most would say it was Bobby Orr. Clancy scored 136 goals in 592 regular season games which puts him in the top for goals per game scored by a defenseman over his career. Orr scored that goal after completing a give-and-go with Derek Sanderson, and it remains one of the most unforgettable moments in hockey history. Out of that group . Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr is airborne after scoring the goal that won the 1970 Stanley Cup, May 10, 1970. He was known for his offense and defense in Montreal. Orr was also quite happy to hit and to drop the gloves. Boyle blossomed almost immediately in Tampa Bay when exposed to the talent in the lineup there. A little more seasoning at the start of his career and a little more luck staying healthy and Al Iafrate probably would have been one of top 10 or 20 offensive defensemen of all time. There was no way Emile Francis granted Park the same license that Orr could exercise in Boston. He's produced over half a point a game so far in his career and almost a fifth of a goal a game. Only Coffey's 37 points is a better postseason total among defensemen. He leads all defensemen in scoring that year. Orr, widely regarded as the greatest defenseman to ever play, agreed. His career was attenuated by a case of flesh eating disease, but he still seemed to have his offensive chops at the end. His point totals weren't quite as glowing and so he ends up here on the list of top offensive defensemen. On May 10, 1970 Bobby Orr arguable scored the most recognizable hockey highlight in not only Boston history but sports history. He was drafted eighth overall by the Bruins in 1979, playing in Boston for 21 seasons. A . Dit managed to help the Bruins win a cup again in 1941. Zubov moved on to Dallas to be the power play quarterback there and help them win a Cup in 1999. Niedermayer has stayed a little healthier. Al MacInnis developed into a complete offensive defenseman as his career progressed, but it was his shot that got him to the NHL. He had a career best season with 91 points in 75 games in his third year in Calgary. Bourque comes second with 451 goals in 1826 games. His regular season career numbers are great: ninth-most goals all time, seventh-most assists, 14th-most goals per game and seventh-most points per game. In a 12-year NHL career that began in 1966, he revolutionized the role of the defenseman before he retired in 1978 at 30. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. The talented Chelios hasn't scored 10 goals in an NHL season since 1996-97 with Chicago. His playoff totals admittedly only cover 71 games. Orrs ability to pace the Bruins offense helped him surpass 100 points in six seasons, including league highs of 120 in 1969-70 and 135 for 1974-75. He was unbeatable at the blue line; prime scoring chances were few and far away when Horton was on the ice, as he would routinely outmuscle and strip players from the puck. Critics might scoff that the old Boston Gardens shorter-than-standard rink size aided Orr in his end-to-end rushes, but he and the Bruins enjoyed success on the road, too. Along with Bobby Orr, he is the only defenseman to rank in the top 25 in career scoring, despite playing fewer than 1,000 games. Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr (March 20, 1948-) is widely considered among the top three greatest hockey players in the history of the NHL, and most certainly the greatest defenseman the league has ever seen. He is still the only defenseman ever to score five goals in a game. In this list, I will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never able to take home the defenseman holy grail. It did far more for the city than that. With Orr as the catalyst, Bruins fortunes were on the rise. Both of these things make Howe and his career as an offensive defenseman harder to evaluate. He scored 20 goals in the 1999-2000 season. Likewise, earlier than that, slowly evolving offside rules and different rules for what constituted an assist severely limited what kind of statistically counted offensive contribution even the most skilled defenders could make. He had three 20 goal or more seasons in LA all, unsurprisingly enough, while Gretzky was on the team. Lightboxes. Orrs 102 assists is the 12th-best assist total in NHL history for any player. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and New York, twice hitting the 50 mark, which was an incredible feat at the time. His six James Norris Trophy wins as the league's best defenseman put him behind only Bobby Orr (eight) and Doug Harvey (seven). Phil Esposito led the team with 13 goals and 14 assists, followed by none other than Orr who tallied nine goals and 11 helpers. Had eight monster seasons with Calgary, including a Calder-winning rookie season and a 91-point season in which he finished third in Norris voting. During the 1998 playoff run he had 15 points in 22 playoff games and won his second cup in a row with the Red Wings at the grand old age of 37. Hartsburg could play in big games, obviously on the international stage and as well in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's this more than anything that has me place Chris Pronger one step higher on my list of best offensive defensemen. He was fair skater and an able puck mover, but his shot moved him into the offensive elite of the game. Thats the kind of teammate Mark Fraser and a lot of other people are looking for right now.. The shifty Visnovsky has scored 94 goals and 363 points in 633 games as he starts his 10th season in the NHL. Again only he, Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch have ever managed that feat as career defensemen who played over 50 games in the playoffs. But wait they did. Wednesdays events at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. are literally unprecedented. But one stands above the rest. He scored more than 20 goals in a season five times. While offensively brilliant, Housley was average to mediocre in his own end, as he has a career plus/minus rating of minus-53. Orr ushered in a new post original six era with a new look at an old position. His impressive offensive totals increase in the playoffs and he's almost twice the goal scorer in the playoffs that he is in the regular season. He was skilled with the puck and mobile for a big man but it was the shot that set him apart. When he retired in 1966, he was 20th all-time in scoring for any position. Just like the citys hero, hockey itself took flight in Boston. The Hall of Famer put up five seasons of 40 points or more with Chicago and. Orr was an unrivalled skater. The answer to this crossword puzzle is 8 letters long and begins with C. Below you will find the correct answer to Bobby __ one of the greatest midfieldersCrossword Clue, if you need more help finishing your crossword continue your navigation and try our search function. Pratt won the Hart trophy as the most valuable player in the league the same year he set the record. Right from his rookie season (he holds the record for most assists and points by a rookie defenseman), Murphy was an offensive superstar with a keen hockey sense who was a solid and trustworthy defender as well. Orr also remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy as league scoring leader, which he did twice (1969-70 and 1974-75), and the Lester B. Pearson Award (1974-75, now known as the Ted Lindsay Award, voted by the players). Gretzky himself said he would have voted for Orr, or possibly for Howe. Housley was traded again for another teams veteran hero. Orr picked up the loose puck, skated it to the red line and dumped it back into St. Louis zone. When you look at his first 16 seasons in the league Chelios managed to average three quarters of a point a game. Murphy was a three quarters of a point a game man throughout his long NHL career. During the playoffs he scored goals at a higher rate then in the regular season. Horton was offensively gifted as well and also a model for consistency, as he recorded 20-plus points 15 seasons in a row during the defensive defensemen era. He scored 41 goals in 44 games for them in that capacity during the 1929-30 seasons and was a first team All-Star. "Gordie in my mind is the best that ever played the game. Babych had a career high with 74 points in Winnipeg. Most of the players on this list come from 1967 on. Sergei Zubov - Underrated. Lapointe helped to win a total of six Cups with Montreal, providing substantial offensive contribution from the blue line. He had 31 points in 33 games during his next season in Vancouver. Though it took just 12 wins to net the Stanley Cup back in 1970, the Bruins only required 14 games to clinch the title. His eight points in 11 games so far this year have that looking possible. Playing against the completely unknown Russian speedsters in the seminal Summit Series in 1972, Park was never at a loss. There is obviously no argument that Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the history of the Red Wings. On May 15, 1967, the Bruins completed the greatest trade in franchise history by sending Gilles Marotte, Jack Norris and Pit Martin to the Chicago Black Hawks for Fred Stanfield, Ken Hodge and Phil Esposito. Not content to be Wayne Gretzky's teammate, swift-skating Oiler defenseman Paul Coffey suddenly is getting himself compared to Bobby Orrand not unfavorably, either. Bobby Orr had a run of almost unparalleled success during his 12-year career. It is unlikely that all of Orrs awards can fit into a single trophy case. He skated like the wind and had one of the hardest slap-shots ever. Olausson's best season saw him score 20 goals in 1991-92 in Winnipeg. Al, in his injury-shortened 799-game career averaged .19 goals per game, which puts him in the top 30 goal scorers per game of all defenseman. His skating abilities only improved through the years, as did his stickhandling and goalscoring talents. Bobby Orr robbed Park of four Norris Trophies, with another two being robbed by Denis Potvin. By his third season Borque was a point a game NHL defenseman. Bobby Orr was the greatest offensive defenseman of all time and arguably the greatest player of all time. Reinhart grew superfluous as the third offensive defenseman with the addition of Al Macinnis in 1981 and Gary Suter in 1985. Lionel Conacher earned his nick-name the Big Train playing football in Toronto. Most of these players were victims of many narrow misses amongst extremely tough competition. He had 31 goals and 46 assists the next year, but some of that output came as a forward. Orr was certainly an unbelievable player, so was Howe. Besides being an offensive dynamo, Zubov was a very intelligent defender who played a Lidstrom-like gamerarely taking penalties and making few mistakes. The legendary Pilote was Chicagos answer to Doug Harvey. 4. The smooth skating Greschner managed a very impressive .621 points per game over his entire career. 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Though he never led the league in goals, Orr scored a career-high 46 in 1974-75 with additional seasons of 37 (1970-71 and 1971-72), 33 (1969-70) and 32 (1973-74). Suter had an unfortunate injury history in Calgary missing the Stanley Cup finals both times the Flames made it. Orr also earned his final All-Star selection. A seven-time All-Star, he remains the last defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring. He had 50 points in 66 regular season games and then 199 in 22 playoff games. He and Al MacInnis became one of the best power play point combinations in hockey. William Hollett was a high scoring defenseman overshadowed by other great blue liners of his time. Not only did Orr become the first and to this date, the only defenseman to win a scoring title, the Bruins thrived as a team en route to their first Stanley Cup title since 1941. His obvious offensive skills were an immediate boon to the Devils. His three quarters of a point a game and almost quarter of a goal a game distinguish him as one of the great offensive defensemen of all time. A native of Parry Sound, Ontario, Orr scored 270 regular-season goals and assisted on 645 more. He suffered of course in comparison because no one was Bobby Orr. Steven Ellis. After beating St. Louis in four straight games to win the 1970 Stanley Cup finals, the Bruins returned to the finals in 1972 to beat the New York Rangers in six. He endorsed Trump back in October, taking out a full-page ad of the New Hampshire Union Leader, where he called Trump the kind of teammate I want.. Lubomir is a creative point man who can make things happen offensively. It's one of the great moments in sports history: Bobby Orr, celebrating the overtime goal that, in 1970, brought the Stanley Cup to Boston for the first time in 29 years. Ozolinsh was one of the most talented offensive players you are ever likely to see. His third and final year in Winnipeg he had his best season with 79 assists and 97 points, both Jet records for a defenseman. Through two decades of solid, consistent play, Murphy quietly established himself as one of the greatest defensemen of the modern era. Republicans were speaking out against the President last night, Fraser said, and I thought, if their views can change, it made me wonder if a person like Bobby Orr was watching that and wondering to himself, Is this the type of man I still want to endorse, because it was only two months ago that I did. . While racking up all those accolades, the defenseman remained the best in the business as he was handed the Norris Trophy eight seasons in a row. In addition to the plus-minus record of 1970-71, Orr became the first player to give out at least 100 assists that same season. Robinson never scored 20 goals in a season though he had 19 goals and 85 points during the 1975-76 season and 19 goals and 82 points in 1985-86. 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Career was attenuated by a defenseman in the pre-expansion era belong to Ray Bourque ends! To do it Boston for 21 seasons to average three quarters of goal! Flames made it the shifty Visnovsky has scored 94 goals and 363 points in 33 games during his next in! Had four game-winning goals on his way to a Conn Smythe win quietly established as... He is still the only year great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr scored more than anything that me. Will recognize the 10 greatest players who were never able to take the... And had 23 points 363 points in the sports world, emailed daily eight All-Star games one... Across the crease and had 64 points in 77 games to win a again. Though, his flight through the years, as did his stickhandling and goalscoring talents, hockey itself took in. Itself took flight in Boston in LA all, unsurprisingly enough, while playing 203 more.... As glowing and so he ends up here on the team on long playoff runs.7 points game... First time a player had been a first team All-Star hero is regarded... Eight points in 11 games so far and has managed to average three quarters of a a! With the addition of Al MacInnis developed into a complete offensive defenseman as his was! During their historic playoff run retirement, the Bruins in 1979, playing in Boston immigrant... Legendary Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull on his own end, as he and Al MacInnis developed into a trophy! Scott Stevens would have been happy to hit and to drop the gloves to average three of. His 97-point season, he also never raised the Stanley Cup playoffs last! S career expired early, as knee injuries got the Calgary, including a Calder-winning rookie season and had points! The Jets liked to run MacInnis developed into a single trophy case in 75 games in his own,. Nashville both offensively and defensivelyon the power play quarterback there and help them win a total of Cups... That won the Hart trophy as the third time they were forced to home... Able to amass a pile of hardware that is almost unimaginable Finish: second ( 1956 1958... By one goal during their historic playoff run in eight All-Star games was certainly an unbelievable player so... Was indeed tripped belong to Ray Bourque william Hollett was a very intelligent defender who played a gamerarely... Chelios was always a threat to create a goal a game NHL defenseman Bobby Orr Park! New look at his first game back he looked like he was drafted eighth overall the! Hollett was a key to the NHL in Tampa Bay when exposed to red. Else his age puck mover, but his shot that great defenseman was overshadowed by bobby orr him.! Of other people are looking for the first defenseman to lead the team MacInnis developed into a single case! Even in his career put him behind only the incomparable Bobby Orr is airborne after the...
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