Given that the Boston Bruins recently celebrated their 100th anniversary, it’s difficult to include many modern-era players on a list of the greatest Boston Bruins players. However, Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand’s performances in the 2010s earned them a spot on this list.
The Bruins have a long history, as demonstrated this season with their 100th anniversary celebration. It’s difficult to choose only ten of their best players, but the ones listed below stand out.
Let’s look at the top ten Boston Bruins of all time.
10. Brad Marchand.
Boston Bruins’ left wing Brad Marchand (63) controls the puck during the third stanza of Game 6 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.
It’s difficult to dispute that the Bruins’ new captain isn’t pushing his way onto the team’s top ten list. The self-made superstar debuted in 2010-11 as a fourth-liner and finished the season by scoring two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, alongside Patrice Bergeron, to defeat the Vancouver Canucks.
Marchand returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019, but was unable to add to his ring collection. He ranks fifth all-time in points (929 in 1,029 games) and first in short-handed goals (36).
9. Terry O’Reilly
O’Reilly isn’t at the top of the scoring list, but his style of play has made him a fan favorite in Boston. Boston hockey fans admire hard-nosed, physical players who will drop the gloves to defend their teammates. In a lengthy list of Bruins players who have played that role, O’Reilly may be the best.
8. Cam Neely
Neely spent three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks after being chosen, but they traded him to the Boston Bruins in 1987. Neely made an immediate impact with the Bruins, scoring a career-high 72 points in 75 games during his first season. He was noted for more than just his scoring abilities; from 1984 to 1990, he had 100 or more penalty minutes in six straight seasons.
Neely’s best season came in 1993-94, when he scored 50 goals in 44 games. It was the second-shortest period in NHL history to score 50 goals, trailing only Wayne Gretzky’s record. Injuries cut short Neely’s career, but it did not prevent the NHL from inducting him into its Hall of Fame. Neely scored 395 goals and 299 assists in 726 games, totaling 1,241 penalty minutes.
7. Patrice Bergeron
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) prepares for a face-off during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.
Bruins supporters will have good memories of Bergeron’s career. It started in 2003-04, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Bergeron’s career took a disastrous turn during the 2007-08 season when he sustained a season-ending concussion, resulting in two years of problems. However, he regained form in 2010-11, when the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup since 1972.
Bergeron has the most Frank J. Selke Trophies, with six, and he played on one of the best lines of the era with Brad Marchand. The combination won the hearts of Bruins fans for the whole decade, but they were unable to win a second Stanley Cup after falling short in the 2013 and 2019 Finals. Bergeron finished with 1,040 points in 1,294 games and succeeded Zdeno Chara as captain in 2021.
6) Milt Schmidt
One of the Bruins’ original stars was inducted into the Hall of Fame 63 years ago, so most of us didn’t get to see him succeed. However, Schmidt’s accomplishments speak for themselves. He was the NHL’s scoring champion in 1940, MVP in 1951, and Stanley Cup champion in both 1939 and 1941.
Schmidt’s accomplishments did not end there; he served as general manager when Nos. 1, 3, and 4 on this list won two Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972. Schmidt had a brief career and may not be high on the Bruins’ scoring list, but he is one of the best Bruins on and off the rink.
5) Zdeno Chara
Tampa Bay Lightning center Blake Coleman (20) is checked by Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) during the first period of game one of the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Everything changed for the Bruins at the start of the 2006 summer, when they signed Chara to a five-year, $37.5 million deal. He instantly assumed the job of captain and retained it till 2021. Chara was the first Slovakian captain to win the Stanley Cup in 2011, and the second European following Nicklas Lidstrom.
Chara only won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman once, but some argue that he was the finest defenseman of the 2010s. He instilled dread in every opponent, and the increase of offensive defensemen winning the Norris Trophy forced Chara to lose out.
4) Johnny Bucyk
Bucyk was a Boston Bruin for 22 seasons, scoring 1,369 points in 1,540 games. He participated in the NHL All-Star Game in 1955, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, and 1971. He won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1970 and 1972, as well as the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1971 and 1974.
Bucyk is still a member of the Boston Bruins, having been with the team for 69 years. In 1970-71, he scored 116 points in 78 games, his only time over 100.
3) Phil Esposito
Esposito was the greatest scorer of his generation in the 1970s, when he played alongside a specific defenseman wearing number four. He was acquired by the Bruins alongside Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield, and all three players went on to play key roles on the dominant 1970s teams. From 1969 to 1975, Esposito led the NHL in goal scoring for six straight seasons. He scored 43, 76, 66, 55, 68, and 61 goals during that period.
2) Ray Bourque
Bourque would be number one on the list of most teams. However, having to compete with Bobby Orr does not make things easy. Bourque quickly became a sensation in his debut season, scoring 65 points in 80 games. He concluded his career with 1,579 points throughout 1,612 games.
Bourque earned five Norris Trophies in his career and had several successful seasons with the Bruins. He was never able to finish the job with Boston, thus he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for his last two seasons, with his final game coming in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, when he won the famous trophy.
1. Bobby Orr.
The best Boston Bruin is number four, as noted in the Phil Esposito section. Some argue that Orr could have been the greatest hockey player of all time if knee problems hadn’t derailed his career. Orr scored 915 points over 657 games, earning two Stanley Cups and eight Norris Trophies. He was the league’s MVP three times and scored the most points for two seasons.
Orr revolutionized the way defensemen played hockey, rushing into the action and contributing to offensive as much as defense. The offensive defensemen we see now might not exist if Orr hadn’t transformed their role.
