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THW's Bruins news for 03/22/2021

March 22, 2021

The latest Bruins stories from The Hockey Writers.

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03/22/2021 edition:

Bruins Have Trade Options For Top-Six Forward

By Scott Roche on Mar 22, 2021 09:57 am

As the NHL trade deadline of April 12 inches closer, the Boston Bruins have some needs that general manager Don Sweeney would like to address. One of those needs is adding a top-six forward to help with their lack of secondary scoring and to possibly provide center David Krejci with some stability with a right wing on the second line.

Last season at the trade deadline, Sweeney added right winger Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks and then got left wing, Nick Ritchie, also from the Ducks. Those two moves did not work out like the two deadline trades Sweeney made in 2019 that landed Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild and Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils. Both of those players played a big part in the Bruins’ playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final.

If the Bruins are going to survive the tough MassMutual East Division and finish in the top four to get a playoff berth, then adding a forward should be the top priority for Sweeney. Here are two players that Boston should look to target and upgrade their top-six forwards.

Rickard Rakell

After working out two deals with the Ducks in 2020, could Sweeney swing a third deal with Anaheim? If so, Rakell is someone who would fit the Bruins need to add secondary scoring and a top-six right wing. He scored 30-plus goals in two consecutive seasons with 33 in 2016-17 before he tallied his career-high in 2017-18 with 34 to go along with a career-high 35 assists. The following two seasons saw a drop in production with 18 goals in 2018-19 and 15 in the shortened 2019-20 season.

This season for the nine-win Ducks, who sit at the bottom of the Honda West Division, he has six goals and 15 assists in 32 games. Adding Rakell to the right side with a playmaker like Krejci would give him more of an opportunity to find the goal-scoring touch he had a couple of seasons ago and solidify the Bruins’ top-six forwards. Rakell has a good contract as he is in the fifth year of a six-year, $22.8 million deal that carries a $3.8 cap hit.

This could be an interesting deal for the Bruins to make. Anaheim’s reported asking price is a young NHL player and a first-round pick and the Bruins have what they are looking for. Jake DeBrusk is a young experienced NHL player with a similar cap hit that Rakell has at $3.67 million and is under contract for next year. Sweeney has not been afraid to move his first-round pick either. He sent the Bruins 2020 first-rounder to the Ducks last season in the Kase deal, along with David Backes and defensive prospect Axel Andersson.

Bobby Ryan

In the offseason, Ryan was an option in free agency for the Bruins, but they ended up passing on him and he signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Detroit Red Wings. The 34-year-old right wing has six goals and seven assists in 29 games this season with 67 shots on net. If Boston acquires him, he would immediately lead their bottom-nine right wings in points.

Ryan was selected second overall in 2005 by the Ducks and the 14-year veteran, who has 18 career playoff goals, would slide next to Krejci on the second line. He is not the 30-goal scorer he was for the Ducks earlier in his career, but he is having a bounce-back season with the struggling Red Wings and would be a good addition to this Bruins team for a postseason run.

In November of 2019, he took a leave of absence from the Ottawa Senators to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program citing issues with alcohol. He returned to the Senators for eight games and scored four goals before the NHL paused its season on March 12 due to the coronavirus.

Bruins Have Options

Sweeney has tried to solve the secondary scoring woes they have had the two seasons without much success. Rakell and Ryan are two right wings that both would slide into the top-six. A move by Sweeney is almost necessary at this point with the Bruins lacking secondary scoring following their top two lines. Both of these players are what they could use and both have good contracts to take on, with Rakell under contract for next season and Ryan on an extremely cheap expiring contract.

Today in Hockey History: March 22By Greg Boysen on Mar 22, 2021 08:35 amMarch 22 has seen quite a bit of National Hockey League history over the years. One of the league’s oldest franchises did plenty on this date. In addition, we witness one of the scariest plays in NHL history as well as some record-setting performances. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the best this date has had to offer.Bruins Own the DayThe Bruins have had a long and storied history as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” teams. Some of the biggest names to ever wear the B’s sweater made their mark on the game on this date.Goaltenders playing an entire season was a very common practice during the first few decades of the league. While the backup goaltender position has become an important one in today’s game, it was pretty much obsolete for many years.On March 22, 1964, Bruins goaltender Eddie Johnston became the last goaltender in NHL history to ever play every minute of every game in a season. He started his 70th straight game in the season’s final contest against the Chicago Blackhawks and lost 4-3. He finished the season with an 18-40-12 record with a 3.01 goals-against average (GAA) for the last-place Bruins.Six years later, Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr had two goals and a pair of assists in a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. The two goals made him the first blueliner in NHL history to score 30 goals in a single season. His two helpers gave him 78, which broke the single-season league record set by his teammate Phil Esposito the previous season. Johnny Buyck also made history on this evening by becoming the first player to score 300 goals as a member of the Bruins.No hard feelings after Orr broke Esposito’s record/ (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)Orr wasn’t done on March 22. In 1975, he scored three goals in an 8-2 win over the Washington Capitals. It was the ninth and final hat trick Orr’s career, the most by any defenseman in league history. A Record-Setting Kind of DayGordie Howe finished his season with 49 goals and 46 assists for an NHL record 95 points on March 22, 1953, as Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens tied 1-1. His new scoring record made him the first player to win the Ross Trophy three times and in three straight seasons.Six years later, Canadiens forward Dickie Moore had a goal and an assist to break Howe’s record with 96 points. Jean Beliveau scored twice for a league-leading 45 goals in the 4-2 road win at the New York Rangers. He also had an assist to finish the season with 91 points, breaking his own single-season scoring record for centers.Moore was an elite scorer during his era. (THW Archives)Marcel Dionne scored two goals and added two assists on March 22, 1972, to reach 75 points, a new NHL rookie-record rookie, as the Red Wings won 6-3 at the Los Angeles Kings. He broke the old mark of 72 points, set by Gilbert Perreault of the Buffalo Sabres the previous season.Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins made history on March 22, 1989, in a 5-4 loss to the Capitals. Lemieux became the third player in league history to score 30 power-play goals in a season. This helped the Penguins set the single-season record for power-play goals with 112, breaking the old mark set by the 1987-88 New York Rangers.Luc Robitaille becomes the NHL’s all-time leader for points by a left wing on March 22, 2004, when he has an assist in the Kings’ 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The assist was the 1,370th point of his career, moving him past Bucyk.On March 22, 2018, the Vegas Golden Knights became the first team in NHL history to have 100 points in its expansion season in a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.Goaltenders Take Center StageJacques Plante became the second goaltender in NHL history to win 40 games three times in his career on March 22, 1962, in the Canadiens’ 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Terry Sawchuk was the first netminder to have three 40-win seasons.Jim Rutherford became the first NHL goaltender to play for three teams in one season, on March 22, 1981, when he led the Kings to a 7-5 win at the Winnipeg Jets. He started the season with the Red Wings before being traded to the Maple Leafs and then Los Angeles.Patrick Roy had one of the greatest careers of any NHL goaltender and he accomplished a pair of remarkable feats on this date. On March 22, 1989, he shutout the Quebec Nordiques in an 8-0 Canadiens’ victory to extend his unbeaten streak on home ice to 26 games. He went 24-0-2 during the streak and broke Bill Durnan’s team-record 25-game run (22-0-3) set during the 1943-44 season. Exactly 14 years later, he was in net for the Colorado Avalanche’s 8-1 victory over the visiting Blackhawks. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to put together 13 seasons with at least 30 wins.Roy was one of the best to ever step inside the blue paint. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)Henrik Lundqvist passed Ed Giacomin for the most shutouts in Rangers’ history on March 22 ,2014, with a 2-0 blanking of the New Jersey Devils. With his parents in attendance, he made 21 saves for the 50th shutout of his career.Malarchuk Survives Scariest Play in NHL HistorySabres’ goaltender Malarchuk, became infamous on March 22, 1989, during a game against the St. Louis Blues. Steve Tuttle of the Blues and Uwe Krupp of the Sabres both drove hard to the net. The heavy contact caused Tuttle’s skate to hit Malarchuk in the neck partially slicing his jugular.The spirited game quickly turned into a scene from a grotesque horror movie as blood began to gush onto the ice. The sight caused players on the rink and fans in the stands to become physically ill. Somehow, Malarchuk was able to skate off under his own power.His life was saved by the quick action of Buffalo’s trainer, Jim Pizzutelli, who served as a combat medic for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He lost 1.5 liters of blood and needed 300 stitches to close the wound. He returned to the ice just 10 days later.Caloun Makes Rookie HistoryThe name of Jan Caloun may not ring a bell for many readers, but on March 22, 1996, he made quite the mark on the game. Playing in just his third NHL game, he scored the game-tying goal in the San Jose Sharks’ 2-1 overtime win versus the Calgary Flames. The goal was the fourth of his young career on just his fourth shot. He would finally be stopped in overtime to start his tenure with four goals on five shots for a .800 shooting percentage. After being held off the scoreboard in his next game, he scored in back-to-back games to bring his total to six goals in as many games. He finished up the season with eight goals and 11 points on 11 games. Related – The Greatest Rookie Seasons in NHL HistoryThe quick start to his career did not translate to long-term success. Caloun would only appear in 13 more NHL games, two with the Sharks and 11 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and scored zero goals with just three assists. He did have 43 goals and 86 points in 66 games for the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Hockey League during the 1996-97 season before heading back home to his native Czech Republic. Odds & EndsNewsy Lalonde became the first NHL player to score four goals in a Stanley Cup Final game on March 22, 1921, in the Canadiens 4-2 win over the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey League.Bob Pulford scored the game-winning goal on March 22, 1970, to lead the Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win at the Rangers. This made him the third player in franchise history to score 250 career goals.Bryan Trottier tied Doug Smail’s NHL record for fastest goal from the start of a game on March 22, 1984, by scoring just five seconds after the opening faceoff. The quick start did not result in a win as the New York Islanders and Bruins skated to a 3-3 tie.Mark Messier scored four goals to become the fourth player in Rangers’ history to score 100 points in a season on March 22, 1992, in a 6-3 win over the Devils. This was the 16th hat trick and sixth 100-point season of his career.Messier was just the fourth Ranger to score 100 points. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)Eric Lindros scored his 40th goal of the season to pick up his 600th career point on March 22, 1999, as the Flyers beat the Maple Leafs 3-1.Pat Verbeek became the 28th player to score 500 career goals on March 22, 2000, in the Red Wings’ 2-2 tie with the Flames. He was the first member of the 500-goal club who also amassed 2,000 career penalty minutes.On the same night, Al MacInnis became the fifth defenseman in league history to score 1,100 career points. He scored the game-winning goal in the Blues’ 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. This gave them 47 wins on the season, tying the franchise record.Pierre Turgeon played in his 1,000th NHL game on March 22, 2001, a 3-1 Blues loss to the visiting Avalanche.Happy Birthday to YouHall of Famer and Maple Leafs legend Dave Keon is celebrating his 81th birthday today. He is one of 26 current and former NHL players born on this date including John Marks (73), Pelle Eklund (58), Todd Ewen (55), Tom Poti (44), Mike Smith (39) and Nic Petan (26).Sign up for our regular 'Hockey History Newsletter' for all the best and most significant pieces from the THW Archives.Email *Submit Continue Reading »Bright Side of Bruins’ COVID-19 PostponementsBy Alec Rudolph on Mar 21, 2021 05:35 pmFor the first time this season, the Boston Bruins have a COVID-19 outbreak among their ranks. Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci, Sean Kuraly, David Pastrnak, and Craig Smith have been placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol, and the rest of the team has also been placed under quarantine in Boston until at least March 23, forcing the postponement of two games.#NHLBruins issue update: https://t.co/kqoWTOMNK3— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 20, 2021This is not the ideal way to kick off the second half of the season, especially with the Bruins’ playoff hopes resting on the edge of a knife. However, there is silver lining to be found in this situation. Even with all of the adversity this team has faced this season from brutal divisional play to a seemingly endless stretch of injuries, the Bruins find themselves in a unique position to regroup, refocus, and make a strong push to secure a playoff berth.The Grass Isn’t Always GreenerYes, the MassMutual East Division is the best in the NHL. We knew that the Bruins would face a gauntlet of a schedule as soon as the new divisions were announced. Yes, the Bruins have been incredibly unlucky with injuries on the defensive end. Tuukka Rask’s undisclosed injury and Jarred Tinordi’s probable concussion are just the latest mishaps. However, the other contenders in the East are experiencing hardships of their own.The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers have had far worse luck with exposure to COVID-19 than the Bruins. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov missed four games back in January, and half of the Flyers’ lineup, including Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier, had to miss the 2021 Outdoor Games at Lake Tahoe.Alex Ovechkin missed four games for the Washington Capitals due to his failure to follow the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol. The Capitals were also forced to pay a $100,000 fine for the incident. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)In more recent news, the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins are both dealing with injuries to significant players. Islanders captain Anders Lee will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. (from ‘Islanders’ Anders Lee Out for the Season With a Knee Injury,’ New York Times, 03/17/2021) leads the team not just by title, but in goals as well. His value to that team cannot be overstated, and one can’t help but wonder if his absence will knock the Isles out of the playoffs. Evgeni Malkin is considered “week-to-week” with a lower body injury as well. He and the Penguins were in the middle of a hot streak, having won six straight games before the Bruins defeated them on March 16. It would not be a surprise to see the Penguins fall into a scoring slump with him out.Anders Lee was the Islanders’ co-leading scorer with 12 goals before suffering a season-ending knee injury. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)Imagine, for a moment, the Bruins playing a game of hockey without Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. With that in mind, we should be extremely thankful for their health, and that the Bruins have not been forced to play these upcoming games with a depleted lineup.Meditation HourAlthough the other teams in the East are dealing with their own difficult situations, it is still admittedly frustrating to see this outbreak occur at such a crucial point in the season. The seven remaining contests against the Buffalo Sabres could decide whether or not the Bruins make the playoffs, and spending a few days in quarantine isn’t the best start to their upcoming home stand.But perhaps this is just what the Bruins need to regroup and prepare for a busy April schedule. With everyone in self-quarantine, they all have plenty of time and space to watch some film and gather their thoughts. This mediation hour, if you will, may be a crucial checkpoint in the Bruins’ road to the playoffs.Tuukka Rask now has a few more days to rest up his injury and return to the Bruins’ lineup at full health.(Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)This is a prime opportunity for struggling players like DeBrusk and Smith to clear their heads and get back on the right track (assuming they won’t be traded). Rask, Tinordi, and others can deal with their injuries without worrying about missing more games. The older guys can also rest up for a few days, which could make a huge difference as the season approaches its end. The younger guys can take this chance to show some character and leadership in the face of adversity, and come back to the ice with a new edge to their game. Every player on the Bruins’ depth chart can turn this negative situation into a positive outcome, if they choose. The way the Bruins come out of this quarantine will tell us a lot about this team. The next time they take the ice, keep your eye out for a few things. Expect Marchand to be more of a pest than usual. Expect the young blueliners to be more active on the boards. Expect the Bruins to play angry, with something to prove. As things stand, Boston will face the Islanders as scheduled on March 25, with TD Garden at 12 percent capacity. All the pieces are in place for the Bruins to come out of this quarantine strong and put together a winning streak. Sign up for our regular 'Bruins Newsletter' for all the latest.Email *Submit Continue Reading »Bruins’ Top 5 Draft Picks of the 2000sBy Scott Roche on Mar 21, 2021 01:43 pmOver the last two decades, the Boston Bruins have done very well with some draft picks, and not so well with others. In the last 10 years, the Bruins have made three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and some of those players that contributed to the team’s success were drafted in the previous decade.Related: Bruins’ 10 Best Players of the DecadeWith that said, here are five of the Bruins’ top draft choices in the 2000s. Some are still having success with the team, while some have moved on and are still playing at a high level in the NHL.5. Phil Kessel, 2006A gifted goal scorer, Phil Kessel was selected fifth overall in the first round of the 2006 Draft out of the University of Minnesota. That year, he played in just two games for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League before being assigned to Boston.The Penguins turned Nick Spaling around and used him to get Phil Kessel. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)In three seasons with the Bruins, he scored 66 goals and had 60 assists. His best season in Boston was his final season in 2008-09 with 36 goals and 24 assists. He added six goals in the playoffs for the Bruins, who were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Carolina Hurricanes.Kessel was traded by the Bruins to the Toronto Maple Leafs in September of 2009 for three draft picks, and he immediately signed a five-year contract. The Bruins made good with two of those picks as they selected Tyler Seguin in the first round in 2010 and Dougie Hamilton in the first round of 2011. Jared Knight was the third pick of the deal, and Boston chose him in the second round of 2010.Related: Boston Bruins’ 50-Goal ScorersKessel would spend the next seven seasons with Toronto before he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After four years and two Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, he was traded in June of 2019 to the Arizona Coyotes.4. Milan Lucic, 20062006 ended up being a loaded draft class for the Bruins. Milan Lucic was drafted in the second round at 50th overall. He returned to the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League during the 2006-07 season where he scored 30 goals and had 38 assists before making his way to Boston.Milan Lucic with the Boston Bruins (Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)Lucic was a very physical forward and at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, his game quickly became a staple for the Bruins. He played eight years in Boston with 139 goals and 203 assists. His best regular-season was in 2010-11 when he had 30 goals and 32 assists. In the playoffs that year, he had five goals and seven assists to help the Bruins end a 39-year Stanley Cup drought with a Game 7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on the road. Things went downhill as far as production for Lucic toward his final years in Boston as he had just 18 goals in 2014-15 and that played a role in the Bruins trading him to the Los Angeles Kings in June of 2015. After spending just one season with the Kings, he signed a free-agent deal with the Edmonton Oilers, before being traded last offseason to the Calgary Flames.3. David Krejci, 2004Selected in the second round at 63rd overall, David Krejci has had a nice career for himself in Boston and recently recorded his 700th career point. He spent 2006-07 with the Providence Bruins and had quite the season with 31 goals and 43 assists in the AHL. David Krejci, Boston Bruins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)The following season was split between Boston and Providence, but Krejci made the transition to the NHL full-time in 2008-09. He quickly became one of the Bruins top playmakers and found himself as a top-six forward. His first full season in Boston saw him record a career-high to date with 73 points on 23 goals and 50 assists. During the 2010-11 season, he had 13 goals and 49 assists, before he took his play to another level in 25 playoff games. He scored 12 goals and had 11 assists in the Bruins run to the Stanley Cup championship. He had two goals and four assists against the Canucks and led the NHL in playoff scoring that year.During the 2012-13 playoffs, he had 9 goals and 17 assists for the Bruins, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the Final. Last season, he had four postseason goals and 12 assists as Boston ended up losing in seven games to the St. Louis Blues. This season, Krejci has 13 goals and 30 assists as the second-line center. He has 494 career assists in 935 regular-season games and has become one of the Bruins leaders both on and off the ice.2. Brad Marchand, 2006A third-round pick at 71st overall, Brad Marchand is one of the game’s biggest agitators but has turned into one of the more valuable pieces to the team’s success. He spent three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and two years with the Providence Bruins after being drafted before breaking into the Bruins lineup on a full-time basis in the 2010-11 season.Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)His first full season in Boston saw him score 21 goals and dish out 20 assists. In the playoffs that year, he had 11 goals and 8 assists to help the Bruins raise the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972. He saved his best performance for last as he scored two goals and had an assist in a 4-0 Game 7 win in Vancouver. Marchand has been in trouble with the league and served multiple suspensions over his career for on-ice incidents, but he has seemed to have cleaned up his act lately, which is good news for the Bruins. At 32 years old, he has seen his play-making ability go up over the last three years. He had 51 assists in 2017-18, a career-high 64 in 2018-19, and has 59 in 70 games in 2019-20. This season, he is second on the team in goals with 12 and has a team-high 22 assists in 28 games.Related: The NHL’s Top-50 Russians of All-TimeWhile he certainly has had trouble avoiding meetings with the NHL disciplinary office, he has become one of the Bruins top forwards and plays a major role in the team’s success. If continues down this road, he could one day find himself in the conversation for the Hall of Fame. Just maybe. 1.Patrice Bergeron, 2003Drafted 45th overall in the second round, Patrice Bergeron has been one of the best and consistent centers in the league over the last two decades. He broke into the Boston lineup full-time at the beginning of the 2005-06 season and the rest is history. He was named captain of the Black and Gold in January after Zdeno Chara left in free agency to join the Washington Capitals in December.Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) In his 17 years for the Black and Gold, Bergeron has won the Selke Trophy four times and has established himself as one of the leagues best two-way forwards. He currently centers the Bruins top line with Marchand and David Pastrnak.He has 362 goals (111 on the power play) and 532 assists in his career and has played in 1,117 regular-season games. In the 2011 playoffs, he finished tied for third in scoring with 6 goals and 14 assists. He scored two goals in the Game 7 and Cup-clinching win at Vancouver.He has scored 30 goals or more six times in his career, including this year with 31, marking the third straight year of 30 or more. At 35 years old, it’s easy to see him with Marchand and Pastrnak on the Bruins top-line for a few more years.All five of these draft picks are still playing in the league two decades later. Four contributed to the Bruins Stanley Cup championship in 2011, while three are still going strong today for a Bruins team that is sitting on top of the league standings with 100 points during the COVID-19 shutdown. Regardless of what happens, these five players stand above everyone else during the Bruins draft picks of the 2000s.Continue Reading »Boston Bruins Logo HistoryBy Brandon Share-Cohen on Mar 21, 2021 11:05 amThe Boston Bruins: known worldwide as one of the National Hockey League’s Original Six…except they didn’t actually come along until seven years after the league began play. There were also only four teams in the NHL’s original iteration. Whatever. We’ll gloss over that.The Boston Bruins: known worldwide for their classic, Spoked-B logo…except that this logo didn’t appear until a quarter-century into the team’s existence. Along with their seminal crest, the Bruins have chosen aggressive animals, giant letters, football numbers, collegiate script and Winnie the Pooh to adorn their jerseys. Plus, once something actually works, they feel the need to incessantly tweak it. But yeah, classic, timeless, legendary, Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Tom Brady, etc etc etc.Why is this sport so needlessly complicated?The Boston BearThe Bruins entered the NHL for the 1924-25 season with a brown and yellow (sorry, “gold”) kit, featuring a bear on the prowl surrounded by a “Boston” wordmark.Not a bad beginning for the franchise, all things considered. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)Boston’s first attempt at a logo was really quite reasonable. Yes, brown really shouldn’t have a place in the colour palettes of professional sports teams, but this was nearly a century ago when tastes were different and, according to the progression of photographic technology, the human eye was just developing the ability to see colour. It helped that the team’s founder and owner, Charles Adams, also owned a chain of grocery stores, whose colour scheme just happened to be brown and gold.Laid against the all-brown backdrop of the team’s first jersey, at the very least, this crest did not look out of place. The wordmarks sandwiching a vicious predator would have presented a strong image of the nascent team to the rest of the NHL.That said, even in 1924, one would think it would have been common knowledge that bears generally have four legs. In addition, “Boston” and “Bruins” are written in two different typefaces. And why the B and N are so big is beyond me.But not a bad attempt, all things considered. It was even brought back for the 2016 NHL Winter Classic where, set atop a black background, it looked even better. This jersey was later adopted as Boston’s full-time alternate.Boston Bruins 2016 Winter Classic sweater (Courtesy Andrew M. Greenstein http://www.nhluniforms.com/index.html)The Boston Bear: Version 2.0The very next season, the Bruins livened up their uniforms with the addition of white. This a design choice was accompanied the following year by the standardisation of some of the aesthetically problematic elements of their inaugural logo.Less brown on a logo is always a good thing. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)As you can see, all letters of “Boston,” though still in a different font than “Bruins,” were made a uniform size. The fact this redesigned crest was surrounded by white, rather than brown, really helped this logo to pop off the chest. It was also this logo that celebrated Boston’s first Stanley Cup, in 1929.The bear, however, was still missing a leg.I like these logos. Despite the colour scheme and artistic inconsistencies, they strike a nice balance between image and text, and have a classic look truly befitting of a storied franchise like the Bruins. Of course, the longevity and reasonable success of the Bruins can’t have been known at the time, which makes these designs all the more impressive. I wouldn’t mind at all seeing one of them on an alternate jersey in the future, as the Bruins have had in previous years.The Boston Bruins Go to CollegeSo, what does a fledgling organisation do just after tasting success for the very first time? Why, rebrand, of course! And nothing says “professional hockey team” like taking uniform queues from collegiate life and American football.The Boston BIn 1932, the Bruins mothballed their bear-adorned kits and went with a blocky B as their logo.Is the B supposed to symbolise Boston? Or Bruins? Or both? (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)I mean, there’s nothing technically wrong with it. It’s just not particularly evocative.It’s not ferocious, not mysterious, it’s not grounded in history and it’s not especially good-looking. Even the team’s 1934 switch from brown to black didn’t help matters.Maybe they thought they had already built a solid fan base, so there was no longer any need for an actual bruin on the jersey. Maybe they wanted to be different from the other eight teams in the circuit, of whom all but the lowly New York Americans used a proper crest. Or maybe the old logo was just too inefficient to produce.Regardless, this logo made the Bruins jerseys of the time look like a letter jacket from some generic university. Go team.The Bruins’ Days Are NumberedOh but wait, it gets better.In 1936, the Boston B was bumped to the shoulders of the Bruins jersey, replaced on the front by a number. Yes, the same number that was on the back. Yes, like a football jersey. Yes, ‘twas a silly time.I’ve often said that perhaps the greatest sin a sporting organisation can commit, aesthetics-wise at least, is having a boring, uninspiring logo or jersey. Well, it appears I was wrong.The greatest sin a sporting organisation can commit, aesthetics-wise, is having no logo at all.At this point, the Bruins were just throwing everything at the wall. Thankfully, none of it stuck. (Illustration by Andrew M. Greenstein, The unofficial NHL Uniform Database)Yes, the Bruins’ football jerseys were joined five years later by a gold alternate kit that actually had a real logo – albeit an unimaginative college script-style wordmark, but this blessed relief lasted a scant four seasons. Meanwhile, the logo-less wonders persisted for five more campaigns, bringing their tenure to 12 full seasons.Despite a distinct lack of brand or identity, the Bruins still managed to win two Stanley Cups wearing these monstrosities (1939 and 1941).The Spoked-BFor 1948-49, Boston reverted to using the Boston B crest on the front of their jerseys, this time adding serifs, colouring it gold and setting it against a black background.Much more significantly, to commemorate the Bruins’ 25th season, the team rolled out an anniversary sweater, featuring an early version of the Spoked-B logo we all know and love.Ahh, now things are beginning to look familiar. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)As you can see, the B is written in a jaunty, Comic Sans-esque font, and is flanked by the numbers 24 and 49, referring to the team’s inaugural and anniversary seasons. This logo was copied, albeit with a brown border and spokes, for the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.Given that this crest only lasted a season and was only created for celebratory purposes, I shan’t spend too much time on it. Especially considering the significance of what would debut the following year.The Spoked-B: Version 2.0In 1949-50, the Bruins made the Spoked-B a full-time primary logo, joining the Boston B. After 1954-55, the latter was retired, leaving the Spoked-B alone to carry the torch. It does so to this very day, and wasn’t so much as tweaked for its first 46 seasons.The peak of Bruins logo design. Clean, crisp and just complex enough. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)A circular border surrounds a blocky B, which was taken from a different typeface than that of the Bruins’ other logo (note the lack of serifs). Still a relatively simple design, to be sure. And still no explicit reference to the team’s moniker.What makes this logo so great is its ambiguity. Is it representing the cycle of life? The very existence of a sports team is one of constant rebirth. Are the spokes supposed to be some sort of sunburst design, signifying a perpetually bright future? Maybe it is supposed to mean the Bruins will explosively take on all comers? Or perhaps the logo is a menacing wheel, set to roll over Boston’s opponents? This last one certainly fits in with the reputation the Bruins would soon earn – and one they value to this day – for playing bruising, hard-nosed hockey.The general consensus is that the logo was created on the basis of a description of Boston from Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., the noted American physician and poet of the 1800s, who referenced Boston (specifically, the Massachusetts State House) as the “hub of the solar system.” Hence, the hub-and-spoke design of the Spoked-B logo, with Boston represented at the centre of the world/solar system/universe. Humble, those Massachusettsans.Whatever the case, the Spoked-B is now etched into hockey lore as the definitive logo of the Boston Bruins.The Bruins would have jerseys in three primary colours over the next 46 years, with this logo being coloured slightly differently for each iteration. Backed by black, the logo had a golden border and B, with black spokes. Atop a white base colour, the logo was framed in black, with a black B and gold spokes. And placed on gold, the logo outline and spokes were black, while the B was golden.The Bruin HeadIn the 1976-77 season, the Bruins added a menacing bear’s head as a secondary logo.No, I’m not kidding. This was actually on a professional hockey team’s jersey for the better part of two decades. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)Utilised as a shoulder patch, this terrifying, weirdly stripey bruin was clearly created the night before it was due by someone with no sense of proportion and only the vaguest idea of what bears look like, before being coloured in by a six-year-old who likes tigers. A cross between a panda, an anteater and a bumblebee, this crest adorned the shoulder of every Bruins jersey until its retirement following the 1994-95 season.As artistically problematic as it may be, this is pretty much everything one could ever hope for in a logo for a team called the Bruins. Those ferocious teeth and the wide-eyed, maniacal look suggest instant death. The colour scheme, though disorienting, made the logo pop off the jersey, rather than being a superfluous addition just along for the ride. Going into the corner and seeing that logo coming towards you on the shoulder of some punishing body-checker no doubt only enhanced the infamy of the “Big Bad Bruins.”The Spoked-B: Version 2.0For 1995-96, the Bruins conducted a major uniform overhaul, updating the Spoked-B – and dispensing with the Bruin Head altogether – along the way.This is where the Bruins start to lose me. Why overcomplicate that which is already perfect? (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)As you can see, the B is slightly taller, more closely resembling the font used in the original Boston B logo. Most noticeable though are the new trim accents around the B, the spokes and the border.These accents add depth to the crest when viewed in isolation, but detract from it on the jerseys. True, the Bruins new kits had many such superfluous accents themselves. And no doubt the ever-increasing influence of television, along with the very early stages of the Internet, meant that the Bruins’ logo now had to do much more than simply front a uniform; it had to be a brand. Plus, the yellow accent around the border meant the team only needed to produce a single logo, rather than two separate ones. So I do understand the revisions.However, I just can’t get away from the fact these accents and trim pieces disrupted what was a clean, crisp polished look that had worked for nearly half a century.Winnie the PoohMaking matters worse was the secondary emblem that came out of the redesign, a crest that can only be described as Winnie the Pooh.It…it just looks so sad. I think it just wants a hug. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)After doing away with the hugely fun, yet artistically disproportionate Bruin Head, I would have expected the Bruins to come back with a cleaner, more proportionate version that still retained the aggression and brutality of its predecessor.Instead, we got a pensive, even pained-looking bear’s head, which looks more like it’s about to be mounted on somebody’s wall, rather than tear out the throat of an opponent. Its striking resemblance to the popular children’s character did not stop Boston from devising a putrid third jersey with this logo as the primary crest.’90s NHL jersey design at its finest. Winnie does not look happy to be there. (ClassicAuctions.net)Keep in mind, this was just one entry in the franchise’s long line of unfathomable uniform decisions.Bruins Secondary ScriptThe Winnie the Pooh jerseys featured an oversized “Bruins” wordmark on the shoulders.I’m not even going to dignify this logo with a proper caption. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)The jersey was an ill-advised concoction to being with, but the boring, yet comically large shoulder script made it all the more absurd.Boston Bruins Current LogoMercifully, the Bruins did away with Pooh Bear following 2005-06, and revamped their threads entirely a year later, including tweaking the Spoked-B once more.The Spoked-B: Version 3.0The 2007-08 season saw the introduction of the Reebok Edge uniform system and with it, the redesign of many uniforms across the NHL. The Bruins thoroughly revamped their kits, cleaning them up quite a bit. With the fresh duds came more alterations to the logo.Certainly a more aggressive look, but much too busy for my tastes. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)The new crest, still used today, features a smaller B and a raft of thicker black accents, giving the current emblem a modern, more aggressive appearance. This look is additionally enhanced by the used of a serifed typeface for the B, a first for the Spoked-B series of logos.Though cleaner in appearance than its predecessor, the present-day Boston logo is still not as simple and crisp as that which worked just fine for 46 glorious years. All the accents do, particularly with regards to the jarring intersection of colours where the spokes meet the B (in comparison to the seamless transition in all previous iterations), is overcomplicate a brilliant design.Too many cooks in the kitchen. They’ve overdone it.Boston Bruins Current Secondary LogoThe Boston Bear: Version 3.0The Bruins slapped a shoulder patch on their Reebok Edge home and away jerseys, spoiling an otherwise lovely uniform. That said, this secondary logo, judged on its own merits, is really rather good, and worked quite well as the primary crest (albeit with the wordmarks swapped) on Boston’s otherwise dreary, cheap-looking old alternate kit.Hey now, that’s pretty sharp! Unfortunately, this logo has been ill-used at every turn. (Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.Net)Harkening back to the first days of the franchise, this logo features an angry bear on the prowl, sandwiched between “Boston” and “Bruins” which, this time, appear to be in compatible, if not identical, typefaces. Said wordmarks even seem to match the B in the team’s main primary logo.Yes, the bear still has three legs, and yes, on the home and away jerseys, this crest ruins the cleanliness of the shoulder yokes, but you can’t have everything.Judged on its own, the Bruins’ secondary logo works rather nicely. It’s just been implemented poorly. I would like to see the shoulder yokes removed from the Bruins home and away jerseys to give this crest a more prominent role. Either that or just get rid of it altogether and leave the shoulder yokes be. Having both just isn’t working.A Good Thing BruinedThe Adidas takeover of the NHL’s uniform system saw a number of teams revamp their wardrobes with new changes coming seemingly every year. The Bruins remained true to their Spoked-B design with the new Adidas uniforms, going cleaner with the numbers and names on the back, however.They also explored their roots with their uniforms for the 2019 Winter Classic.Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, Jan. 1, 2019 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Basing their uniforms (down to the logo) on uniforms worn from 1932 to 1936, the Bruins went back to the Boston B for the spectacle.A new third jersey is expected to replace the Winter Classic jersey this season as the Bruins’ official third alternate uniform and it’s expected to also be a throwback uniform of sorts. I would like to see Boston get back to the clean and crisp, yet aggressive and no-nonsense setup they had prior to fiddling with the Spoked-B centrepiece.Like a lot of Bruins organizational decisions of recent years, they’ve had a good thing going, but have not appreciated it. Instead, they’ve tried to improve upon it, sometimes even ruining the original good thing in the process. Things appear to be looking steady and consistent for the Bruins right now. Logo-wise, at least. ‘Cause Thornton, Kessel, Seguin and Hamilton ain’t coming back.Sign up for our regular 'Bruins Newsletter' for all the latest.Email *Submit Continue Reading »Today in Hockey History: March 21By Greg Boysen on Mar 21, 2021 07:35 amMarch 21 has been quite the eventful date in National Hockey League history. It gave us a memorable goaltending performance in Boston, some great milestones in Pittsburgh and plenty of memories made by Hall of Famers. The THW time machine is fired up and ready to take us back through the decades to relive the best moments made on this date.50 & 500 Rule the DayFrank Mahovlich scored once to become the fifth NHL player to rack up 500 career goals on March 21, 1973, during the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He became the third player to score his 500th career goal in a Canadiens uniform.Ken Dryden, Jean Beliveau and Mahovlich were quite the combo in Montreal. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)Bobby Carpenter became the first U.S.-born player in NHL history to have a 50-goal season on March 21, 1985, with a goal in the Washington Capitals’ 3-2 loss at the Canadiens.Lanny McDonald became the 14th player in league history to score 500 career goals on March 21, 1989, as the Calgary Flames beat the New York Islanders 4-1. Joe Nieuwendyk scored his 50th goal of the season, becoming the third player in history to score 50 goals in each of his first two NHL seasons. Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky were the other two on this short list.On that same night, Mark Messier scored a goal and recorded his 500th career assist in a 4-3 Edmonton Oilers’ loss to the Los Angeles Kings.Tugnutt Goes Crazy in BostonOn March 21, 1991, Tugnutt started for the Quebec Nordiques at the old Boston Garden and was pushed to the limits by the Boston Bruins. He was peppered with 73 shots, stopping 70 of them, and yet, he didn’t win. The game ended in a 3-3 tie with the Bruins holding a 73-26 shot advantage. Bruins’ defenseman Ray Bourque set an NHL record with 19 of those shots on goal.Tugnutt faced 17 shots in the first period, 19 in the second and 25 in the third period. He stopped all 12 shots he saw in the five-minute overtime session to earn the tie.Even though 70 saves are incredible, it was still 10 saves shy of the all-time record. Sam LoPresti holds that one when he made 80 saves for the Chicago Black Hawks in a game against the Bruins on March 5, 1941. LoPresti later left the NHL to serve in the U.S. Navy and was aboard a merchant ship that was torpedoed and spent 42 days on a lifeboat before being rescued.Martin Brodeur’s Trio of MilestonesYou can have an in-depth conversation about great goaltender without Brodeur’s name eventually coming up.The Hall of Fame goaltender made three memories on this date, starting in 2001 when he recorded his 50th career shutout in the New Jersey Devils’ 4-0 win over the New York Rangers. His eighth shutout of the season extended the Devils’ unbeaten streak over their rivals from the Big Apple to 23 games, going 15-0-8 since 1997.Nobody did it better than Brodeur. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)A year later, Brodeur tied an NHL record with his seventh straight 30-win season with a 4-3 road victory at the Nashville Predators. He joined Tony Esposito and Ken Dryden as the only goaltenders to win 30 games in seven straight seasons.Finally, in 2013, Brodeur is credited with a power-play goal in the first period of a 4-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his first game back after missing 13 games due to a neck injury, he made a save during a delayed penalty. Hurricanes’ center Jordan Staal made an errant back pass that went down the length of the ice into his vacated net. This was the second regular-season goal of Brodeur’s career.CBC Starts a New TraditionAlthough Hockey Night in Canada’s origins began with radio broadcasts as early as 1929, the roots for a long run on television began on March 21, 1951. This was the first time the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation televised a live NHL game.The cameras were set up inside the old Maple Leaf Garden as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Canadiens. The first broadcast was only viewed by six people, watching the feed in the arena’s radio control room, but it set the foundation for what was to come.Bob Cole became a household name thanks to the CBC. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)The CBC began airing games on Saturday nights in 1952. Beginning with the 1967 Stanley Cup playoffs, all Hockey Night in Canada games were broadcast in color going forward. CBC’s deal with the NHL ran out following the 2013-14 season and rights for the national broadcasts were given to Rogers Communications. As part of the deal, CBC sublicensed a package of games from Rogers, allowing the network to continue airing Hockey Night in Canada at least the first four seasons of the agreement. Pittsburgh Penguins Make Plenty of HistoryThe Penguins have enjoyed playing on March 21 over the years. In 1993, Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens lit the lamp in the first period of a 6-4 win over the Oilers in a neutral-site game played in Cleveland, OH. It was the 50th goal of the season for both players as they became the first set of teammates in league history to reach 50 goals in the same game.Lemieux made history on this date in 1993. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)Exactly five years later, the number 1,000 was lucky during a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at the old Civic Arena. Future Hall of Famer Ron Francis picked up his 1,00th career assist in helping the Penguins become the 10th team in the NHL to win 1,000 games.Sidney Crosby scored a goal and became the 53rd player in NHL history to record 700 career assists on March 21, 2018, in the Penguins’ 5-3 win over the Canadiens.Odds & EndsOn March 21, 1921, more than 11,000 fans filled the Vancouver Arena for the first game of the Stanley Cup Final to see the Millionaires defeat the Ottawa Senators 3-1. At the time, this the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game.Gordie Howe became the first player in NHL history to lead the league in scoring four straight years on March 21, 1954, when he had a goal and two assists in the Detroit Red Wings’ regular-season finale, a 6-1 win over the Maple Leafs.Before the Bruins hosted the St. Louis Blues on March 21, 1974, Bobby Orr promised a gravely ill 16-year-old fan he’d score a goal for him. Orr under-promised and over-delivered by scoring his fifth career hat trick to reach the 30-goal mark on the season as Boston won 7-0.Tiger Williams racked up 31 penalty minutes in the Vancouver Canucks’ 5-3 loss at the Canadiens. This made him the first player in NHL to score 30 goals and have 300 penalty minutes in the same season.Ilkka Sinisalo scored the 4,000th goal in Flyers’ history on March 21, 1982, during a 5-3 win over the Hartford Whalers at the Spectrum.Bernie Federko became the first player in Blues history to record 600 career assists on March 21, 1986, during a lost 7-6 to the visiting Devils.Two years later, Joe Mullen scored twice to become the first U.S.-born player to have 250 career goals, as the Flames extended their team-record road undefeated streak to 9 games (6-0-3) with a 3-3 tie at the Canadiens.Brett Hull scored four goals, including his 30th career hat trick on March 21, 2001, as the Dallas Stars won 8-0 against the visiting Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This moved him into seventh place on the NHL’s all-time goal list, past Steve Yzerman and tied with Lemieux at 644 goals.Happy Birthday to YouThe late Duke Keats is the lone Hall of Famer of the 24 players who have skated in the NHL, born on March 21. Other notable names of this group include Jim Kyte (57), Al Iafrate (55), Johan Garpenlov (53), Boris Mironov (49), Rostislav Klesla (39), Ryan Callahan (36), Erik Johnson (33), Sven Andrighetto (28) and Mirco Mueller (26).Sign up for our regular 'Hockey History Newsletter' for all the best and most significant pieces from the THW Archives.Email *Submit Continue Reading »NHL Rumors: Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, MoreBy Jim Parsons on Mar 20, 2021 01:56 pmIn today’s NHL rumors rundown, there is more speculation on where defenseman Mattias Ekholm may wind up, with the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers listed as potential favorites. There’s a list of the most likely potential trade targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs and there are comments from the Carolina Hurricanes on any potential interest in Eric Staal. Finally, are executives around the NHL expecting fewer trades at the deadline? If so, many less?Potential Landing Spots for EkholmThe rumored asking price of a first-round pick and two quality prospects isn’t scaring teams away from looking into 30-year-old defenseman Mattias Ekholm. Sportsnet’s Emily Sander recently listed the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Flyers as five potential trade destinations.Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)Adam Vingan of The Athletic believes there’s potential for an interesting trade out of Boston when he writes:Forward Jake DeBrusk, 24, scored 27 goals two seasons ago, but he could need a change of scenery. DeBrusk, who scored his first NHL goal against the Predators, has a $3.675 million cap hit through 2022, when he will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.“Ekholm for DeBrusk would be a great deal for the Bruins,” a league executive told The Athletic’s Craig Custance. “And I’d rather have DeBrusk than a late first-round pick.”source – ‘If the Predators trade Mattias Ekholm, which team would provide the best return?’ – Adam Vingan – The Athletic – 03/19/2021He also notes that the Canadiens and Flyers have deep organizational depth and might be the most likely trade partners for the Nashville Predators. “Montreal’s Lehkonen is young enough to factor into the Predators’ long-term plans and help them now,” Vingan writes. He adds, “Throw in either Harris or Struble and Tuch with that first-round pick, and you have yourself a deal.”Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Andersen, Campbell, Vehviläinen & MoreTop Five Trade Candiates for Maple LeafsJames Mirtle and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic write that Dubas’ comments about looking for forward help is enough for them to suggest that the five top trade candidates of the team are all forwards. Siegel’s ListMirtle’s ListAlex IafalloMikael GranlundTaylor HallKyle PalmieriFilip ForsbergTanner PearsonRickard RakellBobby RyanMatt NietoEric StaalSiegel picked Iafallo as his top target because the 27-year-old is a pending UFA with a mild $2.42 million cap hit. The scribe notes that he’s competitive and plays with tenacity and enthusiasm, while being productive (six goals and 17 points so far this season). Mirtle suggests Granlund is his No. 1 target and writes:I’m bringing Granlund back up again here because I think he remains the most probably acquisition for Toronto. The Leafs front office has liked him as a player for a long time and looked at signing him in the offseason. He fits what they need. He fits their cap situation. He won’t cost a bundle in assets.source – ‘The Maple Leafs’ top 10 trade deadline targets: Taylor Hall, Eric Staal, Tanner Pearson and more’ – Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle – The Athletic – 03/17/2021Are the Hurricanes Interested in Eric Staal?The News & Observer’s Chip Alexander reports that Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour told media when asked about the possibility of the team being interested in Staal:“That’s a question that’s probably for further up the chain than me, but I think we know he’s an awesome person…. I like our team right now. I don’t know why we would be looking at too much.” source – ‘How are the Hurricanes doing at the halfway point of this NHL season?’ – Chip Alexander – News & Observer – 03/19/2021GM Don Waddell did say the team has a little bit of salary-cap space heading toward the trade deadline and Alexander notes Waddell is actively looking for ways to improve the team but that salary-cap considerations must be considered.(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)The Hurricanes are listed among the potential landing spots for Staal, especially in light of news that perhaps a trade to Canada is not as likely based on his age. Fewer Trades at the Deadline?Darren Dreger was on TSN 590 this week and noted that he’s had agents tell him that they expect the trade deadline to be quiet. He said, “I’ve had other general managers tell me that April 12th, what’s the under on the number of trade? 10? 10 and under on the number of trades?”This could explain why there is a lot of chatter weeks out from the actual date of the deadline and why GMs like Dubas have been so open about his willingness to trade a top prospect. Could he be trying to open up more discussions than are actually out there?We know money is tight for a lot of teams and the border is creating an issue, but we also have heard a ton of names out there as far as potential trades go. Sign up for our 'DAILY BEST Newsletter' for the latest & greatest hockey news & analysis.Email *Submit Continue Reading »Bobby Orr Caps Off Hall-of-Fame CareerBy Andrew Forbes on Mar 20, 2021 01:31 pmOn Sept. 12, 1979, legendary defenceman Bobby Orr took the final step in his Hall-of-Fame career. Alongside Henri Richard, Gordon Juckes and Harry Howell, Orr was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame thanks to the way that he revolutionized his position in the game of hockey.On this day in 1979: Henri Richard, Gordon Juckes, Harry Howell, and Bobby Orr were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame #HHOF pic.twitter.com/kOgcfNHzR9— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) September 12, 2018Retiring at the age of just 30 years old, Orr finished his career as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) defenceman to ever play the game. His career was cut short, however, he was still a no-doubt vote when it came to the Hall of Fame class of 1979.Remembering His ClassmatesJuckes went in as a builder, having helped grow the game of hockey in his home province of Saskatchewan working with the Melville Millionaires, the Saskatchewan Senior League and the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA). He went on to earn himself a number of awards, including the IIHF Diploma of Honour in 1967.Howell played 1,411 regular season games in the NHL, as well as 170 regular season games in the WHA. He had stints with the Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals, Los Angeles Kings, New York Golden Blades (WHA), San Diego Mariners (WHA), Calgary Cowboys (WHA), but spent the majority of his career with the New York Rangers. Over that span, the defenceman tallied 94 goals in the NHL along with 418 points.He never earned himself a Stanley Cup, but played on a playoff team during eight NHL seasons and two WHA seasons. He was a seven-time all-star and won the 1966-67 Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman.Henri Richard was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 – alongside Bobby Orr. (THW Archives)As for Richard, nicknamed the Pocket Rocket, he had a 20-year career that kept him with the Montreal Canadiens for the entirety of it. Over that time, whether he played in the shadows of his brother’s career or not, he tallied 1,046 points in 1,258 career regular season games with Montreal.He was part of 18 playoff runs during his career and landed 11 Stanley Cups over that span. He scored 49 goals and 129 points in 180 games in the process. On top of that, he was a 10-time all-star, he won the 1973-74 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and finished fourth in Hart voting twice over his career. He remains the third highest scorer in franchise history behind Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur and the fifth-highest playoff scorer in franchise history.Onto Bobby OrrWhile the rest of the class was impressive, arguably the most historic defenceman to play in the NHL was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sept. 12, 1979. Remembered for the way he altered the position of defenceman, the way he seemed to fly effortlessly with the puck through opposing players, and the way he literally flew on route to scoring one of the most memorable goals in hockey history, Orr remains a household name and will continue to be passed down from generation to generation of hockey fans.It’s one of the most iconic photos in hockey history – Bobby Orr’s flying goal. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)Named to the NHL’s top 100 players of all-time, and deservedly so, Orr played 10 seasons with the Bruins before closing out his shortened career with the Blackhawks. While he was only able to play 657 regular season games during his career, he tallied 270 goals and 915 points over that span. He was part of two Stanley Cup winning teams in Boston, adding 92 points in 74 playoff games.He was a seven-time all-star, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1966-67 and went on to win eight Norris trophies, two Art Ross trophies, two Conn Smythe trophies, three Hart trophies and one Ted Lindsay over his career. On top of that he finished first in assists in five seasons and first in points in two separate campaigns.Still involved in the game as a significant player agent, he remains the only defenceman to ever win the Art Ross Trophy (which he has two of) with no player having broken his 139-point season in 1970-71.Bobby Orr revolutionized the defensive position in the game of hockey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)He remains fifth all-time in Bruins scoring during the regular season, second behind Ray Bourque in terms of defensemen and second in points per game among all Bruins at 1.40. Despite only playing 657 games, he’s 11th on the NHL’s all-time list among defensemen in points and remains first in points per game (1.39).We’ve talked in the past about records that will never be broken and these are surely some of those records. While his contributions to the game of hockey will never be forgotten, let this day be remembered as the day Bobby Orr – one of the all-time greatest to play the game – took his final steps in his Hall of Fame career.September 12, 1979 – the day Orr officially became a Hall of Famer.Sign up for our regular 'Hockey History Newsletter' for all the best and most significant pieces from the THW Archives.Email *Submit Continue Reading »Recent Articles: