Bruins to announce 20-player All-Centennial Team

[LogansDad]

Not sure where else this should go:

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1678438057316438016


Text:

As part of the #NHLBruins Centennial celebration, the club has formed an independent selection committee to choose the 100 most legendary players in team history. From there, the committee will select the 20-player All-Centennial Team.

This sounds pretty cool. Remember when we used to do stuff like this here?

 

[nolasoxfan]

Not sure where else this should go:

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1678438057316438016


Text:


This sounds pretty cool. Remember when we used to do stuff like this here?

sounds like we should help them with our recommendations

I'll start with my 2 favorite Bruin goalies, Tuuka Rask and Gilles Gilbert.

 

[Gary Geiger’s Ghost]

Bobby Orr
Ray Borque
Phil Esposito
Cam Neely
Johnny Bucyk
Patrice Bergeron
Zdeno Chara
Adam Oates
Barry Pederson
Brad Park (yeah, I know how short his time was w/the B's, but c'mon...)

Those are my top ten...

 

[pedro1918]

Adam Oates
Barry Pederson
Brad Park (yeah, I know how short his time was w/the B's, but c'mon...)

Those are my top ten...

Hmm. Park played significantly more games for the Bruins than Oates or Pederson. Unless you count the contribution Pederson made by getting traded, I'm not sure how he makes the list.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

No Eddie Shore?

Rick Middleton also an odd omission. I mean you have to have nifty over Pederson and Park.

 

[The Napkin]

No Eddie Shore?

Piss on Eddie Shore

 

[Gary Geiger’s Ghost]

Yeah, that list was a bit too hasty and reactive to the notion of the centennial team. On reflection I would scratch Oates and Pederson and add Middleton and Cheevers. Who here ever saw Eddie Shore. His skates probably had double blades...

 

[rsmith7]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eODIX2Mq8jk

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

Piss on Eddie Shore

Old time hockey?

 

[joe dokes]

Yeah, that list was a bit too hasty and reactive to the notion of the centennial team. On reflection I would scratch Oates and Pederson and add Middleton and Cheevers. Who here ever saw Eddie Shore. His skates probably had double blades...

Either you are kidding or should reframe your list as "great Bruins who played in the second half of the team's 100 year history."

 

[Salem's Lot]

Can we break out the 100th anniversary stuff into a separate thread if possible?

 

[The Napkin]

Can we break out the 100th anniversary stuff into a separate thread if possible?

good call

 

[nolasoxfan]

Marchand has gotta be on the 100, does he make the 20?

What about a guy like Peter McNab? He played most of his years with the Bruins, but, for some reason, I still think of him as a Sabre.

Wayne Cashman, Terry O'Reilly, Ken Hodge... all names from my early childhood. They're all top 100, I would bet.

EDIT: Does Derek Sanderson make the cut or would he be considered more of a "what could have been"?

 

[cshea]

Marchand is a lock for top 20 IMO. He's top 10 in goals, assists and points in franchise history. Bergeron will obviously be top 20. Krejci and Pastrnak are locks for 100 too IMO. McAvoy is interesting. He's probably there based on talent but not sure he's got the longevity yet to crack it.

Other current era players that are locks are Chara (top 20), Rask (top 20) and Tim Thomas. Lucic would be an interesting case. I personally think he's top 100 but would probably need to see a full list rather than just spitballing names.

 

[Saints Rest]

I wonder if they will organize the top 20 they way a team is typically constructed with 12 forwards, 6 D, and 2 G.

If so, here's my guess:

Forwards (not in order, just numbered to keep count):

1. Espo
2. Bergy
3. Bucyk
4. Middleton
5. Marchand
6. Pasta
7. Cashman
8. Neely
9. Krecji
10. O'Reilly
11. Bill Cowley
12. Dit Clapper

Defensemen:

1. Orr
2. Bourque
3. Shore
4. Chara
5. Park
6. Milt Schmidt

Goalies:

1. Rask
2. Tiny Thompson

 

[joe dokes]

Marchand is a lock for top 20 IMO. He's top 10 in goals, assists and points in franchise history. Bergeron will obviously be top 20. Krejci and Pastrnak are locks for 100 too IMO. McAvoy is interesting. He's probably there based on talent but not sure he's got the longevity yet to crack it.

Other current era players that are locks are Chara (top 20), Rask (top 20) and Tim Thomas. Lucic would be an interesting case. I personally think he's top 100 but would probably need to see a full list rather than just spitballing names.

I dont want to sound sacrilegious, but is Thomas a lock? Obviously there was 2010-11. But is 6-7 years enough, given the limit of 20 players? (I like @SaintsRest approach. I have the same question).

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

@joe dokes - Pretty sure that's a lock for the top 100 with Chara and Rask being top 20.

 

[pedro1918]

I wonder if they will organize the top 20 they way a team is typically constructed with 12 forwards, 6 D, and 2 G.

If so, here's my guess:

Forwards (not in order, just numbered to keep count):

1. Espo
2. Bergy
3. Bucyk
4. Middleton
5. Marchand
6. Pasta
7. Cashman
8. Neely
9. Krecji
10. O'Reilly
11. Bill Cowley
12. Dit Clapper

Defensemen:

1. Orr
2. Bourque
3. Shore
4. Chara
5. Park
6. Milt Schmidt

Goalies:

1. Rask
2. Tiny Thompson

I am missing something? Milt was a center. But Clapper, while primarily a wing, did play some D.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Tim Thomas is the only goalie to win the cup for the Bruins in the last 50 years. He won the Conn Smythe that year, and won the Vezina twice.
Back to back shutouts in game 7s in the Cup; run. Set the NHL record for most saves in a postseason and also for the most saves in the Finals. .967 save percentage in the Finals.

He definitely deserves to be on this team.

 

[joe dokes]

@joe dokes - Pretty sure that's a lock for the top 100 with Chara and Rask being top 20.

Ahh. I agree with that.
(I was less convinced about TT top 20).

 

[Ale Xander]

D Orr
D Shore
D Chara
D Park
D Clapper
D Bourque
G Thomas
G Tiny
F Espo
C Bergeron
F Marchand
F Pasta
F Neely
C Oates
C Schmidt
F Bucyk
F Cowley
F Middleton
F Hodge
C Joe Thornton

 

[OnWisc]

nm

 

[BaseballJones]

You guys know more about hockey than me but I agree with those who say Marchand has to be there. He’s been great here for a long time and he’s won a Cup.

 

[Saints Rest]

Here are three lesser appreciated D who I expect will be in the 100:

• Dallas Smith
• Mike Milbury
• Don Sweeney
• 
  All three had long solid careers with Boston and are top 10 on a couple career lists.

 

[cshea]

More I think about it, more I believe Krejci should be on the top 20 team. 5th in the franchise for games played, 13th in goals, 5th in assists, 9th in points. Tied for 2nd in all time playoff scoring for the franchise (with Bergeron and Marchand), won a Cup went to two others, led the team in scoring in 2 of the 3 Cup runs.

 

[cshea]

I dont want to sound sacrilegious, but is Thomas a lock? Obviously there was 2010-11. But is 6-7 years enough, given the limit of 20 players? (I like @SaintsRest approach. I have the same question).

I was making him a lock for the top 100 though I think you can make a case for the top 20, especially if they fill it out like a normal roster lineup (12 F, 6 D, 2 G). Longevity gives Rask the "Best goalie in Bruin history" tag but Thomas' peak was the best for any Bruin goalie and the postseason heroics can't be overstated. If Rask has 1 of the G spots locked down, the second would be between Thomas and Cheevers.

 

[j44thor]

I wonder if they will organize the top 20 they way a team is typically constructed with 12 forwards, 6 D, and 2 G.

If so, here's my guess:

Forwards (not in order, just numbered to keep count):

1. Bill Cowley

Goalies:

1. Tiny Thompson

Overall really good list but I'd have Ken Hodge over Cowley, 150 more GP and a key member of 2 cup winning teams.
I'd also have Gerry Cheevers over Tiny, Cheevers also won 2 SC and has the most iconic mask in NHL history. Tough for me to judge G play before they consistently wore masks.
I understand Tiny has better stats than Cheevers but it was such a different game when he played. Cheevers did have a better win %.

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

Yeah, usual suspects…

Shore
Orr
Bourque
Neely
Espo
Middleton
Cashman
Thomas
Moog
Pederson
Oates
Janney
Iafrate
Poulin
Propp
Carpenter
Christian
Carter
Kluzak
Kvartalnov
Markwart
Linseman
Krushelnyski

I can't grade your list until you specify which Carter.

 

[OnWisc]

I can't grade your list until you specify which Carter.

The 89-90 version of John of course.

 

[Boston Brawler]

The 100 have been announced:

https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-announce-historic-100-ahead-of-all-centennial-team-reveal


BOSTON BRUINS “HISTORIC 100”
Jason Allison
Don Awrey
P.J. Axelsson
Ace Bailey
Marty Barry
Bobby Bauer
Patrice Bergeron
Leo Boivin
Ray Bourque
Johnny Boychuk
Frank Brimsek
Johnny Bucyk
Herb Cain
Wayne Cashman
Zdeno Chara
Gerry Cheevers
Dit Clapper
Roy Conacher
Bill Cowley
Jack Crawford
Keith Crowder
Byron Dafoe
Gary Doak
Ted Donato
Woody Dumart
Phil Esposito
Andrew Ference
Fernie Flaman
Gilles Gilbert
Ted Green
Lionel Hitchman
Ken R. Hodge
Flash Hollett
Nathan Horton
Bronco Horvath
Craig Janney
Eddie Johnston
Stan Jonathan
Steve Kasper
Phil Kessel
Gord Kluzak
David Krejci
Torey Krug
Leo Labine
Reggie Lemelin
Ken Linseman
Milan Lucic
Fleming Mackell
Brad Marchand
Don Marcotte
Charlie McAvoy
Don McKenney
Johnny McKenzie
Peter McNab
Rick Middleton
Mike Milbury
Doug Mohns
Andy Moog
Glen Murray
Cam Neely
Mike O'Connell
Willie O'Ree
Terry O'Reilly
Adam Oates
Harry Oliver
Bobby Orr
Brad Park
David Pastrnak
Barry Pederson
Pete Peeters
Johnny Peirson
Bill Quackenbush
Tuukka Rask
Jean Ratelle
Mark Recchi
Sergei Samsonov
Derek Sanderson
Ed Sandford
Marc Savard
Bobby Schmautz
Milt Schmidt
Dennis Seidenberg
Gregg Sheppard
Eddie Shore
Charlie Simmer
Dallas Smith
Rick Smith
Fred Stanfield
Vic Stasiuk
Don Sweeney
Tim Thomas
Tiny Thompson
Joe Thornton
Shawn Thornton
Jerry Toppazzini
Carol Vadnais
Cooney Weiland
John Wensink
Glen Wesley
Eddie Westfall

 

[cshea]

Kessel kind of stuck out to me. Only 3 seasons, 1 of which he was a star. Left on shaky terms.

They have some other short timers on there like Horton and Recchi but they had the Cup run on their resume.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Yeah the Kessel one was a bit puzzling, especially since none of the post-Kessel trade pieces had particularly large histories with the club either.

 

[Ale Xander]

A cup and a lot of games played, but Shawn Thornton?
At least he was smart in getting his only 7+ goal season and 10+ assist season in the right season and at the same time.

 

[cshea]

I'd lump Shawn Thornton with Ference. They don't have the counting stats but they were each here for 7 season won a Stanley Cup and were an absolutely huge part of changing the culture. Absolutely deserved recognition.

Yeah the Kessel one was a bit puzzling, especially since none of the post-Kessel trade pieces had particularly large histories with the club either.

Feels like if they were going to include Kessel, theoretically Seguin should've gotten in as well.

 

[pedro1918]

Feels like if they were going to include Kessel, theoretically Seguin should've gotten in as well.

I was just comparing the two Bruin careers. If Kessel is on this list, Seguin should be as well.

 

[Boston Brawler]

I have a soft spot for McQuaid, so I was kind of surprised not to see him on the list. 9 seasons and on the cup team.

 

[pedro1918]

Just looking up some of these guys. I am surprised that Kenny Linseman played more games for the Bruins (389) than he did for the Flyers (269). I tend to think of him as a Flyer first.

But I guess, after looking at his jewelry collection, he might think of himself as an Oiler.

 

[GeminiFish]

Bill Guerin's not there? Did he not play long enough?

 

[wiffleballhero]

Mark Recchi?

Do his years in Pittsburgh and Philly count?

 

[Zedia]

I know why Ace Bailey is on there, but Ace Bailey? He was just before my time. Had the good fortune of being on two Cups teams, but I didn't think he was that big a part of those teams.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I have looked this over and if you break this down into 25 year chunks, the third chunk (1974 to 1999) has the most players on the list. But is the only 25 year chunk with zero Cups. And the first 25 years, with the most Cups (3), has the fewest players.

 

[wiffleballhero]

It is such a weird list after the first, IDK, 70 players that are kind of obvious.

Why is, say, Charlie Coyle not on this list by John Wensink is?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

It is such a weird list after the first, IDK, 70 players that are kind of obvious.

Why is, say, Charlie Coyle not on this list by John Wensink is?

We had a Wensink vs.Miller vs. Jonathan vs. Thornton discussion at dinner last night

 

[IdiotKicker]

It’s because no hockey team would have that many great players in its first 100 years. Think about a normal hockey team. You have 3-4 elite players in any generation on a team. Maybe 1-2 of them are good enough to get to the hall of fame. So in 100 years, you can fill out a 30-to person team with no issues. But try to expand to 100 and you’re dealing with a bunch of guys who are good but not great players and trying to determine where the line is. I get why they did 100 to start, but just from a quick look at the numbers, there was no way they’d fill it out with people who are competitive for the final 20. It’s mostly a “Oh yeah I forgot about him, man I loved watching him play” exercise at this point.

 

[wiffleballhero]

We had a Wensink vs.Miller vs. Jonathan vs. Thornton discussion at dinner last night

Please tell me the conversation devolved to the point where punches were thrown!

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Please tell me the conversation devolved to the point where punches were thrown!

It was definitely getting to there when I said “with Lyndon Byers not on the list the whole thing should be ignored “. And then we wept.

 

[Zedia]

It was definitely getting to there when I said “with Lyndon Byers not on the list the whole thing should be ignored “. And then we wept.

I'm ok with no LB but Wensink and Jonathan are no-brainers. Then again, I have no idea who or what a Charlie Coyle is.

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

only 2/3 of the GAS line is on it-- so does that make it lower octane?

 

[cshea]

Mark Recchi?

Do his years in Pittsburgh and Philly count?

3 seasons seemed to be the minimum to make it just based on skimming through the list. Recchi is a stretch in that regard since he was acquired at the trade deadline and then played 2 full more years but he did have 3 playoff runs so I'm OK with it. End of the day he played 180 regular season games and 49 playoff games here and was a huge part of the Cup team so I think it's deserved.

 

[lexrageorge]

I know why Ace Bailey is on there, but Ace Bailey? He was just before my time. Had the good fortune of being on two Cups teams, but I didn't think he was that big a part of those teams.

He was indeed one of the defensive forwards for the early '70's Cup teams, and probably would not have made the list except for the fact that he died when assholes flew the plane he was on into the World Trade Center towers on 9/11.