October 5, 2024
Bruins announce All-Centennial Staff: Which 20 Boston legends made the minimize?

Bruins

Bobby Orr and Patrice Bergeron are among the headliners on the Bruins’ All-Centennial Staff.

Former Boston Bruins Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito acknowledge the crowd ahead of the Bruins home opener to their 100th Season at TD Garden on October 11, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito have been two no-doubters on the All-Centennial Staff. Maddie Meyer / Getty

With the Bruins’ centennial season now in full swing, the third Authentic Six franchise to hit triple digits honored the best-of-the-best who’ve donned black-and-gold sweaters.

Throughout Boston’s centennial gala held Thursday night time on the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the Bruins unveiled their All-Centennial Staff — a grouping of the very best 20 gamers (12 forwards, six defensemen, two goalies) in franchise historical past.

The All-Centennial Staff was voted on by an independent committee of journalists and media members, historians, and members of the hockey group.

The identical committee additionally chosen the “Historic 100” — a bigger pool of the best Bruins of all time — which was introduced final month.

Right here is the total Bruins All-Centennial Staff:

FORWARDS

Patrice Bergeron: Arguably the very best two-way ahead of all time, Bergeron captured a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and received an NHL-best six Selke Trophies throughout his lauded profession. Bergeron retired this offseason after 19 seasons with Boston, with the ultimate three because the workforce’s captain. He ranks third on the workforce’s all-time video games record (1,294), third on their all-time targets record (427), fourth in assists (613), and third in factors (1,040). 

Johnny Bucyk: “Chief” logged 21 complete seasons in a black-and-gold sweater — successful two Cups with the Bruins in 1970 and 1972. With 16 20-goal seasons on his resume, Bucyk nonetheless stands alone because the Bruins’ all-time main aim scorer at 545. Bucyk has been related to and served in some capability with the Bruins group because the late Fifties. 

Wayne Cashman: One other key cog on two Cup-winning golf equipment, Cashman might do all of it with the Bruins as a top-six ahead who might additionally dole out some punishment. Simply certainly one of seven Bruins to log 1,000 complete video games with the franchise, Cashman ranks eighth in workforce scoring with 793 factors. 

Invoice Cowley: An usually ignored Bruins legend, Cowley was arguably the very best playmaker of his period out on the ice. Together with successful two Stanley Cups, Cowley retired in 1947 because the league’s all-time main scorer. In 508 profession video games with Boston, Cowley posted 537 factors and received two Hart Trophies as league MVP. 

Phil Esposito: One of many biggest scorers in NHL historical past, Esposito was an offensive juggernaut throughout his 9 years with the Bruins. A deadly triggerman, particularly when skating out on the ice with a sure fleet-footed defenseman, Esposito scored 459 targets and posted 1,012 factors in simply 625 video games with Boston. A two-time Cup champion, Esposito averaged 65 targets per season from 1970-75. 

David Krejci: A 1-2 punch down the center with Bergeron, Krejci helped pen a fruitful chapter in Bruins historical past that included a Stanley Cup victory and two extra treks to the Cup Last. A poised playmaker (786 profession factors), Krejci shined the brightest through the postseason. He led the complete NHL in playoff scoring throughout two of Boston’s Cup runs in 2011 and 2013. 

Brad Marchand: The present captain of the Bruins, Marchand was already a beloved determine in Boston for his agitating fashion of play and his position in Boston’s 2011 Cup run. However Marchand has elevated his sport from bottom-six pest to among the finest two-way wingers within the NHL. He ranks seventh total in Bruins franchise historical past with 862 factors. 

Rick Middleton: A potent offensive drive for 12 seasons, “Nifty” scored 402 targets and posted 898 factors in 881 profession video games with the Bruins. He surpassed the 90-point threshold 5 instances in his profession with Boston.

Cam Neely: Essentially the most feared energy ahead of his time, the present Bruins president scored 344 targets in simply 525 video games with Boston. An imposing presence on the netfront who was simply as pleased to dole out a verify as he was burying a rebound, Neely scored 50 targets in simply 44 video games with Boston in 1993-94. What might have been if it wasn’t for Ulf Samuelsson. 

Terry O’Reilly: A participant whose DNA was woven into the Bruins’ id, O’Reilly scored 204 targets and posted 606 factors over 14 seasons with the Bruins — whereas additionally ending with a franchise-leading 2,095 penalty minutes. Madison Sq. Backyard ushers nonetheless shudder on the point out of his identify. 

David Pastrnak: Nonetheless simply 27 years previous, Pastrnak may find yourself being essentially the most gifted aim scorer in Bruins historical past. “Pasta” has already scored 303 targets in simply 593 video games, and joined Esposito as simply the second Bruin to surpass the 60-goal threshold in a single season in 2022-23. 

Milt Schmidt: A real Bruin by means of and although, Schmidt was a Corridor-of-Fame participant as the important thing cog of the “Kraut Line”. Together with successful two Stanley Cups out on the ice, Schmidt coached the Bruins from 1954-66 earlier than serving as the first architect of the “Huge Unhealthy Bruins” because the workforce’s basic supervisor. Dedicated freeway theft within the cope with the Blackhawks that introduced in Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield. 

Defensemen

Ray Bourque: The best blueliner in Bruins historical past if it wasn’t for a sure somebody, Bourque is the franchise’s all-time chief in video games performed (1,518), assists (1,111), and factors (1,506). A do-it-all defenseman who impacted the sport each single time he hopped over the boards, Bourque is the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL historical past, with 1,579 factors.

Zdeno Chara: Chara’s arrival through free company in 2006 turned a rudderless franchise right into a perennial contender. Chara was an intimidating presence on the Bruins’ blue line for 14 seasons — all of which he served because the workforce’s captain. He took house the Norris Trophy because the league’s prime D-man in 2008-09, however his biggest influence may be discovered within the clubhouse tradition he cultivated that continues to be intact to at the present time. 

Dit Clapper: A 3-time Stanley Cup champion, Clapper did all of it throughout his time with the Bruins. An All-Star at each ahead and protection, Clapper was the primary participant in league historical past to log 20 seasons with one franchise. 

Bobby Orr: The person who modified hockey endlessly. The best defenseman of all time, little extra must be mentioned concerning the legacy Orr constructed over 10 seasons in Boston. The visage of him leaping by means of the air on Might 10, 1970 will be present in about each sports activities bar from Barnstable to Bar Harbor. 

Brad Park: Park had the unenviable activity of changing Orr on the Bruins blue line. However the Corridor of Famer was a drive over his eight seasons with the Bruins, scoring 100 targets and 417 factors in 501 video games. Completed within the top-10 in Norris Trophy voting 4 instances with Boston. 

Eddie Shore: One of many first superstars within the NHL, Shore received 4 Hart Trophies as league MVP whereas taking house eight All-Star nods and two Stanley Cup championships over his 14 seasons with the Bruins. May be essentially the most feared participant to ever lace up their skates. 

GOALIES

Frank Brimsek: Brimsek solely performed 9 complete seasons in Boston, together with his prime years minimize brief as a consequence of World Struggle II. However “Mr. Zero” was downright dominant at any time when he was located between the pipes. Brimsek led the Bruins to 2 Stanley Cup titles whereas incomes eight All-Star nods and two Vezina Trophies. 

Gerry Cheevers: An icon in Boston because of his well-known stitched masks, Cheevers additionally served because the final line of protection for 2 Cup-winning golf equipment in 1970 and 1972. Cheevers’ 53 playoff wins are the second-most in Bruins historical past.