Here we go again on NHL Saturday: the best players in the history, starting with the Original Six teams and working our way forward. We were in Montréal last week; today, we’re in Boston! And you what that means? Old-time hockey, folks … old-time hockey. This list is impressive, obvi, considering who is on the list—and perhaps who is not? We will let you play around with that in your head for a bit. On with the show!

No. 10: David Pastrňák, RW—95 PS (2014-present)

What does it say that he’s been with the team for a decade and can only be at No. 10 overall? Impressive. Still just age 27 at this moment, he’s done just fine for the No. 25 overall pick: 2-time All Star (2020, 2023), top goal scorer once (2020), and 727 points total (348 goals) in 674 regular-season games. He also has added 85 points (38G, 47A) in 86 playoff games through 9 games in this postseason. No Cups yet, however, so …

No. 9: Eddie Shore, D—97 PS (1926-1939)

Yes, this means that guy: Hall of Famer, 8-time All Star (1931-1936, 1938-1939), 4-time Hart winner (1933, 1935, 1936, 1938), and 2-time Cup champion (1929, 1939)—and the focus of many comedic moments in Slap Shot, of course. Four other times, he finished in the Top 5 vote for the Hart, and among many other achievements, he topped his peers in PIM twice (1927, 1928). His legacy goes far and wide in New England.

No. 8: Tuukka Rask, G—107 PS (2007-2022)

A first-round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he spent his whole career in Boston after a trade: a 2-time All Star (2014, 2020), he also topped the NHL in GAA twice (2010, 2020), shutouts twice (2013, 2014), and save percentage once (2010). He won the Vezina vote in 2014, and he led the Bruins to the Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019 after winning it all in 2011. Yeah, it’s clear this is a trade that worked out very well for the Bruins, no?

No. 7: Zdeno Chára, D—109 PS (2006-2020)

He spent 14 years in Boston after being drafted No. 56 overall by the New York Islanders in 1996. He was 5-time All Star (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014) with the Bruins, however, helping them to the Cup Finals in 2011, 2013, and 2019. He also won the Norris vote in 2009, topping the NHL in plus/minus rating once (2011). With Boston, he earned 159 PIMs in 150 playoff games, while playing 25:36 ATOI as well. But this!

No. 6: Phil Esposito, C—116 PS (1967-1975)

Traded to the Bruins in 1967, he promptly dominated the league in its Expansion era, winning 6 of our first 7 Hart analyses. He won the actual votes in 1969 and 1974; we also gave him the 1970 Conn Smythe, as he played on two Cup championship teams (1972). He also topped the league in goals scored 6 consecutive seasons (1970-1975), while leading the NHL in points 5 times, too (1969, 1971-1974). He is a legend, obviously.

No. 5: Brad Marchand, LW—120 PS (2009-present)

A third rounder, he’s definitely delivered for the franchise: 4-time All Star (2017, 2019-2021) and a Cup winner in 2011. He finished Top 11 in the Hart voting for 5 consecutive years (2017-2021) and was the best in the NHL on short-handed goals (5) in 2014. We have given him 2 Hart nods (2017, 2021), even if the voters have failed to get it right. We honestly don’t like him very much, but we do know he’s a damn fine skater.

No. 4: Johnny Bucyk, LW—121 PS (1957-1978)

After skating his first 2 seasons in Detroit, he came to Boston and set up camp for more than 2 decades. He was a 2-time All Star (1968, 1971), a 2-time Cup champion (1970, 1972), and 2-time Lady Byng winner (1971, 1974). Over an 8-season stretch, he finished Top 3 in the Lady Byng voting 7 times. That tells you what kind of player he was. Finally, he led the NHL in shot percentage 3 times as well (1971, 1973, 1974). Spot on, yes.

No. 3: Patrice Bergeron, C—126 PS (2003-2023)

The No. 45 pick in the 2003 Draft, he joined the team immediately and proceeded to win the Selke vote 6 times (2012, 2014-2015, 2017, 2022-2023)—while finishing in the Top 5 a whopping 14 times! He topped the NHL in plus/minus rating once (2012) and played in the Cup Finals those 3 times mentioned above. He also built up a plus-42 rating in 170 postseason games. He was never an All Star, but he did a lot to help Boston.

No. 2: Bobby Orr, D—147 PS (1966-1976)

Perhaps no one did more to revolutionize the game than he did, winning 8 Norris votes in a row from 1968-1975. He also won the Calder in 1967 and the Hart vote 3 times as well (1970-1972). He topped the NHL in assists 5 times (1970-1972, 1974-1975), points twice (1970, 1975), and plus/minus rating 6 times (1969-1972, 1974-1975). His Bruins plus/minus rating (plus-574) is absolutely insane when you think about it. Hall!

No. 1: Ray Bourque, D—229 PS (1979-2000)

Oddly, the only statistical category he ever topped the NHL in was shots on goal (1984, 1987, 1995). The No. 8 overall pick in the 1979 Draft, he ended up making 18 All-Star teams in his 21 years with the team—the first 17 in a row from the start of his career. He won the Calder in 1980, and he also earned the Norris vote 5 times (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994). We gave him the Norris in 1980, 1984, and 1996 as well. But no Cups here.