On this day in Bruins History: Bobby Orr in 1971
On this day in 1971, Bobby Orr became the first player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a single season.
Orr was just 22 years old at the time.
In the 1970-71 season, Orr finished with 37 goals and 102 assists (139 points) in 78 games and was also a plus 124. His assists and points by a defenseman, along with his plus/minus from that season, are still records that stand today. He held the record for most assists in a season until Wayne Gretzky broke it in 1981, with 109.
Oddly enough, he would actually end up finishing second in the NHL scoring race that season, 13 points behind his teammate Phil Esposito, who finished with 76 goals and 76 assists (152 points).
The top four scoring leaders that season were Boston Bruins. John Bucyk in third with 116 points and Ken Hodge with 105. Two more Bruins, Wayne Cashman (79 points) and John McKenzie (75 points), finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
Here's NHL's 100 Greatest Players of All Time piece on Bobby Orr, who changed the way the defenseman position was played:
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