Often paired with the legendary Eddie Shore, Lionel Hitchman was a stay-at-home defenceman even for an era where that was considered normal.  As such, he did not put up impressive offensive statistics, but he was highly respected hockey player who once finished second in Hart Trophy balloting and would six times finish in the top ten in Defensive Point Shares.  He would make history right after his rplaying career ended in 1934 when the Bruins retired his #3, making him the first to receive that honor by the Bruins.

While Tim Thomas was often controversial, the fact remains that he had a lot of success when he backstopped the Boston Bruins.

A finesse player who probably did not get his proper due, Don McKenney had his most successful seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins.  McKenney would win the Lady Byng in the 1959/60 season and would also lead the National Hockey League in Assists that campaign.  The slick player was a welcome contrast to the players that Boston usually had, but he was a consummate team player and was named the team captain in 1961.

A small fraction away from being a Point per Game player as a Boston Bruin, Peter McNab was a good scorer who was known for his accurate shot and excellent stick handling.  McNab was far from the best skater on the ice, but he had a high hockey I.Q. and knew where to position himself to optimize his scoring chances.  He was an All Star once in 1977.

Adam Oates was only with the Boston Bruins for five years, but while playing for the B’s, he was a bona fide scoring machine and would finish third in scoring twice.  Oates is third all-time in Points per Game for the Bruins and still holds the franchise record for Assists and Points for a season.  It is actually quire amazing how many teams had Oates throughout his Hall of Fame career.

Oates would later be named to the NHL 100th Anniversary Team.

While the man nicknamed “Taz” was not your most skilled player, he embodied Boston Bruin hockey better than almost anyone.  He was rough and tough (his 2,000 plus PIM tell you that) but he was just skilled enough to provide some solid offense and in a career spent entirely in Boston, he was good enough to score over 600 Points and make two All Star Games.  If this list was ONLY based on popularity, Terry O’Reilly could very well have been in the top five.  The Bruins retired his number 24 in 2002.

Bobby Bauer’s career only spanned nine seasons (all with Boston), but the Right Wing of the famed “Kraut Line” was a Second Team All Star in four of them.  Bauer was a selfless player who knew how to set up his teammates brilliantly and he was also a player who rarely led aggression get the best of him as he was a three time Lady Byng recipient.  

The first season that saw forward passing allowed in the National Hockey League was by far and away the best of Cooney Weiland’s career.  In that, his sophomore campaign in hockey, Weiland led the NHL in scoring with 43 Goals 73 Points and destroyed Howie Morenz’ record of 51.  That season he would also win his first Stanley Cup.  

Trivia question; Who was the first player to lead the NHL in plus/minus when it became an official statistic?

Answer: Dallas Smith.

A clutch goaltender who played his best when the lights were at its brightest, Gerry Cheevers backstopped the Bruins to two Stanley Cup wins (1970 & 1972) and the Hall of Famer might have had more NHL accolades had the man with the famous stitched mask not taken his talents to the World Hockey Association for a few years.  

Brad Park was considered by many to be the second best defenceman of the 1970’s, and he arrived in Boston at the tail end of his prime.  Park was still able to secure another full season in Boston as a First Team All-Star, and he would average 0.83 Points per Game as a Bruin, which was actually higher than it was than when he was with the New York Rangers.  Park enetered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

Gordie Howe called Fern Flaman the toughest defenceman he ever faced.  If that is true, that is about as good as an endorsement as anyone could ask for.

The greatest defensive forward of the modern era.

We know that we are not the only ones to bestow Patrice Bergeron with that statement, and we will take it one step further as we will annoint Bergeron as one the top five Bruins ever.

A Bruin for the entirety of his career, Bergeron was an instant leader, winning six Frank J. Selke Awards as the game's best defensive forward, a record, and was also a record finalist 12 times.  Bergeron was also a King Clancy winner, and the 2020/21 recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award.  Not all defensive forwards were known for their scoring accumen, but Bergeron is, having scored 1,040 Points, and in 2011, it was Bergeron who scored the Game 7 winner against Vancouver to win the Bruins the Cup.  

Bergeron was so good, that he only had one season with a negative Plus/Minus, and was the league-leader in 2011/12.  He only finished in the top five in Hart voting once (fifth in 2013/14), but his value to Boston on every shift could not be quantified, and the Bruins had a gem for his duration.  

In many ways, Rick Middleton was not your prototypical Boston Bruin, as he was known for his sportsmanlike conduct on the ice, however the Boston fans loved “Nifty” for his playmaking skills and scoring capability.

A power forward before anyone called it that, Wayne Cashman lived in the corners and dug out the puck expertly to help drive the potent offense of the Boston Bruins.

Woody Dumart was the Left Winger for the Bruins famed “Kraut Line” and while he was not the scorer that Milt Schmidt was, he was a mistake free player who complimented his linemates very well.  Dumart was a three time Second Team All Star and a two time Stanley Cup Champion and amazingly over his 772 Game career, he only had 99 Penalty Minutes.  He enetered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

How often did the Vancouver Canucks regret the day they traded away Cam Neely?  The same amount of times that the Boston Bruins celebrated acquiring him.

Was the Stanley Cup ever held higher than when Zdeno Chara hoisted it in 2011?

Tiny Thompson was the first star between the pipes for the Boston Bruins and was the man who backstopped the organization to their first Stanley Cup.  Thompson was a four time Vezina Trophy winner and a four time post season All-Star.  He would also lead the NHL in Goals Against Average four times.

A charismatic and clean player, Dit Clapper holds the distinction of being the only player in the history of the NHL to be named a post season All-Star at both forward and defence.  Clapper was a gentlemanly player, even though he was one of the largest of his day, and could have easily used his size to intimidate opponents.  Rather, he let his skill to the intimidating for him.