Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins logo
founding November 1, 1924
history Boston Bruins
since 1924
Stadion TD Garden
Location Boston , Massachusetts
Team colors Black, gold, white
league National Hockey League
Conference Eastern Conference
division Atlantic Division
Head coach CanadaCanada Bruce Cassidy
Team captain SlovakiaSlovakia Zdeno Chára
General manager CanadaCanada Don Sweeney
owner United StatesUnited States Jeremy Jacobs
Cooperations Providence Bruins ( AHL )
Atlanta Gladiators ( ECHL )
Stanley Cups 1929 , 1939 , 1941 , 1970 , 1972 , 2011
Conference title 1987/88 , 1989/90 , 2010/11 , 2012/13
Division title 1927/28 , 1928/29 , 1929/30 ,
1930/31 , 1932/33 , 1934/35 ,
1937/38 , 1970/71 , 1971/72 ,
1973/74 , 1975/76 , 1976/77 ,
1977 / 78 , 1978/79 , 1982/83 ,
1983/84 , 1989/90 , 1990/91 ,
1992/93 , 2001/02 , 2003/04 ,
2008/09 , 2010/11 , 2011/12 , 2013/14 , 2019/20

The Boston Bruins ( IPA : [ˈbɒstən 'bɹuːɪns] ) are an American ice hockey franchise of the National Hockey League from Boston , Massachusetts . It was founded on November 1, 1924 and began playing at the beginning of the 1924/25 season . The Bruins belong to the so-called " Original Six " teams of the NHL. Their team colors are black, gold and white.

The Bruins play their home games at TD Garden and were the first team in NHL history to come from the United States. Boston's franchise history has been marked by ups and downs. After the team was one of the most successful in the NHL from the late 1930s to World War II , the franchise fell into a deep hole in the following years. In the 1960s, the Bruins missed the playoffs eight times in a row before finding their way back to the top of the NHL in the early 1970s. In 1997 the team missed qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. In the 2010/11 season , the team won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972 .

history

Early Years Before the War (1924-1941)

Thanks to the persuasiveness of Charles Adams , a grocery wholesaler, the NHL , which at that time was still a purely Eastern Canadian league, decided to make the leap across the border into the United States . The first choice fell on Boston , a city in which ice hockey already had a corresponding status. At the same time, there were commitments to two other US cities (New York and Pittsburgh), which were to follow in the league a year later.

Adams proved a lucky hand by hiring Art Ross as general manager. Ross stayed with the Bruins for 30 years, coaching them four times during that time. But first he was asked to look for a name for the new team. Adams had something in mind with an animal that combined speed, agility and cunning. The colors brown and gold had already been chosen (in 1939 brown became black). Bessie Moss, who ran the office for Adams and Ross and had followed the name search, suggested “Bruins”, a slang term for brown bear in English . The name found the approval of the two.

After two disappointing sporting years at the beginning, Art Ross used the opportunity presented by the bankruptcy of the Western Canada Hockey League . He signed a number of players, including defenseman Eddie Shore who over time became the Bruins' first star. The team made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time . They were still defeated, but two years later the Bruins were able to take the Cup with them to Boston for the first time. Besides Shore, Dit Clapper and goalkeeper Tiny Thompson were other stars of the team. Not only was the team in top shape at the time, the new stadium, the Boston Garden , was also cause for pride.

In the 1930s, Babe Siebert and Cooney Weiland joined the team as other stars, but it was only after Ross goalie Thompson had transferred to Montreal, making room for the young Frank Brimsek , that the second Stanley Cup win could be celebrated. Mr. Zero , as Brimsek was called, brought the opposing attackers to despair, while the attack swirled the Kraut Line with Milt Schmidt , Bobby Bauer and Woody Dumart as well as Bill Cowley . With Cooney Weiland as coach, the dominant Bruins managed to win the Stanley Cup a third time in 1941 , but it would be the last cup win for many years.

Second World War and the time of the "Original Six" (1941 to 1967)

The Second World War hit probably no other team as hard as the Bruins. Brimsek and the three Kraut Line players went to war and thus missed what are probably the best years of their careers. The Bruins were accordingly not very successful in the following years.

In addition to Cowley and Busher Jackson , who came from Toronto, hopes were placed on the "Sprout Line" in the next to the 17-year-old Don Gallinger , who was 16 years old and the youngest NHL player of all time, Bep Guidolin . The Bruins tried to cover up their deficits through offensive play. Herb Cain set a new record with 82 points scorer. The Brimsek, Schmidt, Bauer and Dumart returned from the war for the 1945/46 season. Dit Clapper took over the Art Ross team as player-coach. The returnees led the team back to the top of the league, they reached the finals, but lost to the Montréal Canadiens . Since 1946, the Bruins players have been broadcast on the radio. The Bruins blocked number 2 from Eddie Shore at the beginning of 1947 and Clappers number 5 six weeks later. The 1947/48 season was overshadowed by a betting scandal. Don Gallinger, one of the Bruins' best attackers, had worked with bookmakers. Even if he had only bet on the Bruins wins, he was suspended for life.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Bruins, the Bruins wore the B on their jersey for the first time. The club management had meanwhile passed on to the son of Charles Adams, Weston Adams , but this was in financial difficulties. So Walter A. Brown, the owner of the Boston Celtics, was able to take over the team in 1951. On November 1, 1952, a game with the Bruins was televised. Between 1952 and 1958 the Bruins reached the playoffs six times, three times they failed in the first round at the Canadiens, in the other three years they reached the finals, where they always meet the Canadiens every time. 1958 made his debut with Willie O'Ree, the first colored man in the NHL.

The 1960s began with a playful slump. From 1960 to 1967 the Bruins were only once not last in the regular season, but fan support remained unbroken. In the 1960/61 season , Jerry Toppazzini represented the injured goalkeeper Don Simmons in one game for five minutes . He was the last outfield player to stand in for a goalkeeper. The Bruins farm team system was not as well developed as the other teams. With Tommy Williams , who had won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, 1962 was the only American player in the NHL in the ranks of the Bruins. With 21 goals, he set a record for American-born players. In 1964, after the death of Walter A. Brown, Weston Adams bought the Bruins back and began to renew the team. With Harry Sinden a new trainer was brought out of the farm team system. The Bruins entered the final season of the “Original Six” era with a young defender, who made the Bruins fans feel that the team's heart was still beating.

Orr, Esposito and the Expansion (1967 to 1979)

The league opened for six new teams in 1967 and as the league changed, the former whipping boy also turned into a top team. Alongside Bobby Orr , perhaps the best defender ever to play in the NHL, one of the most one-sided barter deals in NHL history was the reason for the rapid rise. Of the Chicago Blackhawks were Phil Esposito , Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield come. A year after Orr, Derek Sanderson was again voted the best rookie in the NHL, a player from Boston. The 1968/69 season brought a number of records: Esposito was the first player to score over 100 points in one season. Bobby Orr also surpassed previous bests for defenders. With 99 points in the 1969/70 season , the Bruins set a previous record. After a sovereign performance in the playoffs, they met the St. Louis Blues in the finals . The Blues were in the final series for the third time in a row, but as in the previous two years they were defeated against the Bruins in only four games. After 29 years, the Bruins were finally able to bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston. The successful coach, Harry Sinden, left the team after this success.

The following year, the Bruins dominated the regular season at will. Seven Bruins players were among the top ten scorers. But a defeat in the second playoff game against the Canadiens after a 5-1 lead brought the Bruins out of step and so they did not succeed in defending their title, which they believed to be safe. Also led by Esposito and Orr, the Bruins reached the finals again in the 1971/72 season . The opponent this time were the New York Rangers . Like two years before, it was again Bobby Orr who scored the decisive goal of the Stanley Cup win.

The newly founded WHA made problems for the Bruins. Harry Sinden was worried less because the New England Whalers were a local rival, but rather because of the well-paid offers that prompted players like Sanderson, Hodge and Cheevers to move on. In the summer he had replaced Milt Schmidt as General Manager. In the 1973/74 season , Ross Brooks made his debut, a 36-year-old goalkeeper who won 14 games in a row. Bobby Orr demonstrated his strength in a game against the Rangers, in which he contributed seven points. With 145 points, Phil Esposito led the NHL scorer list for the fourth time in a row.

The rebuilding of the team began during the 1975/76 season under Don Cherry , who brought more toughness to Boston's game. For Esposito came from the New York Rangers with Brad Park and Jean Ratelle a strong defender and scorer in the coming years. Bobby Orr was only able to play ten games due to a knee injury. Johnny Bucyk scored his 500th goal. In the 1976/77 season , the Bruins went without Orr, who had moved to Chicago. Ken Hodge had also left the team for the New York Ranges. For him came a future star in Rick Middleton . With Matti Hagman there was a player in the Bruins squad for the first time who had learned to play ice hockey in Europe. The Bruins reached the finals, but lost to the Canadiens there. For the first time in the history of the NHL Terry O'Reilly made it in the 1977/78 season with over 200 penalty minutes among the top 10 scorers of the NHL. The Bruins had only lost one playoff game before the final, but again Montreal was too strong an opponent. On January 9, 1979, the Bruins honored Bobby Orr by never awarding his number 4 jersey again. In the semifinals, the Bruins were eliminated again against their feared opponent from Montreal. A mistake in stoppage time in the seventh game was responsible for the elimination. General Manager Harry Sinden then dismissed coach Cherry.

1980s and 1990s

In the 1979 NHL Entry Draft , the Bruins got Ray Bourque, a player who should become the figurehead of the Bruins. In his first season with the Bruins, he scored 65 points, more than any defender had ever achieved in his first season. On March 13, 1980, the Bruins honored Johnny Bucyk, whose jersey with the number 9 was blocked. Top scorer in the early 1980s was Rick Middleton , the first player since Phil Esposito to score over 50 goals for Boston. Barry Pederson had a strong debut as a rookie with 44 goals, a record for rookies. In the 1982/83 season they got Pete Peeters a new goalkeeper from the Philadelphia Flyers . He remained unbeaten in 31 consecutive games and thus played a major role in ensuring that the Bruins finished the regular season as the best team. In the playoffs, however, they failed because of the New York Islanders , who were outstanding at the time and who won the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in a row. For the 1983/84 season , the NHL introduced overtime again in a draw in the regular season. The first win in added time for the Bruins secured Rick Middleton. Only as the sixth defender in NHL history, Ray Bourque scored over 30 goals in one season.

In the 1985/86 season , the Bruins were plagued by injury concerns. Middleton, who scored the 400th goal of his career that season, was prevented from playing by a concussion. The need in defense was so great that assistant coach Mike Milbury moved into the squad for 22 games. After the season ended, GM Sather believed that Barry Pederson had already peaked early in his career and gave him to the Vancouver Canucks . As a prize for the young attacker, the Bruins received another star with Cam Neely and a draft right with which the Bruins with Glen Wesley were able to further strengthen their defense. Neely was a role model for a whole generation of strikers with his physical play. In his first season he finished second behind Bourque on the team's scorer list. On December 3, 1987, Ray Bourque exchanged his jersey with the number 7 for the number 77, as the 7 was blocked in honor of Phil Esposito. Jay Miller set a record for the Bruins with 302 penalty minutes. In the playoffs you could win a series against the Montréal Canadiens for the first time in 45 years. So the Bruins reached the finals again. A power outage in the fourth game caused a sensation at the Bruins. In terms of sport, they had nothing to oppose the Edmonton Oilers to Wayne Gretzky and lost without winning a game.

Reinforced with Craig Janney and Bobby Carpenter , the team made it to the finals again in the 1989/90 season , but this time Edmonton could not be defeated. In the regular season, the goalkeeping duo with Reggie Lemelin and Andy Moog convinced and allowed the fewest goals against in the NHL with 232. In the following year, Vladimír Růžička was the first player from Eastern Europe in the Bruins squad. 1991 and 1992 lost to the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins . Adam Oates , who had been brought in from St. Louis for Janney , was now in the squad . Another great hope was Joé Juneau , who set a record as a rookie with 70 assists. Often, however, you had to do without Cam Neely, who was sidelined for long periods due to injury. They had bad luck with the signing of Al Iafrate . He had been brought from Washington for Juneau, but at the end of the season he missed the next two seasons due to injury. The team found a new home in the Fleet Center in 1995 , even if many fans wept after the legendary Boston Garden .

Great hope was placed in Kevin Stevens , who came from Pittsburgh in 1995, but after only three months they parted ways with the disappointing attacker. Rick Tocchet came for him . When he was handed over to Washington with Oates and goalkeeper Bill Ranford , Jozef Stümpel took the chance and became the Bruins' first European top scorer. This conversion did not leave the team unaffected. In the 1996/97 season , a series ended that had never been seen before in North America. The Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years.

Three young players had come from Washington with Jim Carey , Anson Carter and Jason Allison . While Carey disappointed, Carter did well. Allison, considered an eternal talent with the Capitals, made his breakthrough with the Bruins. Due to the weak preseason, the Bruins were allowed to select first in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and brought in Joe Thornton a future star of the team. But at first he found it difficult to live up to expectations. Alongside Allison, Dmytro Chrystytsch was the team's top scorer. While they waited for Thornton's breakthrough, another rookie, Sergei Samsonov , played his way into the limelight.

The new millennium

After a disappointing start to the new millennium, the Bruins only reached the playoffs again in the 2001/02 season . For the first time since 1993, the team around Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonow, Brian Rolston and Glen Murray managed to end the season as leaders of their conference. As the best team in the preliminary round in the east, however, they did not manage to continue this performance in the playoffs. In the first round they failed to the Montréal Canadiens . In the 2002/03 season , five different goalkeepers were used, none of which convinced. Therefore, the management undertook to 2003/04 with Felix Potvin an experienced goalkeeper who impressed at the start with strong performances. After his performances in the course of the season, however, moved up young goalkeeper Andrew Raycroft to the position of the goalkeeper. He showed the performance that Potvin had hoped for. For this he received the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in the NHL at the end of the season . Boston was again division winners, but in the playoffs the team failed again in the first round against the Montréal Canadiens.

Marc Savard in the face-off in front of the Bruins bank during a home game against Pittsburgh

After the 2004/05 season , which was canceled due to a lockout , the Bruins signed Alexei Schamnow and Brian Leetch, experienced players. The biggest change came during the season when Joe Thornton was given up to the San Jose Sharks . In return, the German Marco Sturm , Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau came . For this transfer business, General Manager Mike O'Connell received harsh criticism from both the media and the fans, as Thornton was the long-time identification figure and the best player of the team and the Bruins had not received an equivalent replacement. Sergei Samsonov was also given up. The hoped-for success did not materialize and the team clearly missed the playoffs.

As a result, Peter Chiarelli was hired as general manager and the coaching position was filled with Dave Lewis , who had previously won the Stanley Cup three times as assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings . In the 2006 NHL Entry Draft , they selected 18-year-old striker Phil Kessel in the first round , who immediately received an NHL contract. With Zdeno Chára and Marc Savard an experienced defender and a playmaker have been signed.

The 2006/07 season started poorly for the Bruins, but stabilized somewhat over the next few months. In December, Phil Kessel announced he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer, but was back on the ice in January. From a sporting point of view, the season was disappointing after the turn of the year, which was not changed by some player transfers. At the end of the season, Boston was last in the division.

With Claude Julien , a new coach was signed again. The team around Savard, Sturm and Chara, in which Manny Fernandez was now in goal, reached the playoffs in the 2007/08 season as eighth-placed team. In the first round, the team met again on the Montréal Canadiens and despite a good performance, the team lost in seven games, as so often against the Canadiens.

In the 2008/09 season , the team won the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 1989/90 season . After a first round win over their rivals from Montreal in four games, the team lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven encounters in the following round .

Two seasons later, the sixth Stanley Cup and the first since 1972 was won. The most successful players in the playoffs were top scorer David Krejčí and MVP Tim Thomas , Patrice Bergeron and captain Zdeno Chára.

Venues, spectators and entrance fees

season Average audience Average
entry price
2006/07 16,764 $ 56.44
2005/06 16,211 $ 53.05
2004/05 - -
2003/04 15,070 $ 54.10
2002/03 15,029 $ 51.37
2001/02 15,403 $ 49.29
2000/01 15,432 $ 49.36
1999/00 16,323 $ 49.22
1998/99 16,300 $ 47.50
1997/98 15,098 $ 48.17
1996/97 15,551 $ 52.58
1995/96 17,361 $ 52.58
1994/95 14.301 $ 40.84
1993/94 14,073
1992/93 14,233
1991/92 14,276
1990/91 14,340
1989/90 14,314
The TD Banknorth Garden

Until 1928, the Bruins played in the almost 6,000-seat Boston Arena , which had opened in 1910.

The stadium was no longer sufficient for the demands of the time and so it was built according to plans by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who had already designed the Madison Square Garden in New York, the Boston Garden, which was initially to be called "Boston Madison Square Garden". With a capacity of 14,890 spectators, it was the home that the Bruins had wanted. The location of the stadium was ideal as it was very close to the center and right next to Boston North Station, a hub for public transport. The Bruins played in this stadium for over 60 years and celebrated their greatest successes there, so that many memories of the fans in and around Boston still hang on the old venue. The audience record was set somewhat involuntarily in November 1928. The rush for a game against the Montréal Canadiens was so great that the stewards lost control of the doors and the stadium was crowded with an estimated 17,000 spectators. The Bruins, who won the Stanley Cup this season, also lost 1-0 that evening. In the early 1990s, the Bruins had an average attendance of over 14,000 in the Boston Garden. The stadium was occupied with around 95 percent. The entry price in the old stadium was a moderate $ 40.83 last season.

However, in 1995 the old building had to be closed and was demolished three years later. As the new home of the Bruins, the Fleet Center was built next to the Garden , which is now called TD Banknorth Garden and has a capacity of 17,565 spectators. The new stadium initially attracted a large number of spectators and so the average attendance rose to 17,361 in the first season. On the one hand, there were now more expensive seats, as requested by the clubs, but the higher level of comfort was also paid for, and so the average entry price rose to $ 52.58. After the initial curiosity subsided, the average attendance fell and those responsible also reduced the entrance fees. In the year after the strike season, there was once again a significant increase in viewers, but after poor performance the demand and the 2006/07 season fell again noticeably. The ticket price also continued to rise and is now at $ 56.44 in the upper field of the NHL.

Farm teams

The Bruins, like all other NHL teams, also include a team in lower-class leagues , a so-called farm team . In the case of the Bruins, these have been the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League since 1992 . The farm teams are often used in the NHL to prepare the young players and rookies for the "real" NHL games. Like the other clubs, the Bruins draw their offspring primarily through the NHL Entry Draft , through which the most promising young players enter the league every year.

The Boston Bruins' farm teams since 1959:

Period team league
1959-1963 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL
1963-1965 Minneapolis Bruins EPHL
1965-1968 Oklahoma City Blazers CPHL
1969-1970 Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL
1969-1972 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL
1969-1972 Syracuse Blazers EHL
1969-1976 Dayton Gems IHL
1969-1971 Hershey Bears AHL
1971-1974 Boston Braves AHL
1972-1974 Cape Cod Cubs NEAR
1973-1974 San Diego Gulls WHL
Period team league
1974-1977 Binghamton Dusters NEAR
1974-1980 Rochester Americans AHL
1976-1977 Columbus Owls IHL
1978-1979 New Hampshire Freedoms NEHL
1979-1980 Binghamton Dusters AHL
1980-1981 Springfield Indians AHL
1980-1982 Saginaw Gears IHL
1980-1981 Erie Blades EHL
1981-1982 Baltimore Skipjacks ACHL
1982-1983 Flint Generals IHL
1983-1985 Hershey Bears AHL
Period team league
1984-1985 Indianapolis Checkers IHL
1985-1987 Moncton Golden Flames AHL
1985-1988 Milwaukee Admirals IHL
1987-1992 Maine Mariners AHL
1991-1993 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL
since 1992 Providence Bruins AHL
1993-1998 Charlotte Checkers ECHL
1998-2002 Greenville Grrrowl ECHL
2009–2012 Reading Royals ECHL
2012-2015 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL
since 2015 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL

Owner and Economic Development

season value sales Profit loss
1997/98 185 66.1 18.0
1998/99 197 70.5 10.1
1999/00 217 80.7 15.9
2000/01 230 80.0 10.5
2001/02 243 87.0 6.7
2002/03 223 84.0 2.8
2003/04 236 95.0 2.3
2004/05 no data due to lockout
2005/06 235 86.0 4.8
2006/07 243 87.0 −0.6

* All figures in millions of US dollars

The current owner of the Bruins is Jeremy Jacobs , CEO of the Delaware North Companies . Since June 2007, he has been chairman of the NHL Board of Governors , the league's association of team owners.

Economic development

During the 1997-98 season , the Boston Bruins had revenues of $ 66.1 million, their profit of $ 18.0 million was the largest in the NHL. At $ 185 million, the Boston team was the league's third most valuable franchise. By the 2000/01 game year , the value had grown to 230 million US dollars, even if third place was lost. The following year, profits fell below ten million US dollars for the first time.

The following season, 2002/03, was an economic setback, the value of the franchise declined for the first time and at 223 million US dollars was almost 10 percent below the previous year's value. In the following year, the franchise was able to rise again in value after a significant increase in sales to 95 million US dollars.

After the failure of the 2004/05 season , the Bruins kept their value largely constant and were able to more than double their profit. In the 2006/07 season , the poor athletic performance also had economic consequences. For the first time, a loss of $ 600,000 was made.

Miscellaneous

Unofficial club anthem

The Ventures “instrumental rock” version of the Nutcracker overture, known as “Nutty” , is something like the unofficial club anthem of the Boston Bruins. "Nutty" was also covered by the Boston folk-punk band " Dropkick Murphys ", who also dedicated the song "Time to Go" to the team.

Achievements and honors

Sporting successes

Stanley Cups
season
1928/29 , 1938/39 , 1940/41 , 1969/70 , 1971/72 , 2010/11
Presidents' Trophies
season
1989/90 , 2013/14
Conference Championships season
Prince of Wales Trophy 1927/28 , 1928/29 , 1929/30 ,
1930/31 , 1932/33 , 1934/35 ,
1937/38 , 1938/39 *, 1939/40 *,
1940/41 *, 1970/71 , 1971/72 ,
1973/74 , 1987/88 , 1989/90 , 2010/11
2012/13 , 2018/19
Division Championships season
Eastern Division 1970/71 , 1971/72 , 1973/74
Adams Division 1975/76 , 1976/77 , 1977/78 ,
1978/79 , 1982/83 , 1983/84 ,
1989/90 , 1990/91 , 1992/93
Northeast Division 2001/02 , 2003/04 , 2008/09 ,
2010/11 , 2011/12
Atlantic Division 2013/14 , 2019/20

* In the time of the " Original Six " only one division was played. The
best team of the regular season received the Prince of Wales Trophy .

Player trophies

Art Ross Trophy (or top scorer before 1948): When Art Ross was still the coach of the Bruins and the best scorer of a season had not yet received a trophy, four Bruins players topped the NHL scorer list. After a long dry spell, the Bruins dominated this rating from 1969. Phil Esposito was the first player to score over 100 points, and the following year Bobby Orr was the first defender to become top scorer. Esposito set Gordie Howe's recordby winning this trophy five times. A good 30 years later, Joe Thornton left the Bruins during the 2005/06 season and became the league's top scorer with his new team. His points from the games that he had played for Boston during the season also helped him become top scorer of the year.

(* joined the San Jose Sharks during the 2005/06 season )

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy : The first Bruins winner, Charlie Simmer, scored 60 points after recovering from injury. Gord Kluzak and Cam Neely returned to the ice after many serious injuries and were honored for this. However, both ended their careers soon after receiving the honor as a result of these injuries. Phil Kessel was honored for his return after recovering from cancer.

Calder Memorial Trophy : The Bruins consistently presented the best rookie of the year . At the end of the 1960s, they even managed to do this twice in a row. Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson were then able to work together to lead the Bruins into glorious times.

Conn Smythe Trophy : Since this trophy was introduced, the Bruins have won the Stanley Cup three times. In the first two seasons, Bobby Orr was named the best player in the playoffs.

Frank J. Selke Trophy : For a long time only Steve Kasper was honored as the best defensive attacker. In 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017 Patrice Bergeron received four awards.

Hart Memorial Trophy : At the time of Eddie Shore, there was no award for best defender. Four times in a row he was voted Most Valuable Player in the NHL. He was the first lawyer to receive this honor. No player before Shore had received this award four times. Shortly thereafter, Bill Cowley, another Bruins player, received this award twice. Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr have also won this trophy several times.

(* joined the San Jose Sharks during the 2005/06 season )

Jack Adams Award : Three Bruins coaches named best coaches of the season. Don Cherry was only the third winner of this award.

James Norris Memorial Trophy : Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque can claim to have been the best defenders of their time. Orr has been named the NHL's best defender eight times in a row. No other defender received the trophy as often.

King Clancy Memorial Trophy : Two Bruins players have been recognized for their leadership skills off the ice in successive seasons.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy : Five Bruins players were honored for their high sporting standard and exemplary behavior. Bobby Bauer was the first of them. He received this award three times. Johnny Bucyk also received the award twice. Jean Ratelle came only during the season in which he won this award.

(* signed by the New York Rangers during the 1975/76 season )

Lester B. Pearson Award : Phil Esposito was the first player to receive this players union award.

Lester Patrick Trophy :

Mark Messier Leadership Award : This award , which has been presented annually since 2007, honors players with particularly outstanding leadership qualities.

NHL Plus / Minus Award : This statistic was only officially reported in 1968. Dallas Smith was the first winner of this rating. In the first few years, mostly no player came close to Bobby Orr. From 2009 to 2014 the trophy went to the Bruins four times, including two to David Krejčí.

Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award : The award for the goalkeeper with the best catch quota, who has played at least 25 regular season games over the course of the season, was first won by a Bruins player in 2009 when Tim Thomas secured the trophy.

Vezina Trophy : In the 1930s, Tiny Thompson was recognized for the lowest goal average. His successor in the Bruins' goal, Frank Brimsek, also succeeded. It took more than 40 years until Pete Peters, another goalkeeper for the Bruins, received this award.

William M. Jennings Trophy : Twice a goalkeeping duo of the Bruins received the award for the fewest goals conceded in a season.

NHL All-Star Game Nominations

From the ranks of the Bruins, 55 field players and eleven goalkeepers were in the squad of one of the two All-Star teams. This also takes into account the three benefit games that were played before the introduction of the NHL All-Star Game . The field players came to 150 missions in which they scored 33 goals and 64 assists. The goalkeepers also bring in 15 missions. Six Bruins rookies were in the squad for the YoungStars Game, which was played from 2002 to 2009.

Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists,
Pts = points

Surname from ... to GP G A. Pts
Ray Bourque 1981-2000 18th 4th 13 17th
Phil Esposito 1969-1975 7th 2 1 3
Bobby Orr 1968-1975 7th 1 2 3
Johnny Bucyk 1963-1971 6th 1 3 4th
Don McKenney 1957-1962 6th 2 0 2
Bill Quackenbush 1949-1954 6th 0 1 2
Cam Neely 1988-1996 5 2 3 5
Doug Poppies 1954-1952 5 1 0 1
Fernie Flaman 1952-1959 5 0 0 0

By far the most nominations had Ray Bourque , who represented the Bruins in all 18 All-Star Games from 1981 until 2000. The first forerunner of the NHL All-Star Game was held as a result of an unfortunate event in the history of the Bruins. Boston's Eddie Shore had injured Ace Bailey so badly with a check that he had to end his career. Then the Ace Bailey Benefit Game was held, in which an all-star team of the NHL ran for the first time. In addition to Shore, Dit Clapper and Tiny Thompson were two other Bruins players on the selection team.

The 1st National Hockey League All-Star Game took place in 1947 and with Frank Brimsek , Milt Schmidt , Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer there were four players in the All-Star roster. Schmidt with a template and Bauer with a sentence immortalized in the statistics books. Woody Dumart then scored the first goal for a Bruins player in the 2nd National Hockey League All-Star Game .

In the early years, the Stanley Cup winner was always the host of the All-Star Game. The defending champion was often also an opponent of the All-Star team. It was only when this regulation was lifted that the Bruins were able to win the title and then host the event for the first time in 1971 . After moving to a new hall, the All-Star Game was awarded to Boston for the second time in 1996 .

Some Bruins players also hold records or have been involved in the NHL All-Star Game. Ray Bourque, who played an all-star game for the Colorado Avalanche even after leaving Boston , took part in an all-star game 19 times without a break. Only Gordie Howe can look back on more participations, but not without interruption. Adam Oates reach 1,993 four assists of the game in the first period. Only 17 seconds had passed in the second third of the All-Star Game 1999 when Ray Bourque scored the fastest goal in a game segment.

With Bobby Orr (1972), Ray Bourque (1996) and Bill Guerin (2001) a Bruins player was three times the most valuable player in the All-Star Game.

An All-Star team has been coached by a Bruins coach ten times. Milt Schmidt and Lynn Patrick were each allowed to stand behind the gang twice. Art Ross , Harry Sinden , Tom Johnson , Terry O'Reilly , Mike Milbury and Claude Julien came on a mission.

In addition to the All-Star Games, there were three other occasions where the NHL provided an All-Star team. At the 1972 Summit Series , Eddie Johnston , Bobby Orr , Don Awrey , Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman of the Bruins were in the roster led by Harry Sinden . At the 1979 Challenge Cup , the Bruins were represented by Gerry Cheevers and Don Marcotte . As in the first two series, at Rendez-vous '87 the Soviet national team was opponent of the NHL team that competed with Ray Bourque .

Franchise records

Selected player records of the franchise over the entire career as well as over individual seasons are listed below.

Career

Ray Bourque holds various franchise records
Surname number
Most games Ray Bourque 1,518 (in 21 seasons)
Most consecutive games Johnny Bucyk 418 (January 23, 1969 to March 2, 1975)
Most goals Johnny Bucyk 545
Most templates Ray Bourque 1,111
Most of the points Ray Bourque 1,506 (395 goals + 1,111 assists)
Most penalty minutes Terry O'Reilly 2,095
Most shutouts Tiny Thompson 74

season

Surname number season
Most goals Phil Esposito 76 1970/71
Most templates Bobby Orr 102 1970/71
Most of the points Phil Esposito 152 (76 goals + 76 assists) 1970/71
Most points as a rookie Joé Juneau 102 (32 goals + 70 assists) 1992/93
Most points as a defender Bobby Orr 139 (37 goals + 102 assists) 1970/71
Most penalty minutes Jay Miller 302 1987/88
Most wins as a goalkeeper Pete Peeters 40 1982/83

Trainer and General Manager

The "Ross Era" (1924 to 1954)

Abbreviations: GC = games, W = wins, L = defeats, T = draws, OTL = defeats after
overtime , Pts = points, Win% = win rate

Trainer
Surname season Regular season Playoffs
GC W. L. T Pts Win% GC W. L. T
Kind Ross 1924 / 25–1927 / 28 154 64 72 18th 63 .416 20th 2 3 5
Cy Denneny 1928/29 44 26th 13 5 57 .591 5 5 0 0
Kind Ross 1929 / 30-1933 / 34 232 124 76 32 280 .534 16 7th 9 0
Frank Patrick 1934 / 35-1935 / 36 96 48 36 12 108 .500 6th 2 4th 0
Kind Ross 1936 / 37-1938 / 39 144 89 39 16 194 .618 18th 9 9 0
Cooney Weiland 1939 / 40-1940 / 41 96 58 20th 18th 134 .604 17th 10 7th 0
Kind Ross 1941 / 42-1944 / 45 198 84 90 24 192 .424 21st 9 12 0
The clapper 1945 / 46–1948 / 49 230 102 88 40 244 .443 25th 8th 17th 0
George "Buck" Boucher 1949/50 70 22nd 32 16 60 .314 - - - -
Lynn Patrick 1950 / 51–1954 / 55 310 117 130 63 297 .377 28 9 18th 1

* Change during the season

General manager
Surname season
Kind Ross 1924 / 25–1953 / 54

For the first thirty years of the Bruins, Art Ross was the dominant figure in the club. In the early years he acted as head coach and general manager. After leading his team to their first Stanley Cup win in 1928 , he brought in Cy Denneny, an experienced player who, as a player-coach, acted as his extended arm on the ice. The plan worked and the Bruins defended their title. After Denneny retired after that season, Ross took the place behind the gang again. After four more years as a coach, he brought in Frank Patrick , Lester Patrick's brother , a very experienced coach. He stayed with the Bruins for two years and then returned to Art Ross. Ross' third coaching phase lasted three years. In fifteen years Ross had a few players in the squad with whom he was very familiar. One of them was Cooney Weiland. After he had finished his active career, he was handed over the coaching post from Ross. In 1941 he led the Bruins to their third Stanley Cup. After that success, Ross returned behind the gang for the fourth and final time. This time he stayed for four years and again it was a former player, Dit Clapper, who he entrusted the team.

His successor Buck Boucher was not very successful, as he looked after the team in the 1949/50 season . After he missed the playoffs with his team, his stint ended after just one year. With Lynn Patrick Ross got a man who should be his successor. He took over the team 15 years after his uncle Frank. Under the wing of his father he had long at the Lester Patrick New York Rangers played and as a coach in the AHL - farm team also collected the first experiences behind the gang.

The heirs of Art Ross (1954 to 1972)

Trainer
Surname season Regular season Playoffs
GC W. L. T Pts Win% GC W. L.
Milt Schmidt 1954 / 55-1960 / 61 460 172 203 85 429 .374 34 15th 19th
Phil Watson 1961 / 62–1962 / 63 * 82 16 55 13 45 .195 - - -
Milt Schmidt 1962/63 * -1965/66 266 73 157 36 182 .274 - - -
Harry Sinden 1966 / 67–1969 / 70 296 136 105 55 327 .459 28 18th 10
Tom Johnson 1970 / 71-1972 / 73 208 142 43 23 307 .683 22nd 15th 7th
General manager
Surname season
Lynn Patrick 1954 / 55–1964 / 65
Hap Emms 1965 / 66–1966 / 67
Milt Schmidt 1967 / 68–1971 / 72

In 1954, Art Ross announced his resignation and Lynn Patrick, whom he had hired as a coach a few years earlier, succeeded him as General Manager. In order to be able to devote himself to the new task, Milt Schmidt, who was already a supporter of the Bruins as a player with the " Kraut Line " , became head coach. After six seasons he was replaced by Phil Watson, but after this was unsuccessful in the course of his second season, it came in the history of the Bruins to the first coach dismissal during the current season. Milt Schmidt returned behind the gang and stayed there for another four years. In his last season, Hap Emms took over the position of General Manager. He held the post for two years before Milt Schmidt took over the post of GM in 1967. Harry Sinden, the successful coach of the farm team, had been promoted to head coach. He led the Bruins back on a successful path. He was actively supported by the two stars of the time, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito .

The "Sinden era" (1972 to 2001)

Trainer
Surname season Regular season Playoffs
GC W. L. T OTL Pts Win% GC W. L.
Bep Guidolin 1972 / 73–1973 / 74 104 72 23 9 - 153 .692 21st 11 10
Don Cherry 1974 / 75-1988 / 79 400 231 105 64 - 526 .548 55 31 24
Fred Creighton 1979/80 * 73 40 20th 13 - 93 .548 - - -
Harry Sinden 1979/80 * 7th 6th 1 0 - 12 .857 10 4th 6th
Gerry Cheevers 1980 / 81–1984 / 85 * 376 204 126 64 - 470 .515 34 15th 19th
Harry Sinden 1984/85 * 24 11 10 3 - 25th .458 5 2 3
Butch Goring 1985 / 86–1986 / 87 * 93 42 38 13 - 97 .452 3 0 3
Terry O'Reilly 1986/87 * -1988 / 89 227 115 86 26th - 256 .507 36 17th 19th
Mike Milbury 1989 / 90–1990 / 91 160 90 49 21st - 201 .563 40 23 17th
Rick Bowness 1991/92 80 36 32 12 - 84 .450 15th 8th 7th
Brian Sutter 1992 / 93-1994 / 95 216 120 73 23 - 263 .556 22nd 7th 15th
Steve Kasper 1995 / 96-1996 / 97 164 66 78 20th - 152 .402 5 1 4th
Pat Burns 1997 / 98–2000 / 01 * 254 105 97 46 6th 262 .413 18th 8th 10
Mike Keenan 2000/01 * 74 33 26th 7th 8th 81 .446 - - -
General manager
Surname season
Harry Sinden 1972 / 73-2000 / 01

The role Art Ross played in the early years was now given to Harry Sinden. With Bep Guidolin , there was a former player behind the gang when Sinden took office. One had the impression that Sinden had fired him after his second season, but later he said that he was tired of the criticism from Sinden and was no longer interested in the job with the Bruins. He was followed by Don Cherry, one of the most dazzling figures in ice hockey. In 1976, Cherry was the first Bruins coach to win the Jack Adams Award as the best coach in the league . 1979 you got with Fred Creighton the former coach of the Atlanta Flames , but seven game days before the end of the season this was dismissed by Sinden. Sinden stood behind the gang himself until the end of the season, before handing over the team to Gerry Cheevers, another former Bruin star. After four successful years, a weaker train followed and Sinden pulled the emergency brake again and returned behind the gang. He also had little patience with Butch Goring , who was very successful as an assistant coach with the Islanders. He was soon replaced by his assistant Terry O'Reilly , who after three successful years handed over to his assistant Mike Milbury . During his time as an assistant, Milbury put on the jersey again during a phase with many injuries. After a brief guest appearance by Rick Bowness , Brian Sutter was a coach who could last three seasons with his good work. However, he did not manage to save the good performance of the regular season in the playoffs. With Steve Kasper , a former Bruins player was once again head coach. Pat Burns , who took over the team in 1997, had already looked after two other original Six teams, Montréal and Toronto . In the very first year he won the Jack Adams Award. At the beginning of his last season as General Manager, Sinden brought in Mike Keenan, a former successful coach who, however, was very controversial in the industry. He could not lead the Bruins into the playoffs and vacated his place after the end of the season.

The new millennium (since 2001)

Trainer
Surname season Regular season Playoffs
GC W. L. T OTL Pts Win% GC W. L.
Robbie Ftorek 2001 / 02–2002 / 03 * 155 76 49 52 14th 218 .490 6th 2 4th
Mike O'Connell 2002/03 * 9 3 3 3 0 9 .333 5 1 4th
Mike Sullivan 2003/04/2005/06 164 70 56 15th 23 178 .429 7th 3 4th
Dave Lewis 2006/07 82 35 41 0 6th 76 .463 - - -
Claude Julien 2007 / 08–2016 / 17 * 759 419 246 - 94 932 .614 97 57 40
Bruce Cassidy since 2016/17 * 109 68 28 - 13 149 .683 18th 7th 11
General manager
Surname season
Mike O'Connell 2000/01/2005/06
Peter Chiarelli 2006 / 07–2014 / 15
Don Sweeney since 2015/16

In November 2000, Mike O'Connell took over the post of General Manager. After a little over a year, he extended his contract for five years. His first coach, Robbie Ftorek , came from the New Jersey Devils . Shortly before the end of his second season, O'Connell acted like his predecessor Sinden in previous years and took over the position as head coach for nine regular season games and the playoffs himself. For the 2003/04 season , the previous assistant coach Mike Sullivan took over . His term of office was marked by the major restructuring of the team. O'Connell split from Team Star Joe Thornton and other top performers. These departures could not be compensated and so the general manager was parted. His successor Peter Chiarelli also wanted a new coach and replaced Sullivan with Dave Lewis , who was very successful with the Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach. As head coach he could not build on these successes and had to vacate his post after only one season. He was succeeded by Claude Julien , who had previously coached Montréal and New Jersey.

After the 2014/15 season, in which the Bruins did not reach the playoffs after seven seasons in a row, Peter Chiarelli was sacked and Don Sweeney installed as his successor. Sweeney dismissed Claude Julien in February 2017, who had coached the team for almost ten years and won the Stanley Cup with him in 2011. Bruce Cassidy , who had previously worked as an assistant coach under Julien, was introduced as an interim successor . After the end of the 2016/17 season, the Bruins confirmed they had permanently hired Cassidy as their head coach.

player

Squad for the 2019/20 season

As of December 25, 2019

No. Nat. player Item Date of birth in org. since place of birth
41 SlovakiaSlovakia Jaroslav Halák G May 13, 1985 2018 Bratislava , Czechoslovakia
40 FinlandFinland Tuukka Rask G March 10, 1987 2007 Savonlinna , Finland
25th United StatesUnited States Brandon Carlo D. November 26, 1996 2015 Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA
33 SlovakiaSlovakia Zdeno Chára -  C. D. March 18, 1977 2006 Trenčín , Czechoslovakia
75 United StatesUnited States Connor Clifton D. April 28, 1995 2018 Long Branch , New Jersey , USA
48 United StatesUnited States Matt Grzelcyk D. 05th January 1994 2016 Charlestown , Massachusetts , USA
44 United StatesUnited States Steven Kampfer D. September 24, 1988 2018 Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA
47 United StatesUnited States Torey pitcher D. April 12, 1991 2013 Livonia , Michigan , USA
73 United StatesUnited States Charlie McAvoy D. December 21, 1997 2017 Long Beach , New York , USA
86 United StatesUnited States Kevan Miller Injured.svg D. November 15, 1987 2011 Los Angeles , California , USA
27 United StatesUnited States John Moore D. November 19, 1990 2018 Winnetka , Illinois , USA
37 CanadaCanada Patrice Bergeron -  A. C. July 24, 1985 2003 L'Ancienne-Lorette , Quebec , Canada
10 United StatesUnited States Bjork is different LW 05th August 1996 2017 Mequon , Wisconsin , USA
13 United StatesUnited States Charlie Coyle C. 0March 2, 1992 2019 Weymouth , Massachusetts , USA
74 CanadaCanada Jake DeBrusk LW 17th October 1996 2015 Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
28 Czech RepublicCzech Republic Ondřej Kaše RW 0November 8, 1995 2020 Kadaň , Czech Republic
46 Czech RepublicCzech Republic David Krejčí -  A. C. April 28, 1986 2006 Šternberk , Czechoslovakia
83 United StatesUnited States Karson Kuhlman C. September 26, 1995 2018 Esko , Minnesota , USA
52 United StatesUnited States Sean Kuraly C. January 20, 1993 2016 Dublin , Ohio , USA
26th SwedenSweden Par Lindholm C. 05th October 1991 2019 Kusmark , Sweden
63 CanadaCanada Brad Marchand LW May 11, 1988 2008 Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
20th SwedenSweden Joakim Nordström LW February 25, 1992 2018 Tyresö , Sweden
88 Czech RepublicCzech Republic David Pastrňák RW May 25, 1996 2014 Havířov , Czech Republic
18th CanadaCanada Brett Ritchie RW 0July 1, 1993 2019 Orangeville , Ontario , Canada
CanadaCanada Nick Ritchie LW 05th December 1995 2020 Orangeville , Ontario , Canada
14th United StatesUnited States Chris Wagner C. May 27, 1991 2018 Wellesley , Massachusetts , USA

Team captains

year Surname
1924-1927 no captain
1927-1931 Lionel Hitchman
1931-1932 George Owen
1932-1938 The clapper
1938-1939 Cooney Weiland
1939-1947 The clapper
1947-1950 Jack Crawford
1950-1955 Milt Schmidt
1955 Ed Sandford
1955-1961 Fernie Flaman
1961-1963 Don McKenney
1963-1966 Leo Boivin
1966-1967 Johnny Bucyk
year Surname
1967-1973 no captain
1973-1977 Johnny Bucyk
1977-1983 Wayne Cashman
1983-1985 Terry O'Reilly
1985-1988 Ray Bourque
Rick Middleton
1988-2000 Ray Bourque
2000-2001 Jason Allison
2001-2002 no captain
2002-2005 Joe Thornton
2005-2006 no captain
since 2006 Zdeno Chára
Zdeno Chára is currently the Bruins captain

In the first three years of their existence, the Boston Bruins appeared without a team captain , before Lionel Hitchman took office in 1927 and held it for three years. The first long-time captain was Dit Clapper , who held this post from 1932 to 1947 with a one-year break. Clapper was followed by Jack Crawford and Milt Schmidt , who had been part of the team since 1936 and who wore the "C" for the last five years of his career up to 1955. Then led Fernie Flaman the Bruins in six years. In the following years Don McKenney , Leo Boivin and Johnny Bucyk followed with comparatively short terms of office.

From 1967 onwards the captaincy was no longer awarded and even during the successful seasons in the early 1970s, no player wore the "C". In 1973 Bucyk was again team captain and four years later was replaced by Wayne Cashman , who led the team on the ice for six years.

He was succeeded by Terry O'Reilly in 1983 , before Ray Bourque's 15-year tenure began in 1985 . The first three years he shared the office with Rick Middleton , who ended his career in 1988. Bourque wore the "C" until March 2000 when he moved to the Colorado Avalanche at the age of 39 .

Jason Allison succeeded him, but after a year he left Boston and the position of team captain remained vacant for the time being. In 2002, 23-year-old Joe Thornton , considered a great talent, was named captain and remained so until he joined the San Jose Sharks in December 2005.

Since the summer of 2006 the Slovak Zdeno Chára has been the team captain of the Boston Bruins. He is the first European to wear the "C" for the Bruins.

Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Surname Recording date position
Charles Adams 1960 president
Weston Adams 1972 president
Dave Andreychuk November 13, 2017 player
Marty Barry 1965 player
Bobby Bauer November 25, 1996 player
Leo Boivin 1986 player
Ray Bourque November 8, 2004 player
Frank Brimsek 1966 player
Walter A. Brown 1962 president
Johnny Bucyk 1981 player
Gerry Cheevers 1985 player
The clapper 1947 player
Roy Conacher November 16, 1998 player
Bill Cowley 1968 player
Cy Denneny 1959 player
Woody Dumart 1992 player
Phil Esposito 1984 player
Fernie Flaman 1990 player
Frank Fredrickson 1958 player
Busher Jackson 1971 player
Jeremy Jacobs 2017 owner
Tom Johnson 1970 player
Brian Leetch November 9, 2009 player
Harry Lumley 1980 player
Surname Recording date position
Joe Mullen November 13, 2000 player
Cam Neely November 7, 2005 player
Willie O'Ree 2018 player
Harry Oliver 1967 player
Adam Oates 2012 player
Bobby Orr 1979 player
Brad Park 1988 player
Frank Patrick 1958 Trainer
Bill Quackenbush 1976 player
Jean Ratelle 1985 player
Mark Recchi November 13, 2017 player
Kind Ross 1945 Trainer
General Manager
Terry Sawchuk 1971 player
Milt Schmidt 1961 player
Eddie Shore 1947 player
Babe Siebert 1964 player
Harry Sinden 1983 Trainer
General Manager
President
Nels Stewart 1962 player
Tiny Thompson 1959 player
Rogatien Vachon November 14, 2016 player
Cooney Weiland 1971 player

When in 1945 the first twelve ice hockey personalities were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame , which had been founded two years earlier , Boston's former coach and then general manager Art Ross was one of this select group. In 1924 he became the first head coach and general manager of the Boston Bruins and coached the team for 16 years with interruptions and directed the fortunes of the team as a manager until 1954.

In 1947, Eddie Shore and Dit Clapper became the first former Boston Bruins players to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for their services and achievements. An attacking defender, Shore was one of the dominant defenders in the 1930s, winning the Stanley Cup twice and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy four times for most valuable player . Clapper became the first NHL player to have spent 20 seasons in the league. In addition to several appointments to the All-Star Teams , he celebrated three Stanley Cup wins with the Boston Bruins.

From the successful period of the 1930s and 1940s, Marty Barry , Bobby Bauer , Frank Brimsek , Bill Cowley , Woody Dumart , Roy Conacher , Tiny Thompson and Milt Schmidt, among others, found a place in the Hall of Fame.

In the early 1970s, the Bruins were able to build on the successes of the first two decades of their existence. This time was clearly influenced by the later Hall of Fame members Johnny Bucyk , Phil Esposito , Bobby Orr and Gerry Cheevers . Bucyk played in Boston for 21 years and set an NHL record for top left winger scorer . Esposito was one of the best strikers of his day, performing at his best during the Stanley Cup years with the Bruins. In addition to five awards as the best scorer , he received the trophy twice as the most valuable player. Gerry Cheevers was the goalkeeper for the Stanley Cup teams from 1970 and 1972 and has been on the ice for Boston for 13 seasons. But the standout player of the Boston Bruins era was Bobby Orr, who was named Most Valuable Player of the Regular Season and Playoffs in the 1970 and 1972 Stanley Cups . He also received the James Norris Memorial Trophy eight times in a row from 1968 to 1975 as the most valuable player and was the first defender to win the trophy for best scorer. Between 1979 and 1985, these four players were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Defender Ray Bourque and attacker Cam Neely were then the only Bruins players who could recommend their performances for the Hockey Hall of Fame. From 1979 to 2000, Bourque played in Boston and was named to 18 All-Star teams over the course of his career and was named best defender five times. But he could not win his only Stanley Cup with the Bruins, but only in 2001 shortly before the end of his career with the Colorado Avalanche . Cam Neely played for Boston from 1986 to 1996 and played an important role as a scorer on the team. He scored at least 50 goals three times, led the team seven times in goals and was an important pillar of the team when they moved into the Stanley Cup final in 1990. 1993/94 he scored his 50th goal of the season in the 44th game . Only Wayne Gretzky had reached this mark faster in the NHL.

A total of 38 former players and seven officials and coaches of the Boston Bruins were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Blocked jersey numbers

No. Surname Blocking date
2 Eddie Shore January 1, 1947
3 Lionel Hitchman February 22, 1934
4th Bobby Orr January 9, 1979
5 The clapper February 12, 1947
7th Phil Esposito 3rd December 1987
8th Cam Neely January 12, 2004
9 Johnny Bucyk March 13, 1980
15th Milt Schmidt March 13, 1980
16 Rick Middleton 29th November 2018
24 Terry O'Reilly October 24, 2002
77 Ray Bourque October 4, 2001
99 Wayne Gretzky February 6, 2000 (league-wide)
The Stanley Cup banners and blocked numbers in TD Banknorth Garden

Lionel Hitchman was the first team captain of the Bruins and won the Stanley Cup with them in 1929 . In 1934 he ended his career after ten years with the Bruins, who then no longer awarded his number 3. This was a first in ice hockey, because never before has a hockey player had this honor.

In the spring of 1947, Bruins blocked two numbers. First the number 2 of defender Eddie Shore , who ended his successful career in 1940 in which he won the Hart Memorial Trophy four times . Less than two months later, Dit Clappers number 5 was banned. Clapper had only ended his career a few months earlier after 20 years with the Boston Bruins.

It wasn't until 1979 that another team member was honored. Bobby Orr had to end his career at the age of 30 due to knee injuries during the season, but had done so much within ten years in Boston that his number 4 was banned. In addition to two Stanley Cups, he had won the Hart Memorial Trophy three times and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice. He also set a record as best defender with eight consecutive James Norris Memorial Trophies and was the first defender to win the Art Ross Trophy as best scorer.

The following year, on March 13, 1980, two numbers were blocked. Milt Schmidt , former team captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner in the 1930s and 1940s, was honored along with Johnny Bucyk , who played for the Bruins for 21 years and was a member of the Stanley Cup teams from the 1970s. Their numbers 15 and 9 were no longer assigned from then on.

In 1987, the Bruins blocked Phil Esposito's number 7 . He played for Boston for nine seasons and was one of the best strikers of the 1970s, winning multiple Hart Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy awards. In 1981 he ended his career with the New York Rangers .

At the beginning of the 2001/02 season , the number 77 was blocked by Ray Bourque , who had played in Boston from 1979 to 2000 and was their captain for 15 years. No player had scored more points for the Bruins than he. He was also on 18 All-Star Teams and was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy for best defender five times, but he never won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins. In summer 2001 he won the Stanley Cup in the last game of his career after moving to the Colorado Avalanche .

A year later, the Boston Bruins blocked Terry O'Reilly's number 24. In the 1970s, he was an important player for the team, as he combined scorer qualities with defensive strength and physical toughness. For the last three years of his career he was the team captain until 1985.

Furthermore, in January 2004 number 8 was suspended from striker Cam Neely , who had retired from his career in 1996. In ten seasons he led the team seven times in goals scored and scored 50 goals in 44 games in 1993/94 . Only Wayne Gretzky reached this mark in fewer games. However, he was not officially entered in the list of 50 goals in 50 games , as the 50th goal must be scored in the team's 50th game of the season at the latest, but Neely only scored this goal in the 66th game of his team.

Most recently, the Bruins blocked Rick Middleton's number 16 .

The blocked player numbers hang as a banner on the ceiling of the TD Banknorth Garden and are no longer given to any Bruins player.

In addition, the famous 99 of the Canadian Wayne Gretzky has been banned throughout the league since February 6, 2000.

Top 10 voting rights in the NHL Entry Draft

Since 1969, the Boston Bruins had 51 draft rights in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft , until 1978 known as the NHL Amateur Draft. 19 times they were able to select a player as one of the first ten teams and twice they had the first right to vote in the draft. In 1969 they could draft with Don Tannahill and Frank Spring in positions three and four, but both could not prevail in the NHL, Tannahill was never even used for the Bruins. They made a better choice the following year with Reggie Leach and Rick MacLeish , whose long NHL careers, however, took place mainly with other teams.

The 1979 selected at position eight Ray Bourque , however, completed a long and successful career in Boston. In addition to 18 appointments to the All-Star teams , he was named best defender five times and stayed in Boston for 21 years. In 1982 the Bruins were able to select a player in the first place for the first time with Gord Kluzak , but Kluzak could never fully utilize his potential due to severe knee injuries.

In the 1995 NHL Entry Draft , the Bruins selected Kyle McLaren in ninth position , who has developed into a good defensive defender, but now plays for the San Jose Sharks . The following year they selected Johnathan Aitken in eighth place, but he could never prevail in the NHL. 1997 the Bruins were able to enjoy twice as she with Joe Thornton chose in the first place a very talented striker and ranks eighth with Sergei Samsonov a promising Russian player who after his first year in the NHL with the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie award has been. Thornton also prevailed in the NHL, but left like Samsonow in the 2005/06 season and was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player in the league in the same season .

In 2006 , the Bruins drew the American Phil Kessel in the first round in fifth position , who was immediately able to assert himself in the Bruins' NHL squad.

Franchise top point collector

The ten best point collectors in the history of the franchise by the end of the 2017/18 regular season and the 2018 playoffs .

Abbreviations: Pos = position, GP = games, G = goals, A = assists, Pts = points, P / G = points per game

Regular season

Surname Item season GP G A. Pts P / G
Ray Bourque D. 1979 / 80-1999 / 00 1518 395 1111 1506 0.99
Johnny Bucyk LW 1957 / 58–1977 / 78 1436 545 794 1339 0.93
Phil Esposito C. 1967 / 68–1975 / 76 625 459 553 1012 1.62
Rick Middleton RW 1976 / 77-1987 / 88 881 402 496 898 1.02
Bobby Orr D. 1966 / 67–1975 / 76 631 264 624 888 1.41
Wayne Cashman RW 1964 / 65-1982 / 83 1027 277 516 793 0.77
Patrice Bergeron C. since 2003/04 963 289 445 734 0.76
Ken Hodge RW 1967 / 68–1975 / 76 652 289 385 674 1.03
Terry O'Reilly RW 1971 / 72-1984 / 85 891 204 402 606 0.68
Cam Neely RW 1983 / 84-1995 / 96 525 344 246 590 1.12

Playoffs

Surname Item GP G A. Pts P / G
Ray Bourque D. 180 36 125 161 0.89
Phil Esposito C. 71 46 56 102 1.44
Rick Middleton RW 111 45 55 100 0.90
Johnny Bucyk LW 109 40 60 100 0.92
Bobby Orr D. 74 26th 66 92 1.24
Wayne Cashman RW 145 31 57 88 0.61
Cam Neely RW 86 55 32 87 1.01
David Krejčí C. 108 32 55 87 0.81
Patrice Bergeron C. 112 31 55 86 0.77
Ken Hodge RW 86 34 47 81 0.94

swell

literature

  • Dan Diamond: NHL Official Guide and Record Book. Triumph Books, 2006. ISBN 1-57243-917-3
  • Steve Dryden: The Hockey News Century of Hockey: A Season-Byseason Celebration. Mcclelland & Stewart Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0-7710-4180-2
  • Brian McFarlane: The Bruins - (Original Six) Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd, 1999. ISBN 0-7737-3189-X
  • Kevin Vautour: The Boston Bruins Book: The Most Complete Boston Bruins Book Ever Published , Raincoast Books 2003, ISBN 1-55022-334-8

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bruin - Definition of bruin by Merriam-Webster. In: merriam-webster.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015 .
  2. ^ The Bruins , p. 5
  3. ↑ The Bruins , pp. 10-11
  4. ^ The Bruins , p. 54
  5. ^ The Bruins , p. 55
  6. ^ The Bruins , p. 63
  7. ^ The Bruins , p. 111
  8. ↑ The Bruins , pp. 165-166
  9. ^ The Bruins , p. 143
  10. ^ The Bruins , p. 179
  11. ^ The Bruins , p. 206
  12. ↑ espn.com audience figures from 2001 to 2007
  13. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com viewership from 1989 to 2008 ( memento from April 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  14. ↑ azhockey.com, List of Boston Bruins farm teams ( June 30, 2010 memento in the Internet Archive )
  15. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com, Forbes NHL Report 1997-98 ( Memento of November 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com, Forbes NHL Report 2000-01 ( Memento of November 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  17. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com, Forbes NHL Report 2001-02 ( Memento of November 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  18. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com, Forbes NHL Report 2002-03 ( Memento of November 22, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  19. ↑ andrewsstarpage.com, Forbes NHL Report 2003-04 ( Memento of 21 November 2008 at the Internet Archive )
  20. ↑ forbes.com, Forbes NHL Report 2005-06 ( Memento of November 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  21. ↑ forbes.com, NHL Team Valuations
  22. ^ Dan Diamond (Ed.): National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2014 , Triumph Books, p. 27
  23. ^ Hockeydb.com, Boston Bruins Draft History

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