Who were the fastest skaters pre-Bobby Orr?

[Elvis P]

What do you think?

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[Victorias]

Howie Morenz is the one who stands out. I know some contemporaries said they thought they would never see a faster skater. And the (limited) footage seems to back that up.

Maybe Cyclone Taylor anecdotally.

 

[Claude The Fraud]

On the top of my head, without any particular order;

Howie Morenz
Cyclone Taylor
Bobby Hull
Dave Keon

 

[sr edler]

Pre-WW1 era candidates for fastest skater includes Ken Mallen (PCHA player) and Jack Brannen (Montreal Shamrocks), both of those guys had ties to speed skating and were both probably faster than Cyclone Taylor, at least without the puck. Si Griffis probably too.

 

[Mike C]

On the top of my head, without any particular order;

Howie Morenz
Cyclone Taylor
Bobby Hull
Dave Keon

Hull and Rocket Richard for me then Morentz, Frank Mahovlich and Syl Apps on next tier

 

[BraveCanadian]

Cyclone Taylor, Bobby Hull, Howie Morenz, Syl Apps, Flash Howlett, umm.. I'm sure there are more

 

[crobro]

Bobby Hull

 

[JackSlater]

No way to know really but Henri Richard was the coaches selection for best/fastest skater in the league in the late 1950s an his speed stands out in video from the 1960s. I remember seeing Richard in an old timer game 20 to 25 years ago and he was still notably fast.

 

[Mohar Ikram]

I mean....

Yvan Cournoyer nickname is literally.... The Roadrunner.

So. Go figure.

 

[Mike C]

I mean....

Yvan Cournoyer nickname is literally.... The Roadrunner.

So. Go figure.

Only had 2 seasons pre Bobby and those were mediocre. Not sure he was "the roadrunner" that early. In his prime, his 1st step was a thing of beauty as was Orr gliding end to end

 

[crobro]

Mickey Redmond skated pretty fast

 

[Staniowski]

There were many good skaters around Orr's age, as well. The years following Orr's rookie season saw some very nice skaters.

A bit older than Orr were some players like Savard and Cournoyer.

Dave Keon was a great all-around skater. Henri Richard was fast, had good balance, and skated hard. Frank Mahovlich could skate.

Guys like Tim Horton and Bobby Baun probably aren't known for their speed but they were pretty good skaters, they both moved laterally very well.

Bobby Hull, of course. Fast and quick. Maurice Richard had a similar quick acceleration.

Doug Harvey was one of the best skaters of the O6 era. When he wanted to go, he was really fast, and he was a great all-around skater too, like Fetisov.

Some of the Russians were good skaters too.

 

[Mike C]

Mickey Redmond skated pretty fast

Drank suds even faster

 

[Hanji]

That article in Popular Mechanics that details Hull's 118 mph slapper also measured skating speeds. Obviously the method of measurement is way off, but at least they're probably accurate relative to each other.

It's interesting how Richard and Keon's speeds decreased remarkably when they had the puck.

PLAYER	WITHOUT PUCK	WITH PUCK
Bobby Hull	29.7	28.3
Henri Richard	28.6	25.3
Gordie Howe	28.4	27.6
Dave Keon	28.4	25.2
Frank Mohovlich	28.3	27.8
Doug Mohns	28.1	27.6
Tim Horton	28.0	27.6
Bob Pulford	28.0	27.6
Dick Duff	27.9	27.5

Popular Mechanics

 

[BadgerBruce]

According to the Popular Mechanics article, the various tests were recorded during the 66-67 season. Let’s go with Fall 1966, which would make Hull 27, Howe 38(!), Horton 36.

 

[tinyzombies]

Toe Blake said in a 1978 Gazette interview it was Morenz, but he didn't have the "maneuverability" of Orr. He said it was because Morenz liked contact, but I'm guessing it was because the skates didn't give him any support.

Max Bentley is on Youtube with the Leafs - that guy could fly. Hull, of course. Hec Kilrea beat Morenz in a race - tho not at the same time and timed by eye.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I’d say Bobby Hull.

 

[JackSlater]

Toe Blake said in a 1978 Gazette interview it was Morenz, but he didn't have the "maneuverability" of Orr. He said it was because Morenz liked contact, but I'm guessing it was because the skates didn't give him any support.

Max Bentley is on Youtube with the Leafs - that guy could fly. Hull, of course. Hec Kilrea beat Morenz in a race - tho not at the same time and timed by eye.

I find that's what sets Orr apart as a skater. Not necessarily the speed, which is elite, but incredible balance and agility.