The St. Louis Blues Think Chris Pronger Is Better Than Bruins Great Bobby Orr?

Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger was honored by the St. Louis Blues organization on January 17th by retiring his number “44” to the rafters at The Enterprise Center. It was a great night for the 47-year old Pronger, who played 1,167 games with five teams, including 598 for the Blues. The night was filled with stories, accolades, and swilling beer on the ice.

Pronger was the 2nd overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers. The 6’6″ defenseman out of Dryden, Ontario, played a physical style and was a fearless leader for the Whalers, Blues, Flyers, Oilers, and Ducks. He was so fearless that he suffered an acute heart attack on the ice in a game against Detroit in 1998 when he took a puck to the chest. Pronger’s career would end in 2011 as he suffered post-concussion syndrome and a severe eye injury that impaired his vision.

Chris Pronger was a highly skilled player who was considered by some around the league to play a style that sometimes crossed the line and resulted in eight career suspensions. The four-time all-star won the Norris and Hart Trophies at the end of the 1999-00 season. Pronger is the last defenseman to win the Hart Trophy and was the first to win it since Bobby Orr won three consecutive Harts from 1969 to 1972. The big defenseman was
a great player for sure. But where does he stand among defensemen in National Hockey League history?

Pronger’s former teammate, Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis, said during the ceremony that Prongs was “perhaps the greatest defenseman of all time.” This statement comes from a guy who totaled 934 points as a defenseman. There is no denying that Pronger is probably a top 20 defenseman, but if you are debating the best all-around defenseman in history, Bobby Orr would have to be number one. Orr changed the game of hockey and the role that defensemen would play on the ice. Several rinks in the greater Boston area were built due to Orr’s larger-than-life status in Boston in the early 1970s.

Robert Gordon Orr revolutionized the game. Along with winning the Hart Trophy three times, Orr took home the Norris Trophy eight times and was an all-star nine times. There were fewer teams, and the game was different back then, but Orr is still the greatest of all time. Another former Boston Bruin, Raymond Bourque, would also have a fair argument when discussing his place in history. Bourque had 1,506 points and was a 19-time all-star to go along with five Norris Trophies. Bourque was as good defensively as any blueliner ever to play and paired it with a tremendous shot and offensive skill. As far as Chris Pronger is concerned, he is certainly one of the greatest defensemen ever. It can be debated whether Pronger would be top 10 or 15, but certainly not number 1. That belongs to number 4. Congratulations to Chris Pronger on having his number retired as the greatest defenseman ever to play…for the St. Louis Blues.

Season 4. Episode 34. Marco? Polo? Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- Who will be the next Bruins coach? Sturm? Woodcroft? Leach?- Swayman wins gold with Team USA at the World Championships. Good sign?- Max Comtois has been linked to the Bruins? Thoughts?- Some Bruins' coaches on the way out, will the new coach be able to bring in his own guys?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 34. Marco? Polo?
  2. Season 4. Episode 33. Sweens Extension
  3. Season 4. Episode 32. Dude, Where's My Coach?
  4. Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery
  5. Season 4. Episode 30. The Bruins Are Watching The Playoffs

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

3 thoughts on “The St. Louis Blues Think Chris Pronger Is Better Than Bruins Great Bobby Orr?

  1. I’d love to compare highlight reels of Orr, and Pronger, but something tells me they wouldn’t quite match up.

Leave a Reply

NHL Coach Mitch Love

Boston Bruins’ Head Coaching Search Down to Two Candidates

The Boston Bruins are one of two NHL teams without a head coach. With the Pittsburgh Penguins as the only other franchise without a coach, Boston seems to be narrowing down their search and ready to announce a new head guy this week. The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa reported last week that Washington Capitals’ Assistant Coach […]

Read More

2025 NHL Draft: Conrad Jack’s Final Rankings

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles at Peacock Theater is set to take place on June 27th and 28th. Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini were the talk of the town in the previous two drafts. This year, it seems like there is more talent available without a clear-cut number one player. While there […]

Read More
Jonathan Myrenberg skating in the SHL

Boston Bruins Prospect Does Not Sign With Club

Boston Bruins prospect Jonathan Myrenberg had until June 1 to sign with the club, and that deadline passed without a new contract. The Swedish defenseman will now become a free agent. Myrenberg was drafted in the fifth round, 140th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound blueliner was acquired […]

Read More