Top Avs Of All Time: #8 Ray Bourque

by Joe Dunman on Sep 5, 2008 9:51 AM MDT in Events Comment 14 comments

There are few hockey players who can honestly be said to "need no introduction," and Raymond Bourque is definitely one of them, so even though I'm going to write one anyway, I'll keep it brief.

Ray Bourque, one of the greatest defensemen of all time, graced Colorado with his presence for only one full season (and just 94 total games). He may have been 40 years old and in the final years of his career, but he brought an energy and a drive to the Avalanche that even Joe Sakic has trouble doing sometimes. Ray Bourque, as much as any other member of the team, led the Avs to their second franchise Stanley Cup, and for that he is firmly planted among the Top 19 Avalanche Players of All Time.

Normally in these profiles I take the time to describe each player's junior career and their early development as a player. I mention their draft position and any trades they were involved in. I lay out their personal history in some kind of detail before discussing their role with the Avalanche.

But we'd literally be here all day if I tried that with Ray Bourque. Instead, I'll just give a rundown of the significant numbers and accolades in his ridiculously amazing career.

22 seasons. 1612 regular season games (8th overall). 1579 total points (11th overall and 1st among defensemen). 1169 assists (4th overall). 6206 shots on goal (1st overall). 5 Norris trophies. The Calder Trophy for 1979-80. 1 King Clancy Trophy. 19 All Star appearances. 214 playoff games. 1 Stanley Cup.

And my favorite statistic, suggesting that Bourque was one of, if not the, greatest power play performer of all time: 1272 power play goals for (1st overall).

By 1999-2000, Ray Bourque had already played 20 seasons in the NHL. He had reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice with the Boston Bruins. But the famous hardware had eluded him, and he was desperate to claim hockey's ultimate prize before hanging up his skates. That season, realizing his chances were increasingly limited, he requested a trade to any true Cup contender, much to the disbelief of Bruins fans.

Bruins general manager Harry Sinden granted his request, but after faking out the media with reports that Bourque would become a Flyer, Sinden approved a deal with the Colorado Avalanche that sent Bourque and Dave Andreychuk to Denver in exchange for Brian Rolston, Samuel Pahlsson, Martin Grenier and a first round draft pick. In hindsight, it would have been great for the Avs to keep Rolston and Pahlsson, but considering it was a trade for the best defenseman in history that ultimately resulted in another Stanley Cup for the team, I guess we'll let it slide.

During the final 14 games of the 1999-2000 season, Bourque was on fire, as if nothing around him had changed at all. He scored eight goals and six assists as the Avs readied for the playoffs and a run at the Cup. Unfortunately, that run lasted only 13 games, as the Dallas Stars dispatched the Avs four games to three in the Western Conference Finals. Brett Hull's skate would not go on to win its second Cup, sadly for the Stars.

His final prize still eluding him, Bourque came back for the 2000-01 season. The Avalanche team around him, including Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, Adam Foote, Joe Sakic, Chris Drury, Alex Tanguay, Patrick Roy and eventually Rob Blake, had one of the strongest, most well-rounded lineups in the history of the game. The Avs would win 52 games that year, and Bourque would finish the regular season with 80 games played and 59 points scored, his highest points total since 1995-96.

But the real fun didn't start until the playoffs. Ray Bourque, consumed with just one purpose, named the Avalanche post-season effort "Mission 16W" in reference to the number of wins necessary to claim the Stanley Cup.

Colorado had no trouble early on, sweeping the Vancouver Canucks in the first round and moving on to face the Los Angeles Kings in the conference semi-finals. The Kings, led by Adam Deadmarsh's heart (he was traded from Colorado for Rob Blake just weeks before), nearly ruined Bourque's dream. But the Avs won the series and advanced with a 5-1 drubbing in game seven.

The Western Conference Finals went pretty well. The St. Louis Blues, who had swept the Stars the round before, couldn't manage more than one win against the Avalanche, were outscored 17-11 and succumbed in just five games.

The last team in Ray Bourque's way was the New Jersey Devils, in the Finals for the second straight season and looking to defend their Cup championship win from the year before. They almost did it, too. The Avs started strong with a 5-0 win in game one, but then stumbled in game 2. The teams traded wins until game five. New Jersey's 4-1 win took them to a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch the Cup on home ice. But Colorado struck back, taking game 6 with a 4-0 shutout and a renewed sense of purpose.

Then came game 7.

After that game, Gary Thorne will forever be one of my favorite announcers in sports. His "after 22 years...RAYMOND BOURQUE!!" call still brings a tear to my eye every time I watch the video. And I'm a badass who thinks crying is for wimps and Communists.

Anyway, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, and Ray Bourque got to retire on top.

The team then enjoyed a parade and celebration in downtown Denver, and the city even named a street after Bourque. After Bourque's official retirement that spring, the Boston Bruins retired his famous 77 in a ceremony on October 3, 2001. In a controversial move, the Avalanche also retired his number (the first for the team since moving to Denver) on November 24th. While I personally don't think the Avs should have retired the number of a player who spent less than two full seasons with the team, I certainly understand why it was done. The combination of Bourque's amazing career and his role in the team's second Cup win can't be dismissed easily.

Regardless of whether or not it was the right move, Ray Bourque's number 77 hangs from the rafters of the Pepsi Center along with the only other player to receive that honor in Denver, Patrick Roy.

Ray Bourque, one of the greatest hockey players in the history of the game, left quite a mark on his adopted Avalanche team. His contributions to Colorado's second Cup win, along with his heart, his character and his dedication to the game, earned him a spot among the top Avalanche players of all time.

[Highest rating: 4. Lowest rating: 15. Average score: 8.92]

Ray Bourque at Hockey-Reference.com

Ray Bourque at AvalancheDB.com

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Comments

I love that championship video…I think it’s getting dusty in here…That part where they show Blake and his ass-of-doom standing at the point while Chris Drury looks into his opponent’s eyes for the faceoff gives me chills. Douchechills because PL traded him away for NOTHING!!!! Just look at his face! You can see his determination and willingness to rape and pillage his opponents for a win! And we traded him away for NOTHING! NOTHING!!!

Ok, Ok, calming down…

I still remember Old Man Bourque getting crossed up at his blue line on an odd man rush and laying out for a beautiful poke-check. I remember the behind the scenes from that season where the Avs played in Boston and Drury brought Bourque his coffee (Dunkin’ Donuts, I believe) before the game (and we traded him away for NOTHING!!!!…breathe in, breathe out…) and Ray saying to the team as they headed out of the locker room “Hey Hey, what do you say, let’s win one for Ray!” and everybody smiling. I still remember his son balling like a 5-year-old girl as his dad raised the Cup and thinking how freaking awesome something would have to be to make me sob like that. I remember the SC Finals where the Devils (may they rot in the preverbial hell that is Newark) tried to turn the “16W” against the Avs because that was the exit number for the old NJ arena and thinking “I don’t know what a douche bag is, but that team is full of them.”

All that being said, I think the Bourque ‘era’ in an Avs uniform can be summed up with the following sentence: When he was acquired from Boston, Joe Sakic offered him the captaincy, no questions asked. Anybody who thinks that the jersey shouldn’t have been raised to the rafters need only read that sentence to realize that maybe the organization did the right thing.

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 5, 2008 10:21 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but how do you really feel?

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish we could have had him earlier and given him 2 cups.....

thanks for the memories, Ray.

fader nation is a conquered nation

"Jerry Jones is Al Davis with a smile!"

The creator of the following names: conquered fader nation, Phyllis and his merry men

by mdierk on Sep 5, 2008 11:11 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Im sorry

94 games doesnt make on person a all time Av. He was great for the time he was here. But there is no way he is an all-time Av. Thats almost as bad as retiring his jersey. I know this isnt gonna be a popular sentiment, but that is the way I feel

by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 5, 2008 12:36 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That same sentiment was expressed by several people when they submitted their own rankings. Two people ranked Bourque 15th overall. Considering how big a personality he was, how amazing his career was, and the major impact he had on the team during his brief stint in Colorado (remember, the team was winning the Cup FOR HIM), I’d say 8th is about right.

But, like I said in my admission that I don’t think his number should be retired, I understand both sides of the argument. I understand why he’s viewed as a major player in the team history but also as a blip on the radar.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 5, 2008 12:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m another guy who doesn’t think his jersey should have been retired in Colorado, but he definitely deserves a spot among the elite 19.

As a New Englander, Bourque will always have a special place in my hockey heart. When all the trade talk centered around Philadelphia and Detroit, I felt strongly that the best place for him would be in Colorado. I was there for his last game as a Bruin (it was against Philadelphia, and the rumor at the Fleet Center that day was that he and Byron Dafoe were headed to the Flyers after the game). I watched (ignoring our dinner guests in the other room) while he rang that big shot off the post as we came up just short against Dallas. I watched again the next year, and my wife and I both cried when he finally won. And I was there at the Fleet Center when the Bruins retired his number – it was quite a moment. I guess some might argue that he’s not a major part of Avalanche history, but he’s certainly a big part of mine.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 5, 2008 1:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can see

the love for him, I enjoyed watching him play over the years. But to me it has to be for more than 94 games. Now if you were going to say one of the best moments in Avs history I would agree with that. He was a great player and a reason the Avs beat NJ. I just have a hard time thinking he is one of the best Avs of all time. Now if Flury would have helped the Avs to a title would he be considered? Heck no. Again this is just me. Maybe right now there is not a lot of elite 19 to list. But to me when I think of Ray the first thing that comes to mind is him being a Bruin, then the class he showed by giving up #7. I was happy he won a cup, but more happy the Avs won the cup.

by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 5, 2008 1:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see what your saying, but I think Bourque is the exception to the “Jari Kurri rule” purely because of the impact. Kurri’s impact was so little that half the time I forget that he was once on the Avs. Ray was a dynamic force that other teams had to plan for.

Also, during the elite era of the Avs, if they failed at winning the cup, there was a “there’s always next year” attitude. With the arrival of Bourque and after the failure vs. the Stars, the sentiment seemed to change the next season. There was no next year, it was now or never. For one player to cause such a shift in philosophy, I think, is enough to erase doubts on wither he belongs on this list.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Sep 5, 2008 1:15 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s my reasoning as well. The whole mentality of the team changed when Bourque came on board. He unified their sense of purpose more than Sakic and Roy had been able to do on their own up until that point. The Cup in 2001 was Ray’s Cup. Even if the Avs had won the Cup in 2003-04, would that have been considered Teemu’s Cup? No way.

Ray Bourque had an impact, brief as it was, that only a couple other players have ever had on the Colorado Avalanche. If he had played five or six years, he would have fought for a spot on the top 3, no doubt.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 5, 2008 1:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sorry, but Ray absolutely deserves to be on the list. You have to understand that Ray Bourque was perhaps the most universally respected player in the game at the time he was traded to the Avalanche. Joe Sakic offered him the captaincy as soon as he heard about the trade. Do you remember that first game in Calgary? There has never been anything else like that in Avalanche history, with the exception of Roy’s first game. Bourque then played at an other-worldly level until he was injured in the playoffs. In 2000-2001, Bourque turned in one of the finest single seasons in Avalanche history by a defensemen (only equaled by Ozolinsh’s 96-97 season) and at 41 was named as a First Team All Star. Bourque pushed that team to the Cup, and without him the Avalanche most likely would not have won against the Kings, and certainly would not have won without Peter against New Jersey. The entire dynamic of that season changes, and it becomes just another playoff disappointment.

So, what we’re left with is perhaps the finest single season ever turned in by a defensemen wearing an Avalanche sweater, and the opportunity to see one of the top 5 greatest defensemen ever skate in Denver. He pushed the team to heights that place the 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche in the conversation for the top ten teams to ever play in the NHL. Aside from that, Bourque’s contributions to the community were tremendous, and his arrival changed the culture of the Avalanche. Others look at it like Bourque was only here for 94 regular season games and 34 playoff games. I see it as we were privileged enough to watch one of the finest hockey players ever for 128 games, and he delivered a Stanley Cup. If that isn’t an elite member of the Avalanche, and if that doesn’t deserve a number in the rafters, then I’m not really sure what does.

by The Extra Attacker on Sep 5, 2008 7:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bourque

Watching those clips really makes me desperate for hockey to start. I always called that cup win, “The Bourque Factor.” Winning for him & with his leadership were the extra impetus they needed to get all the wins. That was such a closely fought series with the Devils, they needed that extra intangeble something that Bourgue supplied. Wow, what a team that was…

hockeynana

by hockeynana on Sep 5, 2008 1:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I understand the opinions about not retiring Borque’s number as well as how high he is on this list. But I have to say that, personally, I can’t watch any part of that Cup series, think about that cup, or watch Sakic barely lift that cup before he hands it to Ray without at least tearing up a little. The whole emotion around that season was far different than any other season. If it wasn’t for the tradition/rule that the Captain of the team lift/accept the cup first, Sakic would have let Borque receive that cup. It was his cup, it was his team and Sakic, class act that he is, wanted to take as little as possible away from Ray. Ray will always be a Bruin, but for that season he was the Avalanche, he was their heart and their sole, and he made an impact on the organization and it’s fan base more than any single other players has done in such a short time. Would I have retired his jersey, probably not. Does he deserve to be on this list, definitely!

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Sep 5, 2008 2:57 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree wholeheartedly.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 5, 2008 7:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

To paraphrase Pat Bowlen

“This one’s for Ray”

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano

by DesertBroncoFan on Sep 10, 2008 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs