Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,146
Okay we all know that Orr is without a doubt the best defenseman ever to play the game right? I dont think many if any will disagree. So my question is who is the best defenseman of all time behind Orr? It might surprise you too see who everyone thinks. This is my top 5 list. Feel free to disagree.
#1 Bobby Orr - No one should disagree with this one. This guy revolutionized the game all by himself. Who nowadays can dominate a game like he could? Many argue Orr is the best player of all time and it isnt an uncommon thing to think that. But no d-man ever played like him. He won 8 Norris Trophies and all of them in consecutive years. He won the Hart three times, the scoring title twice and the Conn Smythe twice. Can anyone believe there is a defenseman in the league who will ever lead the league in points again?
#2 Doug Harvey - Won 6 Cups with the Habs, and won the Norris Trophy 7 times, all of that in 8 years. He never won the Conn Smythe Trophy because it wasnt invented until '65 but there are at least two seasons that Harvey would have won it ('58, '59). Harvey was a ten time First All-star member and once was on the second team. This is the greatest defenseman to ever play the game other than Orr. Harvey's carer high of points was only 50, but no defenseman ever got more than that until Orr. Harvey was as well rounded as they come.
#3 Ray Bourque - He is a 19 time allstar with 13 of those being First all-star team selections. Five times won the Norris Trophy. Won the Cup once. Bourque again was the defenseman that could do anything. He was so well rounded and rarely made an error. But he was always so reliable in both ends of the ice. Definetly the best defenseman to play since 1979.
#4 Eddie Shore - Even though there wasnt a Norris Trophy back then lets just say that Shore would have won quite a few. 7 Times he was on the First team all-star and an amazing 4 times he won the Hart Trophy. Shore won the Hart trophy in '38 after only getting 17 points. Which showed how valuable he was defensively too.
#5 Denis Potvin - He was the Captain of the Isles in their 4 Cups and was a first team all-star 5 times while being a second twice. Won the Norris Trophy three times. Was the second d-man to get 100 points. Potvin had it all. Good offense, thunderous body checks, good leadership. Like the others above him he was well rounded and seemed to do everything right.
Hm goes to Red Kelly, Larry Robinson.
#1 Bobby Orr - No one should disagree with this one. This guy revolutionized the game all by himself. Who nowadays can dominate a game like he could? Many argue Orr is the best player of all time and it isnt an uncommon thing to think that. But no d-man ever played like him. He won 8 Norris Trophies and all of them in consecutive years. He won the Hart three times, the scoring title twice and the Conn Smythe twice. Can anyone believe there is a defenseman in the league who will ever lead the league in points again?
#2 Doug Harvey - Won 6 Cups with the Habs, and won the Norris Trophy 7 times, all of that in 8 years. He never won the Conn Smythe Trophy because it wasnt invented until '65 but there are at least two seasons that Harvey would have won it ('58, '59). Harvey was a ten time First All-star member and once was on the second team. This is the greatest defenseman to ever play the game other than Orr. Harvey's carer high of points was only 50, but no defenseman ever got more than that until Orr. Harvey was as well rounded as they come.
#3 Ray Bourque - He is a 19 time allstar with 13 of those being First all-star team selections. Five times won the Norris Trophy. Won the Cup once. Bourque again was the defenseman that could do anything. He was so well rounded and rarely made an error. But he was always so reliable in both ends of the ice. Definetly the best defenseman to play since 1979.
#4 Eddie Shore - Even though there wasnt a Norris Trophy back then lets just say that Shore would have won quite a few. 7 Times he was on the First team all-star and an amazing 4 times he won the Hart Trophy. Shore won the Hart trophy in '38 after only getting 17 points. Which showed how valuable he was defensively too.
#5 Denis Potvin - He was the Captain of the Isles in their 4 Cups and was a first team all-star 5 times while being a second twice. Won the Norris Trophy three times. Was the second d-man to get 100 points. Potvin had it all. Good offense, thunderous body checks, good leadership. Like the others above him he was well rounded and seemed to do everything right.
Hm goes to Red Kelly, Larry Robinson.