Defencemen who broke the 100-point mark in one NHL season, or Legends and a current disruptor

In more than a century of the NHL’s existence, only 6 defensemen have managed to surpass this immortality mark. Of course, all but one, who is still an active player, are already members of the Hall of Fame.

In total, the mark has been reached 15 times, with Bobby Orr himself reaching the mark 6 times and Paul Coffey 5 times. The dominance of these two defensemen is so obvious.

Below, we’ll break down the players, more like legends, and the seasons in which they scored the most points. We must first say that this is a truly exceptional feat. It could be compared to a goalkeeper achieving 10 clean sheets or a striker reaching 70 goals. In this list we can logically find huge figures of world hockey.

Interestingly, even in this millennium, when productivity has gradually declined, there was one defender who joined this prestigious club. It was even last season.

1. location: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1970-71) – 139 points (37+102)

While Boston failed to defend the Stanley Cup this season, Orr set records for points and assists in a season that still stand today. He finished second in the league in scoring. As a result, he won the Hart Trophy for the league’s best player for the second straight year and the Norris Trophy for the best defenseman for the fourth straight year.

2. place: Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers (1985-86) – 138 points (48+90)

A season of a lifetime! Of course, Coffey took the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career. Only Gretzky and Lemieux were better in league scoring.

But above all, he was the first defenseman in history to hit the 50-goal mark. Even 48 goals was enough to break the record set by Orr. The record stands to this day and no other defenseman has even come close.

3. location: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1974-75) – 135 points (46+89)

His last 100 point season and unfortunately the last one he played completely. Orr set a new record for most goals by a defenseman. He became the first player in history to surpass 40 goals! And for the second time in his career, he became the only defenseman in league scoring history to win the award so far. He also won the Lester B award. Pearson Award for best player.

4. place: Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers (1983-84) – 126 points (40+86)

Became the second defenceman after Orr to break the 40-goal mark this season. He also celebrated winning his first Stanley Cup after a setback last season. Still, it wasn’t enough to win the award for best defenseman, which went to Rod Langway.

5. place: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1973-74) – 122 points (32+90)

He broke the 100-point mark for the fifth straight season. In addition, he set a record in a game against the Rangers, scoring a hat trick and adding 4 assists! In the playoffs again, the Bruins fell to Philadelphia in the finals. Orr took his seventh Norris Trophy in a row. By the way, he managed to score 9 hat tricks in his career as a defenseman!

6. place: Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers (1984-85) – 121 points (37+84)

Won his second Stanley Cup in a row, won the Norris Trophy for the first time and dominated the playoffs! For a defenceman, Coffey scored an incredible 37 points, breaking the 120-point mark for the second time. However, the Conn Smythe Trophy was taken by teammate Gretzky, who even attacked the 50 point mark.

On this day 53 years ago, Bobby Orr flew his way into hockey history. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LGp4sFFjZ7

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 10, 2023

7. place: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1969-70) – 120 points (33+87)

A season where Orr won everything he could! Boston went on to win the Stanley Cup. Plus, this is where one of the most famous photos comes from, Orr flying through the air with his arms raised.

He dominated the NHL. For the first time, a defenseman scored 30 goals and beat everyone in scoring, the only one to do it so far. For these feats, he took home his third Norris Trophy, the league’s premiere Hart Trophy for best player and the Conn Smythe Trophy for best playoff player. Again, the only one in history to win these 4 awards in one season!

8. place: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1971-72) – 117 points (37+80)

Almost identical season to two years ago. Orr again led Boston to a Stanley Cup. For the third straight season, he recorded at least 30 goals, 80 assists and 110 points.

Once again he took the Conn Smythe Trophy for the best player of the playoffs – the first to win this award twice. Of course, he won his fifth Norris Trophy in a row and most importantly his third Hart Trophy, also in a row. Never in the history of the NHL has a defenseman so dominated.

9. place: Paul Coffey, Pittsburgh Penguins (1988-89) – 113 points (30+83)

After a 2-year hiatus, he broke the 100-point mark for the fourth time in his career and the 30-goal mark for the fourth time. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in the playoffs again. The Penguins’ time was yet to come…

10. place: Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames (1990-91) – 103 points (28+75)

Proving to be the fourth all-time, MacInnis had a performance like never before this season, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to win the Norris Trophy, but at least he was in the top five for the season. It didn’t work out in the playoffs either, so at least he made up for it at the international level by winning the Canada Cup, where he was a member of the All-Star team.

11. place: Paul Coffey, Pittsburgh Penguins (1989-90) – 103 points (29+76)

Coffey didn’t slow down in a Penguins jersey either. He played alongside Lemieux. It was the fifth time in his career and the last time he broke that mark. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs and the Norris Trophy went to Ray Borque. So, from a team perspective, it was an unsuccessful season.

12. place: Brian Leetch, New York Rangers (1991-92) – 102 points (22+80)

He became only the fifth defenseman in NHL history and the only American to surpass that mark. For this feat, he deservedly took the award for best defenseman. But it didn’t end in the playoffs, the Rangers ended their 54-year wait for the Stanley Cup 2 seasons later with Leetch in the lineup.

13. place: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1972-73) – 101 points (29+72)

He broke the century mark for the fourth time in a row. But unfortunately, he was starting to have significant knee problems that would later end his career. However, he still got Boston to the Stanley Cup finals, where Philadelphia was too strong for them. He still won his sixth Norris Trophy in a row.

14. place: Denis Potvin, New York Islanders (1978-79) – 101 points (31+70)

The second man to do it after Orr. He won his third Norris Trophy and just one season later, the Islanders’ 4-year playoff reign began. Of course, Potvin was there for all the Stanley Cups, becoming the first defenseman in history to surpass the 300 goal, 1,000 point mark.

15. erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks (2022-23) – 101 points (25+76)

He became only the sixth defenseman in history to reach that mark. Plus, he’s the first in more than 20 years since Brian Leetch. Interestingly, he was actually already 4 seasons behind the zenith in points and suddenly exploded in points. He even scored a hat trick, an unprecedented feat for a defenseman.

Karlsson won his third Norris Trophy, his first in 8 years! It’s all the more special because the Sharks were playing lousy hockey and he still scored so many points. Plus, we all know where they are today after his departure.

Source: NHL, Wikipedia