4. Phil Esposito



The Chicago Blackhawks had to regret trading away Phil Esposito, but it was in Boston where he developed his scoring touch.  Esposito would park himself in front of the net and would shatter the single-season scoring record, becoming the first man to score 100 Points in a season.  He would hit that plateau six more times, winning a total of scoring trophies and two Hart Trophies.

The tenacious centre would set the goal scoring record with 76 Goals, and would eclipse 60 goals for a season four times in Boston, and six times led the NHL in Goals scored.  Remember, that this was not the free-wheeling 80’s, and numbers like this were unheard of!

Esposito was also a natural leader, and with his talented teammates in tow, he led them to a pair of Stanley Cup wins.  While Bobby Orr received much of the attention, Esposito’s scoring touch would not be seen until a man named Wayne Gretzky came around.  Much like he was a leader in Team Canada’s team in the 1972 Summit Series, he was so in Boston.

Esposito was traded to the Rangers during the 1975/76 Season, but he left as the team's greatest sniper ever.  The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Esposito in 1984, and the Bruins retired his number 7 three years later.  The legendary sniper would also be selected to the NHL 100th Anniversary Team.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Center
  • Acquired: Traded from the Chicago Blackhawks with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield for Pit Martin Jack Martin and Gilles Marotte, 3/15/67.
  • Departed: Traded to the New York Rangers with Carol Vadnais for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi 11/7/75.
  • Games Played: 625
  • Notable Statistics: 459 Goals
    553 Assists
    1,012 Points
    512 PIM
    1.62 PPG
    +313 Plus/Minus
    115.8 Point Shares

    71 Playoff Games
    46 Goals
    56 Assists
    102 Points
    81 PIM
    0.70 PPG
    +30 Plus/Minus
  • Major Accolades and Awards: Stanley Cups (1970 & 1972)
    Hart Trophy (1969 & 1974)
    Ted Lindsay Award (1971 & 1974)
    Art Ross Trophy (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    First Team All-Star (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    Second Team All-Star (1968 & 1975)
    All-Star (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
    Most Goals (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975) 
    Most Assists (1968, 1969 & 1973)
    Most Points (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    Highest Plus/Minus (1969)
    Most Even Strength Goals (1971 & 1974)
    Most Power Play Goals (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 & 1976)
    Most Short-Handed Goals (1973)
    Most Game-Winning Goals (1971, 1972 & 1973)
    Most Shots (1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    Most Goals per Game (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975) 
    Most Assists per Game (1968 & 1969)
    Most Points per Game (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    Most Offensive Point Shares (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
    Most Point Shares (1969)
  • NHL Player ID: 8446722
  • Notable Top Ten Finishes: Top Ten Hart Trophy Finishes:
    1st in 1969, 6th in 1970, 2nd in 1971, 3rd in 1972, 2nd in 1973 & 1st in 1974
    Top Ten Lady Byng Finishes:
    5th in 1968
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