Larry Robinson - Greatest Defenseman ever?
- Thread starter HuGort
- Start date
Montreal Shadow
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BenchBrawl
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- Jul 26, 2010
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Top 10 for sure, but not Top 1.
I hear you about the value of his enforcer role, but that alone doesn't justify ranking him 1st. Among MTL Canadiens, he is definitely under Doug Harvey.
All-time my list would go something like:
1. Orr
2. Harvey
3. Potvin
4. Bourque
5. Shore
6. Robinson
7. Lidstrom
8. Kelly
9. Fetisov
10. Cleghorn
I hear you about the value of his enforcer role, but that alone doesn't justify ranking him 1st. Among MTL Canadiens, he is definitely under Doug Harvey.
All-time my list would go something like:
1. Orr
2. Harvey
3. Potvin
4. Bourque
5. Shore
6. Robinson
7. Lidstrom
8. Kelly
9. Fetisov
10. Cleghorn
It's a great conversation and I believe top 10 is more realistic. You also have to consider that he played with Savard and Lapointe which helped him immensely.
I was so lucky to be a teenager in the 70's and got to see that Habs dynasty.
Sam Pollock doesn't get enough recognition for building that team.
Kimota
ROY DU NORD!!!
He's in the conversation for sure. Orr was more talented but Larry was the complete package. Could score by carrying the puck from one end to the other, excellent passer, great shot, tough as nail. No wonder the Habs won so many cups at the time, they had perfect machines at every positions.
BenchBrawl
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- Jul 26, 2010
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Robinson was like having a better version of Pronger/Chara, without the dirty play.
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HuGort
Registered User
Robinson was ideal big physical mobile defensemen teams are building on today.
I think his enforcer ability is underrated today. Given fighting is not prevalent in NHL today compared to back in '70s and '80s .
To me I have Robinson up there with Orr, Potvin, Lindstrom as greatest ever. People may vary, pick one or the other. But Robinson would get his share of votes. If done in his era.
the valiant effort
settle down, bud
- Apr 17, 2017
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Between the playing career and impact behind the bench he just might be the most underrated figure in the sport. Maybe that’s in part because of such a long and odd, almost Billy Martin/Steinbrenner type relationship with the Devils. Sucks he didn’t end up here at any point post-retirement.
BLONG7
Registered User
One............of the best ever.........
What a treat to watch this guy. Saw him when he played in Halifax as a very young pro player. I was 10-13 years old living in halifax.
My friends and I knew, he was going to be a great player for the Habs, but could never imagined what a force this guy would be.
Better on D than Orr, that's for sure, and had amazing moments on offence. When he wanted to he could rush ala Orr right through everyone........
His longevity was amazinf=g also!! His toughness, wow when he beat Dave Shultz to a pulp all was right in the world with this guy!!
Orr changed the game, and Larry followed him along............a bigger tougher version and simply amazing in his own right.
Robinson gets undervalued when discussing the best ever, probably because he was one piece of a greater Habs' dynasty. But yeah... definitely in the conversation for top-3.
I also got to watch Robinson throughout his prime. Nobody else had such supreme control over the puck and the game around him. Add his longevity and success as a coach and he's right there with Orr.
I also got to watch Robinson throughout his prime. Nobody else had such supreme control over the puck and the game around him. Add his longevity and success as a coach and he's right there with Orr.
JianYang
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- Sep 29, 2017
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My very earliest memories are the 89 finals, so I barely remember Robinson as a hab, as he went to LA right after that series.
Svoboda has a story where he was riding with Robinson and Larry asked him how much he makes. Svoboda told him, and Larry was so shocked that he had to pull over because that's when he realized he makes less than Svoboda.
A legendary veteran dman was making less money than a young dman who was more potential than finished product at the time. Anyways, this news made the rounds and serge had to call Svoboda and tell him that he can't be telling his salary to others. How times have changed.
Svoboda has a story where he was riding with Robinson and Larry asked him how much he makes. Svoboda told him, and Larry was so shocked that he had to pull over because that's when he realized he makes less than Svoboda.
A legendary veteran dman was making less money than a young dman who was more potential than finished product at the time. Anyways, this news made the rounds and serge had to call Svoboda and tell him that he can't be telling his salary to others. How times have changed.
Bobby Orr was also the complete package. As great as Larry Robinson was, Orr was better.
BLONG7
Registered User
Savard, as good a GM he was, saw it fit to rush Larry out of town, when he wanted more money.
Seeing him in a Kings uniform was such a sad site for most Habs fans. Savard made a huge mistake there.................Larry should have never left Montreal.
Orr as a dman did NOT have the toughness of a Dman.............Robinson had the edge there big time.
Orr was the offensive dynamo.....could skate like the wind when ever he wanted.
RealityBytes
Trash Remover
- Feb 11, 2013
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Salming should be on that list ... around fifth. However, a list like this is all just personal preference.
When googling the best, they show the following results:
The 25 best NHL defensemen of all time
Evaluating defensemen can be a tricky subject because defense in hockey has always been a difficult thing to quantify. Is it just about keeping the puck out of your own net?
www.yardbarker.com
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cphabs
The 2 stooges….
- Dec 21, 2012
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From Legends of Sport:
He (Bobby Orr) was deceptively strong, fearless and tough, unafraid to charge the net or drop the gloves. “Pound for pound, he might've been the toughest guy in the game,” said Pat Quinn, who was a rookie Toronto defenseman in 1970 when he leveled Orr with a blue-line hit that left him with a concussion.
BLONG7
Registered User
Some truth there, but when the going got tough, give me Robonson anyday...............it was Robinson not Orr who set the world straight during the 76 Cup Final................The Bruins lost in 74 and 75 to the Flyers...........and their tough ways. The Habs did not lose to the Flyers........
Pat Quinn never ran over Larry Robinson.....
Let's agree to disagree here, both hall of famers........
GrandBison
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Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
LesCanadiens
Hardcore Curmudgeon
Chili
Time passes when you're not looking
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I always say, show me a hall of famer and I'll show you great players they played with. It is a team game and that contributes to all careers.
MTL Dirty Birdy
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Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
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Doug Harvey says hello. So does Eddy Shore.
I watched both Orr and Robinson from rookie year to retirement. No question, it's Orr. He revolutionalized the position. No one had seen anyone play defense like him before. He was very difficult to play against both as a scorer and a defender. He was a shadow of himself during the 1976 Canada Cup due to chronic injuries but even then, he was often the best defenseman on the ice. Robinson and Serge Savard are tied for a very close second.
