Bobby Orr is often hailed as the greatest defenseman to ever grace the NHL, and fellow icon Wayne Gretzky has a suggestion for how the league should commemorate the legendary Bruin.
Introducing the Bobby Orr Trophy?
While on the NHL on TNT panel last week, Gretzky proposed that both Orr and Gordie Howe deserve to have trophies named after them. The Great One even advocated for two separate awards for defensemen:
''We need a Bobby Orr Trophy, for the most points by a defenseman, and then (a trophy) for the best defensive defenseman. Have two awards. You should honor Bobby Orr, him and Gordie Howe, the greatest players ever.''
Orr revolutionized the way a dman played the game, and he did it exceptionally well. Despite a career shortened by injuries, Orr accumulated 270 goals and 645 assists in 657 games (631 with BOS).
He raises an important point about the need for two distinct trophies for defensemen. The Norris has gradually become the award for the highest-scoring, while those who excel at shutting down the opposition often go unrecognized.
