Larry Robinson - Greatest Defenseman ever?

[JianYang]

Bird vs Schultz at 1:45 mark

At 5:05, it looks like a fan just handed his beverage to Robinson who started drinking it.

Different times.

 

[HuGort]

I watched that game and it was a 2-2 tie. This was 73-74. The Flyers won the cup that year and the next. Schultz deserved that ass beating. I was proud of the Habs that day, they absolutely did not back down and I would argue manhandled the Flyers physically that day.
Watching Robinson hammer Schultz at will was a good memory still etched in my brain.

There was preseason game '75 brawl. Robinson thumped Schultz again. I got the two fights mixed up.

Until then Broad Street Bullies use to beat opponents into the ground. Fred Shero beat them in the alley strategy. Those two fights set the table for '76 Finals. Then Robinson sealed it off by nailing Dornhoyer into the boards in Game 1.

 

[RabbleMasterBlaster]

I dunno man...even if you were there when this stuff was happening, I'm willing to bet that compared to today, most of the hockey back then was pretty terrible. Ya we like to reminisce and feel nostalgic about the old times but...objectively, just watching old footage I keep thinking...man...they were pretty bad hockey players back then.

You see a ton of terrible goal tending, loosy goossy defense and a LOT of cheap shotting. It was good hockey then, but it's not good hockey today.

This stuff can stay in the past, where it belongs. It doesn't hold a candle to today's hockey in terms of skill. It's one cigarette away from beer league level.

Respect for what the old guard has done, but it was a different game back then.

 

[FerrisRox]

Talking with a buddy other day. Could a case be made Larry Robinson the best defenseman ever in NHL?

No.

 

[FerrisRox]

Salming should be on that list ... around fifth. However, a list like this is all just personal preference.

You have Borje Salming as the #5 defensemen in the history of hockey!?!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I dunno man...even if you were there when this stuff was happening, I'm willing to bet that compared to today, most of the hockey back then was pretty terrible. Ya we like to reminisce and feel nostalgic about the old times but...objectively, just watching old footage I keep thinking...man...they were pretty bad hockey players back then.

You see a ton of terrible goal tending, loosy goossy defense and a LOT of cheap shotting. It was good hockey then, but it's not good hockey today.

This stuff can stay in the past, where it belongs. It doesn't hold a candle to today's hockey in terms of skill. It's one cigarette away from beer league level.

Respect for what the old guard has done, but it was a different game back then.

The Canadiens hated the way the Flyers played hockey. They wanted to play a more skilled game and a return to that style of play. But they could play any way you wanted to. They came in, beat the Flyers at their own game and then played hockey... It was good for the game that they won and restored the game from the WWF style nonsense that had been taking over.

 

[HuGort]

I think this brawls started when Bobby Clarke two handed slashed the Pocket Rocket. Similar to the Summit Series when he took out Russia's best player. Doug Riseborough jumped on his back and hung on.

I don't think this game was televised. But heard Montreal radio talking about it at time. Then in Finals next spring tv announcers were talking about it.

 

[HuGort]

I dunno man...even if you were there when this stuff was happening, I'm willing to bet that compared to today, most of the hockey back then was pretty terrible. Ya we like to reminisce and feel nostalgic about the old times but...objectively, just watching old footage I keep thinking...man...they were pretty bad hockey players back then.

You see a ton of terrible goal tending, loosy goossy defense and a LOT of cheap shotting. It was good hockey then, but it's not good hockey today.

This stuff can stay in the past, where it belongs. It doesn't hold a candle to today's hockey in terms of skill. It's one cigarette away from beer league level.

Respect for what the old guard has done, but it was a different game back then.

The mid-70s was goon hockey. The Flyers had a bunch of thugs beat up skilled guys on other teams. Allowing them to change the game and win a couple of Cups.

But great hockey also. The '76 Team Canada recognized as best team ever. The '72 Series most emotional ever. Orr and Potvin also played their hockey during this era. The main rivals of Robinson being best d-man.

 

[FerrisRox]

I think this brawls started when Bobby Clarke two handed slashed the Pocket Rocket.

It couldn't have happened in a pre-season game in 1975 then, cause Henri was retired by then.

 

[BLNY]

He's definitely one of the most complete blue liners of all time, but best all time? No. I would put Orr, Potvin, and Harvey ahead of him.