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Who are the top NHL players of the 1970s? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Larry Robinson: a key part of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the 1970s, Robinson was a 4x All-Star Game selection and 5x Stanley Cup winner (including a Conn Smythe) who tallied 400+ points for the decade with +423 +/- rating, including an astounding +120 during his Norris-winning 1976-1977 campaign.
9. Marcel Dionne: drafted second overall in 1971, Dionne tallied more than 900 points for the decade with four All-Star Game selections, two Lady Byng Trophies, and a Pearson Award.
8. Brad Park: an All-Star Game selection every year it was held during the 1970s, Park was consistently the second-best defenseman of the decade after Bobby Orr: Norris Trophy runner-up 6x and second in scoring at the position with 550+ points.
7. Tony Esposito: the Calder Trophy winner during his legendary 1969-1970 rookie season, Esposito made five All-Star Games and won three Vezina Trophies while leading the decade in wins (304) and shutouts (56) with a 2.70 GAA and .911 SV%.
6. Denis Potvin: taking over the mantle of best defenseman in the NHL upon Bobby Orr’s retirement, Potvin began his career as the 1973-1974 Calder Trophy winner and added five All-Star Game selections and three Norris Trophies with nearly 550 points during the decade.
5. Ken Dryden: a dominant goalie with a relatively brief career, Dryden won five Vezina Trophies and six Stanley Cups in just eight seasons; he was second for the decade with 258 wins and 46 shutouts and first in GAA (2.24) and SV% (.922) and interestingly, won the Conn Smythe in 1971 BEFORE winning the Calder Trophy for top rookie.
4. Bobby Clarke: the decade’s leader in assists (600+) en route to nearly 900 points, Clarke was a 9x All-Star Game selection in the 1970s who also won three Hart Trophies, a Pearson Award, and a Masterton Trophy while guiding the Philadelphia Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
3. Guy Lafleur: Montreal’s career scoring leader, Lafleur won two Hart Trophies, three Ross Trophies, and three Pearson Awards and was the first NHL player with six straight seasons of 50+ goals and 100+ points; he was second for the decade in scoring with nearly 950 points while also leading the 1970s Canadiens dynasty to five Stanley Cups (with a Conn Smythe).
2. Phil Esposito: in addition to scoring a then-record 76 goals in 1970-1971, Esposito led the league in goals scored for six straight years in the 1970s, including five straight with 50+, in the process earning eight All-Star Game selection, four Ross Trophies, a Pearson Award, and a Hart Trophy; he was the decade’s leading scoring with 500+ goals and nearly 1,100 points and won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins.
1. Bobby Orr: though his career was shortened by injuries, Orr is widely acknowledged as a revolutionary defenseman and dominated during the 1970s – in addition to six straight All-Star Game selections and Norris Trophies during the decade, he led all blueliners with 650+ points and also won three consecutive Hart Trophies, two Stanley Cups with two Conn Smythes, and is the only defenseman ever to win the Ross Trophy for top scorer (2x).
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 67: Top 10 NBA Players of the 1980s
