It all started with a list of 100 highlighting the most historic Bruins in the century-long history of the club.
But from there, an independent committee met — and met for hours, at that — to come up with the 12 forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies that make up the All-Centennial Team for the Bruins.
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Of course, there were some early rules laid out. It didn’t matter if they were a center or a wing, and you didn’t have to have a lefty-righty combo on the backend. This was simply about the best forwards, best defensemen, and best goalies.
The rules were that there had to a majority rule, and boy, was that tough. I’m pretty sure our goaltending debate lasted about an hour, and same for where to properly slot a dual-threat player like Dit Clapper.
But after hours of numbers, ideas, and a fantastic lunch, the committee got its group, and on Thursday night, at a gala celebrating 100 years of Bruins hockey, it was finally revealed to the public.
Forwards
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Patrice Bergeron (2003-23)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 26: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins faces off during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on January 26, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images )
One of the greatest two-way players in hockey history, Patrice Bergeron finished his career with six Selke Trophy wins, which was two more than Canadiens legend Bob Gainey for the most in league history, and Bergeron is one of just five players in league history to win the award at least three times, with Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Jere Lehtinen, and Pavel Datsyuk on that list with Bergeron.
A career-long Bruin, Bergeron helped lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and brought Boston to Stanley Cup Final appearances in both 2013 and 2019 after that. His 170 career playoff games with the Bruins are second to only Ray Bourque and his 180 games played, and Bergeron retired from hockey third in playoff goals (50) and tied for second in playoff points (128) among all Boston skaters.
Johnny Bucyk (1957-78)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 14: Patrice Bergeron poses for the ceremonial puck drop for the 50th Anniversary 1972 Stanley Cup alumni Don Marcotte, Dallas Smith, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge, Rick Smith and Garry Peters at TD Garden on April 14, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A Bruin through and through, Bucyk sits atop the franchise’s all-time goals list, with 545. Bucyk, who won two Cups with the Bruins, was a model of consistency throughout his time with the Bruins, with 16 20-goal seasons and 12 years of at least 60 points. Bucyk is tied with Bourque for the most seasons with the Bruins, with 21.
‘Chief’ also won two Stanley Cups, was a two-time All-Star, and captured two Lady Byng wins during his career.
Phil Esposito (1967-75)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 11: Former Boston Bruins player Phil Esposito waves to the crowd ahead of the Bruins home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden on October 11, 2023 (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The running mate for Bobby Orr throughout Boston’s 1970s runs, Esposito’s numbers with the Bruins were downright sick. In just nine years with the Bruins, Esposito was an eight-time All-Star, a five-time Art Ross winner, and two-time Hart winner. Esposito also won Cups in 1970 and 1972 and has a team record that’s unlikely to be broken, with 76 goals and 152 points for the Bruins in 1970-71.
David Krejci (2007-21, ’22-23)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 26: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden on January 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
One of the greatest playoff performers in Bruins history, Krejci led the playoffs in scoring in both 2011 and 2013 and finally called it a career this past offseason after returning to the club for ‘one final run’ in 2022-23.
Krejci is also one of just seven skaters to play at least 1,000 games with the Bruins, and his 1,032 games in a Boston sweater rank fifth on the club’s all-time list. His 231 goals are the 13th-most on the franchise leaderboard, and his 786 points are the ninth-most by any player in team history.
Brad Marchand (2009-present)
Dec 27, 2022; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) looks up the ice during a break in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY Sports)
From fourth-line agitator to first-line superstar, Brad Marchand has recorded 372 goals and 863 points in 948 games with the Bruins. His 372 goals are the sixth-most in franchise history, while his 863 points are the seventh-most among all Bruins. That gives Marchand a decent shot at becoming just the fifth player in team history to record at least 1,000 points in a B’s sweater.
Marchand is also the franchise’s all-time leader in shorthanded goals, with 33, which is a staggering eight more shorties than second-place Rick Middleton.
Rick Middleton (1976-88)
Bruins retire Rick Middleton’s nu,ber at TD Garden on November 29, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.
With the B’s for 12 seasons, Middleton put together a stellar B’s run that featured 402 goals and 898 points in 881 games played. Middleton’s 402 goals are the fourth-most in Bruins history, while his 898 points rank fifth.
Middleton was a three-time All-Star during his time with Boston, and won the Lady Byng in 1982.
Cam Neely (1986-96)
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 7: Cam Neely at the 2005 Hockey Hall of Fame induction photo opportunity on November 7, 2005 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Before he was working in the B’s front office, Neely was busy scoring 50 goals in 44 games back in 1993-94, and put together a Bruins career that included the seventh-most goals in team history (344).
Neely is also the only Bruins player other than Phil Esposito to have multiple 50-goal seasons with the club, with Neely having three 50-plus seasons (Esposito has five).
Terry O’Reilly (1972-85)
BOSTON – FEBRUARY 13: Former Boston Bruins player Terry O’Reilly shakes hands with John Bucyk during the ceremony honoring Bucyk for his 50 years with the Bruins organization before the game against the Edmonton Oilers on February 13, 2007 at TD Banknorth Garden. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston’s all-time penalty minute leader (2,095 minutes in penalties), O’Reilly also recorded 204 goals and 606 points over the course of a 14-year career spent entirely with the Bruins. O’Reilly’s best year with the Bruins was his 1977-78, which featured single-season career-highs in goals (29), assists (61), and points (90) for O’Reilly on the way to an eighth-place finish in the Hart Trophy race. O’Reilly is one of just 12 players in NHL history to have at least 200 goals, 600 points, and 2,000 penalty minutes.
David Pastrnak (2014-present)
Jan 2, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) skates during warmups before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
A ‘fast riser’ on the franchise leaderboards, Pastrnak has already scored the eighth-most goals in team history (303) and tallied the 11th-most points in team history (619). Assuming he’s here and healthy for the majority of his eight-year deal that kicked in this year, Pastrnak has a legitimately great chance of becoming the leading goal scorer in the franchise’s history (Bucyk is the current leader there, with 545 goals in a Bruins uniform).
Milt Schmidt (1936-42, ’45-55)
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 05: The number 15 of Milt Schmidt, the Boston Bruins Hall of Fame center who died at age 98 yesterday, is displayed at TD Garden before a game with Edmonton Oilers on January 5, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.Schmidt lead the Bruins to two Stanley Cup championships as a player. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The Ultimate Bruin. Mr. Bruin. Whatever your name of choice, let me assure you, Milt Schmidt was indeed him. A do-it-all figure for the Bruins over the course of his entire life, Schmidt’s playing career featured a resume headlined by 229 goals and 575 points in 776 games, along with four All-Star nods, a Hart Trophy in 1951, and two Stanley Cups. Following his playing career, Schmidt moved into a coaching and then a front office role with the franchise, and helped build the iconic Bruins of the early-70s.
Defense
A detailed view of the Boston Bruins’ logo on a player’s sweater during a game. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Ray Bourque (1979-2000)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 11: Former Boston Bruins player Ray Bourque waves to fans before the Bruins home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
An early pick in this draft style roundtable, Ray Bourque’s nod was an easy one. Bourque is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,518), assists (1,111), and points (1,506). He did everything ‘cept win a Cup during a time with the Bruins, and that’s through no fault of his own, as Bourque was a consistent playoff performer throughout his tenure with the Bruins. Including his numbers with the Avalanche, Bourque is also the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history, with 1,579 points.
Zdeno Chara (2006-20)
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 18:Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara, both of the Boston Bruins, reacts to cheers a Stanley Cup victory parade on June 18, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Personally, I think Zdeno Chara is the greatest free-agent signing in NHL history. The face of Boston’s shift from directionless to Stanley Cup contenders and one of the most feared defensemen of his era, Chara won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 2009, and captained the Bruins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2011. The Bruins also went to the Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019 under Chara’s leadership.
Bobby Orr (1966-76)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 11: Former Boston Bruins Bobby Orr acknowledges the crowd ahead of the Bruins home opener to their 100th Season at TD Garden on October 11, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A nine-time All-Star, an eight-time Norris winner, a three-time Hart Trophy winner, two-time Art Ross winner, and two-time Conn Smythe winner. Simply put, the greatest defenseman to ever play the game.
Orr was the first pick on the board in this selection process, and was made by yours truly. (Quick shoutout to the Bruins for giving me an easy one.)
Goalies
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 24: Boston Bruins fans hold a giant flag with the Boston Logo on it prior Game Six of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden on June 24, 2013. (Elsa/Getty Images)
