The Week In Bruins History: The Making of a Legend

During the 1966-67 season, Robert Gordon Orr began his historic career with the Boston Bruins. Bobby Orr was only eighteen years old when he played his first NHL game and became the highest paid rookie in NHL history. There is a great debate whether Orr or Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player of all time. There is no mistake however that he was the greatest defencemen of all time. Orr revolutionized the defensive position as an offensive force never see before out of a blue-liner.

Before the start of the 1966-67 season the Bruins wanted to play Orr at center, but quickly realized he belonged at defence. On October 19,1966 Bobby Out made his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings while playing defence with a 6-2 victory. He notched an assist in his first game and later on in the week scored his first NHL goal against Montreal with a slap-shot that beat Hall of Famer Gump Worsley.

Bobby Orr led the Boston Bruins to two Stanley Cup championships during the 1970 and 1972 seasons. His list of hardware doesn't end with just the Cup. He won the Norris Trophy eight times, the Conn Smythe during both Cup wins, the Hart Trophy three times plus numerous other awards. He also owns the single season +/- record with a ridiculous +124 during the 1070-71 season.

That eight-teen year old kid had all of the potential in the world before he was brought into this league on that fall evening in October. Who would have known they he would have blown away all of those expectations and change hockey from what it was before he arrived, to how it has evolved to this present day. No one was or will ever be greater than number four Bobby Orr.