1966-67
Lots of exciting news was happening to the NHL as they roared towards the end of the 60's with the key piece of news being the leagues expansion from 6 to 12 teams starting in 1967-68. But that news was overshadowed with the debut of the next great one, the first generational player since Gordie Howe had made his debut in 1948.
It couldn't have come in a better time, the Bruins had been breaking Boston hearts through the 60's icing some truly awful teams. from 1959 to 1967 the Bruins had finished 5th twice and 6th 6 times, but the franchises savior was on the way.
Bobby Orr had dominated on the ice since he first put on a tiny pair of skates. He had charisma, He was clocked skating at 27 miles an hour, and was extremely agile being compared to mercury on ice. Scouts for all 6 teams salivated over him, but Boston made the bold move of adding a 12 year old to their protected list meaning Orr belonged to the Bruins, all the Bruins had to do was sit back and watch Orr mature.
Orr became the talk of the hockey world by the time he was 16, meanwhile the Bruins started firing up the hype train. Be patient Bruin's fans, we know things are terrible, they said, the Savior is on the way.
But then Orr did what Orr would do throughout his career, he did what Howe nor Richard had done when they got to the big leagues. Orr bought his agent with him, Orr unleashed Alan Eagleson on the NHL world. Right off of the bat Eagleson established himself as an Alpha. He informed the Bruins that Orr wouldn't be coming unless he got a contract that matched his ability. Bruins GM Happ Emms was on the verge of a heart attack, no player had dared to do this before. However in the face of things, Emms had no choice but to wave the white flag and he signed Orr to a 2 year $150,000 contract that set off shock waves throughout the NHL.
However in hindsight, Emms chest pains and eventual capitulation paid off, Orr made an immense impact on the Bruins and hockey in general. Orr would eventually transform the Bruins into a juggernaut and by 1970 he was the biggest drawing card in the NHL.
Hockey Analysts eventually created the term the Orr Effect, which described his style. Orr changed the way that defensemen played the game. Before Orr defensemen concentrated on defense, they rarely moved into the opponents zone with the exception of a few like Dough Harvey. While there were rushing defensemen in the past like Eddie Shore and Red Kelly, nobody dominated on the rush like Orr who had two modes, fast and don't bother trying. Bobby Orr was not only a generational game, he was a evolutionary player who completely turned the role of defensemen and the game of hockey upside down.
Don't get me wrong, Bobby was exceptional in his own end, he was also incredibly tough. But Bobby took it one step further, he would poke the puck loose in his own end, then burn up the ice to either score or set up a goal. Suddenly every kid wanted to be a defenseman, and wanted to be Bobby Orr.
While Orr couldn't carry the Bruins to the playoffs in his first year and the Bruins finished in 6th place. Orr had already changed the Bruins franchise. While Chicago finished first and the Leafs won the cup, the focus of hockey fans and media was on Bobby Orr.
While Bobby won the Calder Trophy, he couldn't beat out Harry Howell of the Rangers for the Norris Trophy. At the Award luncheon, Howell accepted the award with grace and then said in his speech "I'm glad that I won the Norris Trophy this year, because in 10 years it will be the Bobby Orr Trophy.
Trivia
- The NHL rules that substitutions will be allowed on coincidental major penalties.
- The NHL sponsorship of Junior teams ends and all players not on NHL lists are eligible for the amateur draft.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_NHL_Amateur_Draft
- Las Angeles, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St, Louis and Oakland are awarded franchises for the 1967-67 season.
- The Hall of Fame adds 10 inductees including Max Bentley, Toe Blake, Butch Bouchard, Frank Brimsek, Ted Kennedy, Elmer Lach, Ted Lindsay, Babe Pratt, Ken Reardon and Clarence Campbell.
- Boston replaces GM Milt Schmidt with Harry Sinden.
- Chicago finishes first with a 41-17-12 record finishing 17 points ahead of the second place Canadians. On the way to first Chicago sets an NHL record by scoring 264 goals.
- Bobby Hull leads the NHL with 52 goals becoming the first player to score more then 50 goals in two consecutive seasons.
- Stan Mikita wins his third scoring title with 97 points
- Chicago's Denis DeJordy takes the number 1 job from Glenn Hall and leads the NHL with a 2.46 gaa.
- Ex Canadians Star Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion comes out of retirement with the Rangers and scores 18 goals in 58 games. He also gets suspended for 3 games for trying to decapitate a NHL linesman with his elbow.
- In the year of official abuse John Ferguson of the Canadians gets suspended for 3 games for hitting a linesmen. Bobby Rousseau and Jean Guy Talbot are fined and suspended for assaulting referees Art Skov and John Ashley.
- The playoffs feature Chicago vs Toronto and Montreal vs New York.
- The Rangers who have missed the playoffs for the last 7 of 8 years are no match for the Habs and are swept.
- The Leafs upset the Hawks in 5 games.
- The Leafs beat the Habs in 6 games to take home their 13th cup. This would be the last cup that the Leafs would win.
- Toronto's Dave Keon wins the Conn Smythe trophy.
- Stan Mikita wins the Art Ross, Hart and Lady Byng becoming he first player to sweep all three.
- Chicago's Glenn Hall and Denise DeJordy share the Vezina trophy.
- Bobby Orr scores 13 goals and 41 points and takes home the Calder.
- Harry Howell of the Rangers wins the Norris Trophy.
- Cornell beats Boston University to win the NCAA Championship
- The Toronto Marlboros win their fourth Memorial Cup.
Debuts
Last games