By Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Throughout franchise history, the Boston Bruins have had many iconic players. Those players left a tremendous impact in Beantown and helped the Bruins achieve major success. However, picking one particular season among the others from many players at their set positions is tough.
A Bruins all-time starting lineup featuring five skaters at their set position and a goaltender based on one particular season is tough to make, given the history of the players that have played for the organization. However, it will be a fun and debatable starting lineup to build.
Defenseman: 1970-71 Bobby Orr
There’s no doubt that arguably the greatest defensemen in National Hockey League history was going to make it on here. Of the decade Orr spent in Boston, his 1970-71 season is the one to pick above all.
Orr’s 139 points, 102 assists, and +124 rating recorded during that season are three records that remain today by a defenseman for a single season in NHL history. Because no defenseman has broken one of Orr’s records over five decades later, it shows it’s worthy of being the season selected.
Orr won the Norris Trophy and Hart Trophy, and made the All-Star Game during his iconic season. In a 1971 playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens, Orr became the first defenseman in 49 years to record a hat trick in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Defenseman: 2008-09 Zdeno Chara
This is where some of the controversy among Bruin fans may begin. Because of his electrifying play, many would expect Raymond Bourque to be named here as the other defenseman paired with Orr. However, Orr would provide the offense, and defense is needed. Therefore, a defensive defenseman who can still produce solid offense is needed. That is why Chara would be the option here over Bourque.
Of Chara’s 14 seasons, his 2008-09 season stands out above the rest, considering it was the only season he won a Norris Trophy in Boston. Even with one Norris Trophy as a Bruin, his Norris Trophy season was special.
While Chara’s 50 points recorded that season were the third-highest of his career, his 19 goals that season were his career high. Chara turned into arguably the best defenseman in the NHL for many years, and his 2008-09 season may have been the season to start it all.
LW: Johnny Bucyk 1970-71
Some may have projected Brad Marchand to be named here, but another Bruin legend from the 1970-71 season is selected for this starting lineup. This time it’s Buyck’s turn. Buyck spent 21 seasons as a Bruin, but this season stands out above the rest.
Buyck set career-highs in 1970-71 with 51 goals, 65 assists, and 116 points. Buyck went on to make the All-Star Game and capture the Lady Bing Trophy during the season. This season was the only 100-point season of Buyck’s 23-year NHL career, but it was a good one for sure.
C: Phil Esposito 1970-71
The Bruins have had many excellent centers throughout franchise history. From Milt Schmidt, to Adam Oates, to Patrice Bergeron, and many more. However, a third player from the 1970-71 season is named here, and it’s Esposito.
During the 1970-71 season, Esposito recorded career-highs of 76 goals, 76 assists, and 152 points. Esposito’s 76 goals and 152 points recorded during the season are two records that stand today in Bruins history. Esposito is the only Bruin to score 70 goals in a single season. Those are huge edges to give Esposito the nod over players like Schmidt, Oates, and Bergeron.
RW: David Pastrnak 2022-23
Today, Pastrnak is one of the best players in the NHL. Over the past three seasons, Pastrnak has recorded a 100-point season. However, there’s one season in Pastrnak’s career in Boston that stands out above all.
It was Pastrnak’s 2022-23 season, in which he was a major reason why the Bruins set the NHL record with 65 wins and 135 points in a single season. Pastrnak recorded a career-high 61 goals and 113 points during the Bruins’ historic season.
G: Tim Thomas 2010-11
Five different Bruins have won a Vezina Trophy. While some goaltenders didn’t win a Vezina Trophy in Boston, they still had a strong legacy with the Bruins. However, one goaltender’s season stands out above the rest, and that is Thomas’ 2010-11 season, in which he helped the Bruins end their 39-year Stanley Cup drought.
2011 marked the second time in three seasons that Thomas won the Vezina Trophy, but his 2011 season was better than his 2009 Vezina season. Thomas posted a 35-11-9 record with an incredible 2.00 GAA and .938 save percentage while playing in 57 games (55 starts). Thomas was named a 2011 All-Star as well.
Some may have thought Linus Ullmark would be named here for his 2023 Vezina Trophy season, considering he won 40 games, recorded a 1.89 GAA, and finished with the same save percentage as Thomas did in 2010-11. However, Ullmark played in eight fewer games than Thomas did in his Vezina season.
Frank Brimsek won the Vezina Trophy twice as a Bruin in the early years of the franchise, and Pete Peeters won the 1983 Vezina Trophy as a Bruin, but neither of them played in a tougher era than Thomas did decades later. Also, while Tuukka Rask won the 2014 Vezina Trophy, Thomas had a better GAA and save percentage in his 2010-11 Vezina season.
Thomas continued his regular season success into the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs by setting the NHL playoff record for most saves made throughout a whole playoff year with 798 saves and the record for most saves made in a single Stanley Cup Final with 238 saves. Thomas recorded a 37-save shutout in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks to help the Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Thomas became the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy at 37 years old for his spectacular playoff year.
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