Art Ross Trophy

If ever proof was needed that an individual player revolutionized the way the game was played, one only need study the career of BOBBY ORR. Never had a defenceman led the league in scoring…until BOBBY ORR during the 1969-70 season. In fact, the only defencemen to crack the top ten in scoring prior to BOBBY ORR’s arrival were New York Americans’ Tommy Anderson, Red Kelly, then playing defence for the Red Wings, and Bill Gadsby with Chicago. During the 1969-70 season, ORR outdistanced teammate Phil Esposito by 21 points to win the scoring championship, scoring 33 goals, assisting on a league-leading 87 more for a total of 120 points. BOBBY ORR, a native of Parry Sound, Ontario, had joined the Boston Bruins in 1966-67 as an 18 year old, and promptly was voted to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team and winner of the Calder Trophy as the season’s best rookie. By the 1969-70 season, ORR had become a perennial First Team All-Star and a regular recipient of the Norris Trophy as top defencemen, winning both in addition to the ART ROSS TROPHY and the Hart as Most Valuable Player. By the time the playoffs had concluded, BOBBY added the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Playoff Performer as well as his first of two Stanley Cups.