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Currently, the Boston Bruins have 11 retired jersey numbers: 10 from former players and one league-wide retiring of the great Wayne Gretzky's No. 99.
From a number of generations, some of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold have been bestowed with the highest individual honor.
Men like Bobby Orr, Eddie Shore, Phil Esposito, Terry O'Reilly and Ray Bourque have had the honor to watch their name and number raised to the rafters inside the Boston Garden, never to be worn again.
Although there are fewer players now who are as loyal to a particular franchise as they had been in Orr's day or in Bourque's, there are a select few that have a chance at immortality.
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No player has had a rougher journey on his way to NHL success than the goalie from Flint, Michigan, Tim Thomas.
Although he has only played on a full-time NHL squad since 2005, it has been entirely with the Boston Bruins.
After graduating from the University of Vermont where he enjoyed a healthy four-year career, he struggled to find his place as he bounced between the AHL and a random assortment of leagues in Finland and America.
Before he got a call in 2002 from the Bruins, he was ready to give up his dream of ever playing in the NHL. Soon after, he was working his way through their AHL system and in 2005, finally broke into a starting job at age 31.
Now at age 37, Thomas has a resume that most goalies dream about—two Vezina Trophies, the Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup title. Although he may only be in the NHL for a couple more seasons, Thomas will retire, being in the same conversation as other Bruins back-stoppers and maybe get to see No.
30 worn for the last time ever.
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Clearly, it's way too soon to worry about retiring No. 19, but it's hard to argue with Tyler Seguin's production in his young career.
With one Stanley Cup title under his belt, including an impressive playoffs performance in what action he did see, Seguin is already considered one of the best young talents in the NHL. At age 19, he has years of future success.
The young center/winger has many years ahead of him and there's no guarantee that he'll be in a Bruins uniform his entire career, but he is the kind of talent that Boston needs to consider locking up long-term.
If we are watching the Bruins 15-plus years from now, and Seguin is still sporting his No. 19 as an aged and decorated veteran, it would come as no surprise to see that number raised to the rafters shortly after his retirement.
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He may not be the household name when it comes to scoring goals or creating highlight-worthy plays, but to say Milan Lucic is a contributor to the Boston Bruins' success is an understatement.
Since being drafted in 2006, Lucic has become one of the best two-way/power forwards in the league and isn't afraid of contact. Already established as a prize fighter, Lucic is now proving that he is pretty good with the puck on his stick too.
He jumped from nine goals in 2009-10 to 30 in 2010-11, on his way to winning the Stanley Cup.
Lucic is only 23, so it's easy to say that his best years are still ahead of him and there's a solid chance that most of those, if not all, will be in a Bruins jersey. If all goes according to plan, he could very well end up much like another great two-way/power forward, Mr. Cam Neely.
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Drafted in 2003—arguably one of the best classes in decades—Patrice Bergeron has been donning the black and gold ever since.
At 26, he's one of the "old guard" veterans among a team of youthful talent, in particular, centering the No. 1 line with the young bullet Tyler Seguin on his wing.
Besides missing a season due to a concussion, Bergeron is a consistent offensive playmaker and seems content to finish his career in a Bruins sweater.
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No list such as this can be written without the big captain himself, Zdeno Chara. It's true that his career had taken him to the Islanders and Senators before landing with Boston, but it can be argued that his best years have come with the Bruins.
A captain since signing a contract with Boston in 2006, Chara has shown what a defenseman is capable of.
At 6'9", 7'0" on skates, he's the tallest man in the NHL, which makes him one of the most intimidating, not only because of his size and defensive abilities, but also since Chara possesses the hardest shot in the league (105.9 mph), making him a formidable shooter from the point.
At age 34, he's one of the older statesmen on the Bruins squad, but unless injuries (because of his size and physical play) drag him down, he could have a few more spectacular seasons. If he does and wins another Stanley Cup title and maybe a couple more Norris Trophies, the No. 33 could go the same route as the No.
77.
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EDWARD W. SHORE
Defense
The league's first true superstar, Eddie Shore remains the only defenseman in NHL history to win four Hart Trophies as league MVP and he finished second in the balloting in another year ... He was an eight-time NHL All-Star, although he played for four seasons before AllStar teams were conceived in 1930-31 ... As tough as he was talented, he had 165 penalty minutes in just 44 games in 1927-28 and finished as high as 12th in the league's scoring race in 1932-33, which was unheard of for a defenseman at that time ... He won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins - in 1929 and 1939 - and was among the first group of inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
LIONEL HITCHMAN
Defense
The Bruins may have had a tough first year on the ice with just six wins in 1924-25, but they found their leader when they acquired Lionel Hitchman on January 8 of that season .
.. He captained the Bruins from 1927-1931 ... Paired on defense with Eddie Shore for eight seasons, it was not unusual for him to play the entire 60 minutes of a game ... A classic 'defensive defenseman', he was so highly regarded in his time that he finished second in the Hart Trophy balloting as the NHL MVP in 1929-30 ... He captained the Bruins' first Stanley Cup championship team in 1929.
ROBERT G. ORR
Defense
Even a partial list of his accomplishments takes line after line, but Bobby Orr can be summed up in just seven words - the best ever to play the game ... He won 16 NHL trophies in his ten seasons in Boston, including three Hart Trophies as league MVP and two Ross Trophies as the only defenseman to ever win a scoring title ... He won the Norris Trophy as the league's top blueliner for eight straight seasons and two Conn Smythe Trophies as MVP of the playoffs in the 1970 and 1972 Cup-winning campaigns ... A nine-time NHL All-Star, he was the first player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season and the first to record six consecutive 100-point seasons .
.. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.
AUBREY V. CLAPPER
Right Wing & Defense
"Dit" Clapper was the league's original iron man as the first player in NHL history to play for 20 seasons and he served as Boston captain for 14 years ... One of the most versatile players to ever play the game, he competed his first nine seasons as a right wing and earned two NHL All-Star berths at that position before playing his final 11 campaigns on defense with four additional All-Star appearances as a blueliner ... He played his final game on February 12, 1947 and, in ceremonies immediately after that game, was both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and saw his number five raised to the Garden rafters ... He remains the only Bruin to play on three championship Boston teams - 1929, 1939 and 1941.
PHILIP A. ESPOSITO
Center
One of the premier scorers in NHL history, Phil Esposito was the first player in league annals to record 100 points in a season and he reached that mark on six occasions .
.. He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP twice and the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer on five occasions while finishing second in three other seasons ... Named an NHL All-Star in eight of his nine Boston seasons, he led the NHL in goals for six straight years, and shattered the league scoring record with 76 goals in 1970-71, a mark that stood for 12 years until Wayne Gretzky broke it in 1981-82 ... He won two Stanley Cups with Boston, in 1970 and 1972, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
CAMERON M. NEELY
Right Wing
It is a rare athlete that needs a new term coined to describe him, but no one had used the term 'power forward' in hockey until Cam Neely came along ... An NHL All-Star on four occasions, he led the team in goals for seven of his ten seasons, including three 50-goal campaigns ... He still holds the team single-season record for goals by a wing with 55 in 1989-90 and he is the team's all-time playoff goal leader as well .
.. He won the Masterton Trophy for dedication in 1993-94 when he scored 50 goals in just 44 games after missing most of the previous two seasons with thigh, knee and hip injuries ... Only Wayne Gretzky has scored 50 goals in fewer games in one season ... Injuries forced his retirement in September, 1996 and he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.
JOHN P. BUCYK
Left Wing
John Bucyk is known as Chief and he was the team's leader in every way for the 21 seasons he played in a Bruins uniform ... He held every team career offensive record for over 20 years, remains the team's all-time goal scorer and is second on the club's all-time scoring list ... He served as team captain for five seasons and won two Stanley Cups with Boston, in 1970 and 1972 ... The winner of two Lady Byng Trophies as the league's most gentlemanly player, he was twice an NHL All-Star and was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981 ... He has continued to be one of the Bruins' - and hockey's - greatest ambassadors as he has spent over 60 years in the organization in various capacities.
MILTON C. SCHMIDT
Center
If it is possible for one man to be all things to an organization, Milt Schmidt was that man for the Bruins ... The only man in Bruins history to serve the club as player, captain, coach and General Manager, he has figured in four of the team's six Stanley Cups - as a player in 1939 and 1941 and as the team's GM in 1970 and 1972 ... A four-time NHL All-Star, he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1951 and the Art Ross scoring title in 1940 ... He centered the famed "Kraut Line", which became the first line in NHL history to finish 1-2-3 in the league's scoring race (1939-40), and missed three years of his career from 1942-1945 while serving in World War II with the Royal Canadian Air Force ... He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.
TERENCE J. O'REILLY
Right Wing
Terry O'Reilly epitomized the Bruins of his generation ... As comfortable using his hands for scoring or fighting, he is one of just five players in club history to lead the team in scoring and penalty minutes in the same season .
.. He served as the team captain from 1983-85, still ranks 11th on the team's all-time scoring list and is the club's all-time leader in penalty minutes ... He also coached the team from 1986-89, including an appearance in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals.
RAYMOND J. BOURQUE
Defense
There are few players in league history as complete and adept at all facets of the game as Ray Bourque ... He was the first non-goaltender in league annals to win the Calder Trophy and be named a First Team All-Star in his rookie season ... He won five Norris Trophies as the league's top defenseman, won five team scoring titles and was named an NHL All-Star 18 times in his 21 seasons with the team ... He finished his Boston career as the club's all-time leader in games, assists and points and he remains the NHL's all-time leading scorer among defensemen ... He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
RICHARD D. MIDDLETON
Right Wing
Rick Middleton played 12 seasons in Boston from 1976-1988, serving as captain for his final three campaigns .
.. "Nifty" remains fifth overall in the team's all-time scoring list and is third all-time on the team in goals ... Led the team in scoring for four straight seasons (1978- 1982) and in goals for six straight years (1987-1984) ... Is one of five Bruins in team history to score 50 goals in a season (51 in 1981-82) and twice topped the 100-point mark ... Won the Lady Byng Trophy and was a Second Team All-Star in 1981-82 ... Ranks sixth on the team's playoff scoring list and still holds the NHL mark for points in one playoff series (19 in seven games vs. Buffalo in 1983).
Willie O'Ree
Left Wing
Willie O'Ree is a true pioneer - not only in hockey, but in all of sports - as on January 18, 1958, he became the NHL's first Black player with his debut with the Bruins vs. the Montreal Canadiens ... He totaled 14 points in 45 games over parts of the 1957-58 and 1960-61 seasons, including scoring his first NHL goal on January 1, 1961, and also played 20 seasons at minor league levels .
.. He was named the NHL's Diversity Ambassador in 1998, inspiring countless youth players to learn and play hockey ... O'Ree earned the NHL's Lester Patrick Award in 2003 and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 ... He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2018.
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| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
| Vince Dunn | Adam Larsson |
| Jamie Oleksiak | Justin Schultz |
| Carson Soucy | William Borgen |
| 1st Powerplay Unit0161 | Jordan Eberle | Andre Burakovsky | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared McCann | Vince Dunn |
| 2nd Powerplay Unit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wennberg | Matthew Beniers | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Daniel Sprong | Justin Schultz |
| 1st Penalty Kill Unit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wennberg | Brandon Tanev | Jamie Oleksiak | Adam Larsson |
| 2nd Penalty Kill Unit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yanni Gourde | Jaden Schwartz | Carson Soucy | William Borgen |
| Goalies | |
|---|---|
| Joey Daccord | Chris Gibson |
| Injuries0143 Ryan Donato | Morgan Geekie | Daniel Sprong | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
| Vince Dunn | Adam Larsson |
| Jamie Oleksiak | Justin Schultz |
| Carson Soucy | William Borgen |
| 1st Powerplay Unit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jaden Schwartz | Jordan Eberle | Andre Burakovsky |
| Jared McCann | Vince Dunn |
| 2nd Powerplay Unit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wennberg | Matthew Beniers | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Daniel Sprong | Justin Schultz |
| 1st Penalty Kill Unit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wennberg | Brandon Tanev | Jamie Oleksiak | Adam Larsson |
| 2nd Penalty Kill Unit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yanni Gourde | Jaden Schwartz | Carson Soucy | William Borgen |
| Goalies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Daccord | Chris Gibson0161 | IRJOONAS DONSKOI | Irphilipp Grubauer |
| dtdmartin Jones | |||
Author Sergey Pryakhin @NHLrussia / Correspondent NHL.
com/ru
Before the final series of the Stanley Cup between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues, NHL.com/ru analyzes the lineups of both teams in detail. In this material, we analyze the goalkeeper line, “Boston”, led by an impenetrable wall named Tuukka Rask.
GOALKEEPER
Tuukka Rask
The Finnish goaltender of “Boston” is currently the undisputed favorite in the dispute for the “Conn Smythe Trophy”. If he plays just four more games at his current level, even though the Bruins have the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak on the Bruins roster, Rusk will easily secure the title of MVP in the playoffs. Well, at the same time - the Stanley Cup to his team.
In 17 Stanley Cup games, Rusk conceded just 32 goals, saving 94.
2% of shots. To give you an idea of the scale of this figure, let's say that in the history of the NHL, only 13 goaltenders have posted the best percentage in the playoffs if they played at least five games in one draw. And if you narrow down the sample to goalkeepers who have played at least 17 games like Rusk, then his result will be third behind Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles, 2011-12 - 94.6%) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim, 2002-03 - 94.6%).
Video: CAR-BOS Match 4: Rusk Shutout
"I don't have enough words to describe Tuuks' contribution to our success," says Bruins defenseman Matt Grizlick. that our gates are locked, we can take risks, and all this is good for the team."
Surprisingly, there are people in Boston from time to time who are ready to retire Rusk after another regular season, in which he sometimes lost the competition to his backups. The current 82-match marathon was also very average for him (91.2% save percentage is the worst in NHL history), but Rusk, as always, saved his best form for the playoffs, where his career save rate (92.
8%) is significantly higher than in the regular part season (92.1%).
If you delve into the statistics, then, taking into account the number and quality of shots made on his goal in the first three rounds, he should have conceded 14 goals more. This is an incredible result. It's probably naive to expect Rusk to show such an alien level of play in the finals, but even his traditional cup level may be enough for Boston's final success.
"It's kind of magical," laughs fellow Bruins guard Charlie McAvoy. he's starting to really enjoy the level of competition, and we're all just reaping the rewards from that."
[All materials on the Boston - St. Louis series]
ALSO INCLUDED WITH
Yaroslav Galak, Kyle Kiser
Yaroslav Galak, who just turned 34, could have won the best understudy goalkeeper award this season if someone had thought of establishing one. In 40 games (starting 37), he helped Boston to 22 wins while parrying 92.
