Orr vs Bourque

clydefrog · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 09:53 AM

Not sure if this the right place, but the Lemiuex vs Gretzky arguement got me thinking.....

IMO Ray Bourque is the greatest defenceman of all time simply because he was a all-star player for 20 years. He did have the fortune of not getting seriously injured like Orr, but Bourque was the standard for great dman in the 80' and 90'.

here are his career totals..

games-1612
goals-410
ass-1169
points-1579
pims-1141

one fo only 6 damn to score 30 goals and score 20+ 11 times.

won the caldr cup, 5 norris trophys, 1 stanley cup

19 time all-star

is the NHL all time scorer for defeneman and 9th overall in NHL history for total points..

10th all time for playoff points..and one of only 3 defman to top 1000 points..

Best dman ever, I think so...

Killah_punk · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 11:04 AM

Bobby Orr is the greatest defenseman to play the game of hockey and maybe the best player period.

brandonh19 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 11:08 AM

There is no question here the winner is Orr, no one has ever taken the game over like Orr was able too. The end to end rushes the flash, and being tough as well. First dman to ever put up huge offensive numbers go on the rush get stopped and still get back in time to play D. Amazing

Boogeyman2383 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 11:32 AM

Clear Wiiner Bobby Orr

Smerri1029 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 12:22 PM

Bobby Orr is the best to play the game so he is the best defenseman to play the game.

I love Bourque, but he is no Orr.

**VodkaFish** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 12:56 PM

No defenseman compares to Bobby Orr.

I think Ray Bourque vs Larry Robinson is a good matchup though.

clydefrog · #7 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 01:16 PM

I understand skill wise there is no comparison, but the guy was an ALL_STAR 20 times!!!! He is the all-time leading scorer for dman and is 9th overall.

20 years as the best at his position to me trumps 8.

**Isles4life** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 02:12 PM

I don't think there's any question that Orr is the greatest defenseman of all-time. His injury problems may not have allowed him the longevity that a guy like Bourque had, I don't think that in anyway diminishes from how dominant he was on the blue line.

There's a much better debate to be had about who the second best defenseman of all-time is, with Ray Bourque being a very strong candidate for the honor. I'm a huge fan of the guy who was remarkably consistent from start to finish over his long NHL career. I'd say his chief competition for second place is still playing though, in Nicklas Lidstrom.

clydefrog · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isles4life

I don't think there's any question that Orr is the greatest defenseman of all-time. His injury problems may not have allowed him the longevity that a guy like Bourque had, I don't think that in anyway diminishes from how dominant he was on the blue line.

There's a much better debate to be had about who the second best defenseman of all-time is, with Ray Bourque being a very strong candidate for the honor. I'm a huge fan of the guy who was remarkably consistent from start to finish over his long NHL career. I'd say his chief competition for second place is still playing though, in Nicklas Lidstrom.

OK maybe i should have done that...2nd best.

Boogeyman2383 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VodkaFish

No defenseman compares to Bobby Orr.

I think Ray Bourque vs Larry Robinson is a good matchup though.

Ray Bourque over Larry Robinson

peacemaker · #11 (**permalink**) 05-30-2009, 09:27 PM

Bobby Orr was the best player in the league when he played. I don't think anyone would dispute that.

Ray Bourque was arguably the best defenceman when he played.

Clear League MVP when he played vs arguably the leagues Best D-Man when he played.

Longevity clearly works on Bourque's favor. If that's the criteria, no contest. Just not my criteria though.

Was Gordie Howe the best player? Again if the criteria is longevity/excellence combined, he wins.

But, that would also mean that Frank Mahovilich and Paul Coffey round out the 5 best Players in League history (Howe, Bourque, Gretzky, Mahovilich and Coffey are the 5 best players in league history if longevity/excellence are the standard as opposed to the level of excellence.

2,5,10GameMatch · #12 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 12:13 AM

Two Bourque's = One Orr. no contest, Orr was everything a Star could possibly be, except - Highly Durable.

Bobby Orr was the best natural Hockey player of alltime..

Sam1410 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 02:16 AM

MVP Trophys - Orr (3), Bourque (0)
Scoring titles - Orr (2), Bourque (0)
Norris Trophy's - Orr (8), Bourque (5)
Conn Smythe - Orr (2), Bourque (0)
All Star Games - Orr (7), Bourque (19 straight - all time record)
Highest Yearly point total - Orr (139 - still the record for most points in a year by a defenceman and assists in a year for a D man), Bourque (96).
Highest Goal scoring season - Orr (46), Bourque (31)
Career Numbers - Orr (6th all-time by a defenceman in career goals, 11th in career assists and 9th in points), Bourque (first all time for defenseman in ALL three catagories).

I think is is a tougher call then most guys are saying. Orr was an absolute force of nature, but his knees have to count against him big time. Bourque played at an all star caliber for 19 seasons, Orr for 7. Doesn't the FAR shorter career have to count for something?

I think it depends on what the question is. If it is, who would you take for a season, a game, a playoff, the answer is Orr without a doubt. If the question is who do you want to have for an entire career, you'd have to think hard about taking the guy that played TWICE as long.

Ultimately, I'd choose Orr, but how the hell could you go wrong with the other guy that holds the record for most points, assists, and goals for D???

The Crow · #14 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 02:51 AM

While Borque may have some great seasons and awards under his belt, he shouldn't be compared seriosuly to Orr, who in my opinion is the second best player of all time.

bigjohnson · #15 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 11:45 AM

Not much of a comparison

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