Hart Trophy Tournament (1969-00) Round 1: 1970 Bobby Orr vs 1972 Bobby Orr

[blundluntman]

MATCHUP #2 (Round 1): Bobby Orr (1970) vs Bobby Orr (1972)

Bobby Orr (1969-70):
76 GP 33 G 87 A 120 Points | 1st in Scoring, 1st in Assists, 10th in Goals, Norris Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, 1st AST

Bobby Orr (1971-72):
76 GP 37 G 80 A 117 Points | 2nd in Scoring, 1st in Assists, 11th in Goals, Norris Trophy, 1st AST

Round 1 Matchups:
69 Esposito vs 99 Jagr (Still Active) Thread
70 Orr vs 72 Orr
71 Orr vs 00 Pronger
73 Clarke vs 82 Gretzky
74 Esposito vs 91 Hull
75 Clarke vs 98 Hasek
76 Clarke vs 90 Messier
77 Lafleur vs 80 Gretzky (Still Active) Thread
78 Lafleur vs 93 Lemieux
79 Trottier vs 94 Fedorov
81 Gretzky vs 87 Gretzky
83 Gretzky vs 86 Gretzky
84 Gretzky vs 85 Gretzky
88 Lemieux vs 89 Gretzky
92 Messier vs 95 Lindros
96 Lemieux vs 97 Hasek

Click to read more...

 

[Albatros]

Against the O6:

1969/70 40 15+36=51 (1.28 ppg)
1971/72 28 11+23=34 (1.21 ppg)

 

[jigglysquishy]

Bobby Orr 1970 is the single greatest season in the sport's history.

 

[Plural]

Bobby Orr 1970 is the single greatest season in the sport's history.

Adding in the playoffs. Regular season is probably more up to debate.

 

[JackSlater]

I agree that Orr in 1970 is likely the best season in history. That isn't even an outlier opinion, for example when The Hockey News ranked all individual seasons in NHL history they put Orr 1970 first. To put it into a little bit of perspective, Orr led the NHL in scoring by 21% (over Esposito) and he led the NHL in scoring over his closest non-teammate by 40%. He did this while regarded as one of the best defensive defencemen in the NHL as well. Boston played like a dynasty when Orr was on the ice and was mediocre when he wasn't. I buy that Gretzky was pretty close in some of his best years, but that's pretty much it.

 

[bobholly39]

Why is Orr 1970 regarded so highly, vs other Orr seasons?

1970 - 120 points, +54
1971 - 139 points, +124
1972 - 117 points, +83

What sets it so much apart from the others? I know Esposito was better in 1971 and 1972 - but he was still on the team in 1970. Is that why people like 1970 so much better?

I always figured 1971 and the +124 was more impressive.

 

[Albatros]

Not just Esposito, but they had four 100-point scorers in 1971. No one else in the entire league scored 100. Seven Bruins in top ten.

1. Esposito (BOS) 152
2. Orr (BOS) 139
3. Bucyk (BOS) 116
4. Hodge (BOS) 105
5. Hull (CBH) 96
6. Ullman (TOR) 85
7. Cashman (BOS) 79
8. McKenzie (BOS) 77
9. Béliveau (MTL) 76
9. Stanfield (BOS) 76

 

[bobholly39]

Not just Esposito, but they had four 100-point scorers in 1971. No one else in the entire league scored 100. Seven Bruins in top ten.

1. Esposito (BOS) 152
2. Orr (BOS) 139
3. Bucyk (BOS) 116
4. Hodge (BOS) 105
5. Hull (CBH) 96
6. Ullman (TOR) 85
7. Cashman (BOS) 79
8. McKenzie (BOS) 77
9. Béliveau (MTL) 76
9. Stanfield (BOS) 76

All those players were on the Bruins in 1970 too.

 

[Albatros]

All those players were on the Bruins in 1970 too.

Yet only Orr and Esposito scored more than 70 points. It was a very different year.

 

[Voight]

Not just Esposito, but they had four 100-point scorers in 1971. No one else in the entire league scored 100. Seven Bruins in top ten.

1. Esposito (BOS) 152
2. Orr (BOS) 139
3. Bucyk (BOS) 116
4. Hodge (BOS) 105
5. Hull (CBH) 96
6. Ullman (TOR) 85
7. Cashman (BOS) 79
8. McKenzie (BOS) 77
9. Béliveau (MTL) 76
9. Stanfield (BOS) 76

Thats why one could argue they're the best regular season team of all time. Or one of them. Did they set wins or points records? No, but having 7 of your players within the top 10 points is insane and will probably never happen again.