Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 100

The 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee number 100 hockey card records and celebrates what can be considered one of Bobby Orr's greatest seasons on an individual level. However, as a team, the Boston Bruins were a massive disappointment to their fans and themselves in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The card refers to his 1969-70 season when he won four major National Hockey League awards. Orr won the Norris Trophy as top defenseman, the Hart Trophy as MVP, The Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer and the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup playoffs MVP. This feat has never been matched to this day.

 

Bobby Orr 1970-71

Playing the full 78 game regular season schedule for the Bruins, Orr put up unreachable numbers for a defenseman with 37 goals and 102 assists for 139 points. In pre Rocket Richard Trophy days, he tied for eighth in goal scoring with Yvan Cournoyer of the Montreal Canadiens.

Bobby led the league in assists, a whopping 26 more than second place Phil Esposito. He was second in the race for the Art Ross Trophy behind Esposito's 152 points, an amazing NHL record number at the time.

His +124 set an NHL record and has been untouched to this day. Orr's assist total and point total remain single season records for defensemen. He was the first NHL player to top the 100 assist mark in a season with just Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux joining him. In 1970-71, Orr was awarded the Hart Trophy as MVP and the Norris Trophy as top blue liner.

The Bruins had an outstanding regular season and were favoured to easily win the Stanley Cup. However, in the opening round, the were bounced in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens. Boston held a 3-2 lead after five games but dropped the final two matches to the Habs.

Over the tight series, the Bruins were outscored just 28-26. The Canadiens would go on to capture the Stanley Cup championship, taking out the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals.

As per the back of the Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee hockey card:

What to do for an encore is the yearly problem facing Bobby. First All-Star choice 4 straight years. Only man to win 4 league awards in one season. Holds record for defensemen with 37 goals. Scored goal which gave Boston Stanley Cup in 1970. A superstar when he was just 20.

Bobby Orr 1971-72

 

 

Offensive numbers were down with the Bruins after their record breaking season but the end achievement was what they were looking for. Over 76 regular season games, Bobby scored 37 and assisted on 80 for 117 points. Despite the drop from the previous season, he still led the league in assists with a cushion of 13 over the next player. He was second in points, 16 behind teammate Phil Esposito.

The Bruins won their second Stanley Cup in the three years, taking out the New York Rangers in six games in the finals. Bobby had a stellar playoffs with 24 points on five goals and 19 assists over 15 games. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP to go with his Hart Trophy and Norris Trophy selections.

Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 100 [YouTube Shorts]