The Boston Bruins’ centennial celebrations rolled on Thursday night when the organization announced its 20-man All-Centennial Team during a Centennial Gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.
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The All-Centennial Team, which comprises “the most legendary players in franchise history,” was voted on by an independent committee of journalists and media members, historians and members of the hockey community, the same group that selected the Historic 100 list. The team is made up of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies.
Full disclosure: I was a member of that committee. It really was an honor to be a part of this, and being in the room last month as we debated this team and ultimately finalized our selections was an awesome experience. I can attest to the fact that everyone involved took this task seriously and did an awful lot of research.
Of course, there is still plenty of room for debate and disagreement, which is part of what makes something like this so much fun. In fact, there’s still one change I would make personally, but I’ll get to that at the end.
Without further delay, here is the team, split up by position and listed alphabetically, as announced by the Bruins Thursday night. And below that, I’ve included some notes on each player and the years they played for the Bruins.
FORWARDS (12): Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Bucyk, Wayne Cashman, Bill Cowley, Phil Esposito, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Rick Middleton, Cam Neely, Terry O’Reilly, David Pastrnak, Milt Schmidt
DEFENSEMEN (6): Ray Bourque, Zdeno Chara, Dit Clapper, Bobby Orr, Brad Park, Eddie Shore
GOALIES (2): Frank Brimsek, Gerry Cheevers
Patrice Bergeron (2003-23)
An absolute no-brainer. Third in Bruins history in games played, third in goals, fourth in assists, third in points. NHL-record six Selke Trophies as the best defensive forward in the league. Key part of the 2011 Stanley Cup team, including two goals in Game 7 of the Cup Final. Alternate captain next to Zdeno Chara for 14 years, then captain for three.
Johnny Bucyk (1957-78)
Another easy one. The Bruins’ all-time leader in goals. Second in games played, assists and points. Key player and leader on the 1970 and 1972 Cup teams. Number 9 retired by the team. Hockey Hall of Famer. Officially captain for five years, unofficially for probably seven more.
Wayne Cashman (1965-83)
Sixth in Bruins history in games played, 10th in goals, seventh in assists, eighth in points. Won two Cups in 1970 and 1972 playing on the first line with Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge. Scored two goals in Cup-clinching Game 6 win over the Rangers in 1972. Captain from 1977-83 during the “Lunch Pail A.C.” era.
Bill Cowley (1935-47)
Maybe not very well known among today’s generation of fans, but a legend in his time and a Hall of Famer. Won two Hart Trophies as league MVP in 1941 and 1943. Helped the Bruins win two Cups in 1939 and 1941, including leading the NHL in playoff scoring in 1939. Led the NHL in assists three times and points once. Was the NHL’s all-time leader in career points when he retired. His 1.97 points per game in 1943-44 stood as an NHL record until Wayne Gretzky broke it in 1981.
Phil Esposito (1967-76)
Second in Bruins history in goals, fourth in points. Led the NHL in goals six straight years from 1969-75, something no other player in history has done, and led the league in points five times. Won two Hart Trophies and two Stanley Cups. Hall of Famer, No. 7 retired.
David Krejci (2007-23)
One of the best playmakers in franchise history. Fifth in games played, fifth in assists, ninth in points. Led the NHL in playoff scoring during 2011 Cup run and again during 2013 run to the Cup Final. Tied for second in franchise history in playoff points with longtime teammates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. One of the most famous assists in club history, on Nathan Horton’s game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals.
Brad Marchand (2009-Present)
The newest Bruins captain. Already eighth in games played, sixth in goals, ninth in assists, and seventh in points. Rise from fourth-liner to Bergeron running mate during 2010-11 season proved critical to Cup run. Scored twice in Game 7 of Cup Final. Four-time All-Star, two top-five Hart Trophy finishes, two more top-10 finishes. Tied with Bergeron and Krejci for second in career playoff points, sitting 33 behind Ray Bourque.
Rick Middleton (1976-88)
Took a while, but eventually "Nifty" had his No. 16 retired. Tenth in games played, fourth in goals, eighth in assists, fifth in points. Five straight 40-goal, 90-point seasons from 1979-84. An absurd 33 points in 17 playoff games in 1984. Co-captain with Ray Bourque for three years 1985-88.
Cam Neely (1986-96)
The archetype of a power forward. Seventh in franchise history in goals despite having his career cut short by knee troubles. Second in goals per game behind only Esposito. Still first in playoff goals, two ahead of Marchand. Scored 50 goals in 44 games in 1993-94. Four-time All-Star, Hall of Famer, No. 8 retired.
Terry O’Reilly (1972-85)
One of the toughest players in Bruins history and their all-time leader in fights. Could also score in his prime, highlighted by 90 points and a top-10 Hart Trophy finish in 1977-78. Ninth in team history in games played, 10th in assists, 12th in points. Captain from 1983-85. No. 24 hanging from the rafters.
David Pastrnak (2014-Present)
Already eighth in franchise history in goals at 27 years old, and could break Bucyk’s record by the end of his new eight-year contract. Joined Esposito as the second Bruin ever to score 60 goals in a season last year. Won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer in 2019-20 and was runner-up to Connor McDavid last year. Two top-five finishes for the Hart, also finishing second to McDavid last year.
Milt Schmidt (1936-55)
The ultimate Bruin if you consider his time as coach, general manager and ambassador, but also more than good enough to land here just on the strength of his playing career. One of eight players to play at least 16 seasons with the Bruins. League MVP in 1951 and finished top five in voting four other times. Helped the Bruins win two Cups in 1939 and 1941 as a member of the famed “Kraut Line,” including leading the league in playoff scoring in 1941. Missed three full seasons in his prime due to World War II service. Hall of Famer, No. 15 retired.
Ray Bourque (1979-2000)
Arguably the second-greatest defenseman in NHL history behind only Bobby Orr. First in Bruins history in games, assists and points, and fifth in goals. Won five Norris Trophies as the NHL’s best defenseman and finished top four in voting 17 straight years from 1979-96. Five top-five Hart finishes and an 18-time All-Star. Captain for 15 years from 1985-2000, the longest captaincy in franchise history.
Zdeno Chara (2006-20)
The second-longest captaincy in franchise history, wearing the ‘C’ all 14 of his seasons in Boston. The greatest free-agent signing in Bruins history, with his arrival changing their culture and setting them on the path that led to the Stanley Cup in 2011. Won the Norris in 2009 and finished top five in voting five other times. Arguably the most feared shutdown defenseman of his era.
Dit Clapper (1927-47)
Could have made the team as a forward or defenseman, as his Hall of Fame career began at forward before switching to D almost exactly halfway through. As a forward, he was part of the “Dynamite Line” on the Bruins’ first Cup team in 1929, scored 41 goals in 1929-30, and was a Second Team All-Star twice. As a defenseman, he was a First Team All-Star three straight years from 1938-41 and helped lead Boston to two more Cups in 1939 and 1941. One of three Bruins to play at least 20 seasons with the team along with Bourque and Bucyk, and the only player to win three Cups with Boston.
Bobby Orr (1966-76)
Is Bobby Orr. The greatest defenseman in NHL history and arguably the greatest player, period. Won eight straight Norris Trophies from 1967-75 and three straight Harts from 1969-72. Won two Cups in 1970 and 1972. Led the NHL in assists five times, points twice, and plus/minus six times. His 102 assists and 139 points in 1970-71 still stand as single-season records for a defenseman. Cup-winning goal in 1970 produced the most famous photo in hockey history.
Brad Park (1975-83)
After finishing second to Orr in Norris voting four times while he was a Ranger, Park had the unenviable task of replacing Orr as the Bruins’ No. 1 defenseman after being acquired in a blockbuster trade in 1975. He proved more than capable, though, finishing second in Norris voting again in two of his first three seasons in Boston and helping to lead the “Lunch Pail A.C.” to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 1977 and 1978.
Eddie Shore (1926-39)
One of the NHL’s first true superstars, and the first on an American team. One of the game’s first offensive defensemen, but also one of the most physical players of his era, defining the term “old-time hockey.” Won four Hart Trophies as league MVP, the third-most ever behind only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe. Led the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 1929, and won another Cup at the end of his career in 1939. Made seven of the NHL’s first nine All-Star First Teams, an honor that wasn’t introduced until his fifth season. Hall of Famer, No. 2 retired.
Frank Brimsek (1938-49)
Nicknamed “Mr. Zero.” Backstopped the Bruins to two Stanley Cups in 1939 and 1941. Won two Vezina Trophies and finished top five in Hart Trophy voting three times. Named a First- or Second-Team All-Star eight times, the second-most of any goalie ever behind only Glenn Hall (10). Third in Bruins history in wins. Missed two years in his prime due to World War II service. First American goalie inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and still arguably the greatest American goalie ever.
Gerry Cheevers (1965-72, 76-80)
Helped lead the Bruins to two Cups in 1970 and 1972, starting all but one game during the 1970 playoffs and splitting starts with longtime tandem-mate Eddie Johnston in 1972. Went undefeated in 32 straight starts in 1971-72, a record that still stands. After spending four years playing in the World Hockey Association, he returned to the Bruins and backstopped two more Cup Final runs in 1977 and 1978. Held the Bruins record for playoff wins until Tuukka Rask broke it in 2021. Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
So, there you go. That’s the team we picked. Personally, I think we nailed the forwards and defensemen. I wouldn’t make any changes there. I did have Lionel Hitchman ahead of Brad Park on my initial top 100 ranking, but the more I thought about it and the more I listened to other committee members, it became clear that Park needed to be here. It’s a testament to the remarkable lineage of great defensemen the Bruins have had that Hitchman, whose No. 3 is hanging from the rafters, got omitted.
The one change I would make personally is in goal. I would have Tim Thomas on this team ahead of Cheevers. Absolutely no hate for Cheevers whatsoever – he’s a legend for a reason – but what Thomas did at his peak is unrivaled by any other Bruins goalie as far as I’m concerned.
He won the Vezina Trophy in 2009 and 2011 and led the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average both years. He capped off that 2010-11 season by leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup since Cheevers, putting together one of the greatest postseason runs any goalie has ever had and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He had a ludicrous .967 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Final.
While Cheevers was a winner who earned a reputation as clutch, he was never the best goalie in the NHL, never won a Vezina, and was never a year-end All-Star. Thomas was, and I would argue he was even more clutch, at least for a short period of time.
All that said, picking the two goalies was without question the hardest part of this. In addition to Brimsek, Cheevers and Thomas, there were credible cases to be made for Tuukka Rask and Tiny Thompson as well. Heck, those two are actually first and second, respectively, on the franchise’s all-time wins list.
I don’t think there was a “wrong” answer here, so I can’t say we got it wrong. I just really feel like Thomas should be here. Four of his 2011 teammates made the squad, and deservedly so, but it’s possible none of them would have a Cup to their name without Thomas.