Everytime I watch a highlight clip or tribute or whatever of this guy it reminds me of just how great he was. I am too young to have seen him play, but I have seen a few games of his on NESN classic and things. I just want your thoughts on him. I think he's the best to ever play.
2007-10-04 08:22:11 · 10 answers · asked by *Killer B's* 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Bobby Orr was certainly in my opinion the greatest to ever play the game. Without Orr preceding him, I don't think Gretzky becomes what he became.
Orr revolutionized the way the game was played. No Defenceman before him led an offense the way he did. Prior to Orr, there was maybe 2-3 end to end rushes by a defenceman in a WEEK of games. Orr did it every shift. This change in the games ideology changed the way forwards played, changed the way the power-play operated, and in return changed the way defences had to play.
His style opened room for forwards, and Phil Esposito took advantage of that. Before that, everybody had their place, and a few designed plays created by Percival in the early 20th century ruled the roost. Orr took everything to a new level. Paul Coffey was probably the next best at it (and a major force in Gretzky's career and Lemieux's two best seasons)
2007-10-04 09:08:16 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I had the pleasure of watching Orr for his entire career and lived in Edmonton during the Gretzky years. No one saw the ice better than 99 and his passing was unparallelled. Orr , on the other hand seemed to have 20 different speeds and on such fragile knees. They both made others on the ice look better at times, quite foolish at times. My own personal opinion is that a healthy Orr would have been the best I have ever seen. Gretzky, best small man to ever play the game but for incredible rushes and speed, Orr, hands down.
2007-10-04 11:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by Bob D 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Bobby used to make me mad. Because he played for the Bruins and not my team. But he used to wow me so much I had to watch.
As far as comparing him to Gretz or Mario, that's kinda hard. He played in a different era and a different position. You would certainly get no arguement from me if you called him the best player ever.
It's a shame he had such fragile knees.
The best support I have for a claim of him being the best ever is he played in the 12 team league when hockey teams could still ice 3 good lines and holds the record for plus minus at +124 I believe. Since they only played 76 games then that equates to being +1.5 roughly per game.
2007-10-04 09:04:34 · answer #3 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're right, defenitly the best defenseman that ever played the game so far, some even say the best player to play the game(even over gretzky, lemieux and howe) if it werent for his knees he might still be playing and scoring(ok maybe not lol but you could easely say that his injuries took at least 5-10 years off his carreer).If i were making a fantasy team with the best all time players i think he would definitly be my 1st pick.Once he had the puck u could not take it away from him and u could not catch him either just look at all those hightlight reel goals where he's going coast to coast, simply amazing,no one does that anymore espescially defenceman!
2007-10-04 08:57:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only real arguement of someone who was maybe better than Gretzky. I know plenty of hockey people in the know that would say Orr was better. I think Gretzky but I'm not certain. Orr may have been the best ever. Certainly the best Dman.
2007-10-04 08:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've responded to this one before, and I always say it's difficult to compare eras or positions. I watched both their entire careers and they both amazed me.
Here's the way I judge it: Both players were so good that they were above everyone else in the league in terms of skills. I would give the edge to Orr because I think the distance between him and the next-best player of his era was wider than the distance between Gretzky and the next-best player of his time.
2007-10-04 18:58:13 · answer #6 · answered by Paul O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best D-man ever. He changed the position and was one of the most exciting players to watch. Was the Great one better, probably if only because of his longevity and durability. It is hard to compare forwards and defensemen on points and we are talking two different eras.
All time greats I would put him number 2 behind Gretzky.
2007-10-04 09:06:08 · answer #7 · answered by cdn24fan 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was too young too lol but I say greatest defensman ever. (yes, even over nicklas lidstrom--im a wings fan) lol. but, c'mon he was a great defensman who invented the coast to coast rush for defensman.
2007-10-04 08:27:25 · answer #8 · answered by McMoose--RIPYAHS 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Simply The Best..........Better than all the rest!
2007-10-04 12:09:53 · answer #9 · answered by Trevor R NYC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is ballin
2007-10-04 08:59:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋