Five Greatest Defensemen In Boston Bruins History

With the quality they have had on the blue line over their 100-year history in the National Hockey League, the Boston Bruins have been extremely lucky. There have been many outstanding blueliners to wear the Spoked-B over the years, but choosing the two best defensemen in team history was actually not that difficult.

The black and gold jersey has been worn by many skaters, notably Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference, and Johnny Boychuck, all Stanley Cup winners. Others, like Torey Krug, Don Sweeney, Gord Kluzak, and Brad Park, made it to the final dance but failed to win the grand prize. The soldiers Glen Wesley, Darren Van Impe, Nick Boynton, and Kyle McLaren should not be forgotten.

Bobby Orr (1966-1976)
There’s no denying that Bobby Orr is not only the best defenseman in Bruins history but the greatest all-time in the NHL as well. You can even argue that Orr remains the greatest of all time, given how he changed the way defensemen play the game.

Known for his two-way play, Orr could beat you to a loose puck with his speed and then turn up the ice and score at the other end. His offensive skills influenced more defensemen in their style of play during his years of playing in the league through today’s NHL blueliners.

He remains the only defenseman to have won the Art Ross trophy twice for leading the league in scoring. Orr won a record eight straight Norris Trophies as the NHL’s best defenseman and holds the record for the most points (139 in 1970-71) and assists (87 in 1969-70) in a single season by a defenseman.

Over the course of ten seasons, Orr skated in 631 games for the Bruins, lighting the lamp 264 times and adding 624 assists for 888 points.

Orr, the winner of two Stanley Cups (1970, 1972), scored the game-winning goals in both championship series. None are more well-known than Derek Sanderson’s legendary “flying goal” against the St. Louis Blues in 1970. In 1979, Orr’s No. 4 was hoisted to the rafters in Boston, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ray Bourque (1979-2000)
Ray Bourque was a staple on the blue line for the Bruins for 21 seasons and still holds the top spot in franchise history for games played (1,518), assists (1,111), points (1,506) and power-play goals (164).

His resume in Boston started off with a bang, winning the Calder Trophy in his rookie season. He won the Norris Trophy five times and holds the NHL record for goals (410), assists (1,169) and points (1,579) by a defenseman that Bourque amassed during his tenure in Boston as well as with the Colorado Avalanche.

He led the Bruins to two Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers in 1988 and 1990. Although the Cup eluded Bourque in Boston, he would have his name engraved on the trophy as a member of the Avalanche in 2001.

Bourque was a part of two iconic moments in NHL history.

The first occurred in 1987 when Phil Esposito’s No. 7 was retired by the Bruins. The number had been worn by Bourque since the 1979–1980 season. The pregame ceremony was about to start when Bourque skated over to Esposito and took off his jersey with the number 7; underneath, Bourque wore his new number, 77.

The second instance was equally as potent, but as a member of the Avalanche. Colorado captain Joe Sakic became just the second captain in league history to not lift the trophy first when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gave him the Cup. Rather, he gave it to Bourque right away.

Bourque was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, his first season of eligibility, and became one of nine players in NHL history to have his number retired by more than one franchise, the Bruins and Avalanc

Eddie Shore (1926-1940)
Most fans today never got to see Eddie Shore lace up the skates and play for the Bruins, but the Hall of Fame defenseman won two Stanley Cups with the Black and Gold in 1929 and 1939.

Shore is the only NHL defenseman to win the Hart Trophy four times in his 14-year career. He was an eight-time all-star. He recorded 279 points in 541 games for the Bruins. The firey defenseman was assessed 1,090 penalty minutes in his career. His No. 2 was retired by the Bruins on Jan. 1, 1947, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that same year.

Zdeno Chara (2006-2020)
Zdeno Chara signed with Boston as a free agent in 2006 and remained with the Bruins for 14 seasons, serving as captain for his entire tenure with the franchise.

The 6-foot-9 defenseman skated in 1,023 games for the Bruins lighting the lamp 148 times while adding 333 assists for 481 points.

He won the Norris Trophy in 2009 and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup when he helped lead the Bruins to their first championship in 39 years in 2011.

Chara was a member of the 2013 and 2019 Eastern Conference champions that fell short against the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, respectively, in the Bruins’ quest for the Cup those two seasons.

Known as a warrior on the ice, Chara gutted out the remainder of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals after suffering a broken jaw in Game 4. The TD Garden crowd erupted with admiration for the Bruins captain during the pregame announcements. Upon his retirement in 2022, Chara signed a one-day contract with the Bruins to officially retire as a member of the franchise.

Aubrey “Dit” Clapper (1927-1947)
Dit Clapper showcased remarkable endurance during his 20-year tenure for the Bruins.

Clapper played forward for nine seasons before switching to the blue line as one of Boston’s right wings. In 835 games while wearing the Spoked-B, Clapper scored 477 points (229 goals, 248 assists) and was a six-time all-star. Only eight players in NHL history—1929, 1939, and 1941—have won the Stanley Cup in three separate decades. He is one of them.

He was only one of nine players in NHL history to play for the same team over his 20-year career as well as the first player to accomplish it. In 1947, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Bruins retired his No. 5.

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