August 26, 1971: Bobby Orr Signs NHL’s First Million-Dollar Contract With Bruins
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Bobby Orr already had changed the way hockey was played by the summer of 1971. On Aug. 26, the Boston Bruins superstar changed the business of the sport, too. Orr became the first million-dollar player in NHL history when he signed a five-year contract with the Bruins worth $1 million. The groundbreaking deal paid the defenseman $200,000 per season, establishing a new financial standard for the league.
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It was a historic commitment from the Bruins, but Orr had already proven he was unlike any defenseman the NHL had seen. The Parry Sound, Ontario, native entered the agreement after delivering a record-setting 1970-71 season. Orr recorded 37 goals and 102 assists for 139 points over 78 games, setting single-season NHL records for assists and points by a defenseman.
Orr won his second consecutive Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player and his fourth straight Norris Trophy as its top defenseman. He also received his second consecutive Ted Lindsay Award, then known as the Lester B. Pearson Award.
Boston did not have to wait long for the record contract to produce another championship.
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Bobby Orr Continued Historic Run With Bruins
Orr helped the Bruins capture their second Stanley Cup in three seasons during the first year of his new deal. He finished the 1971-72 regular season with 37 goals and 117 points before contributing 24 points in 15 playoff games. Orr scored the Cup-clinching goal against the New York Rangers and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player.
It was the second time Orr had scored a championship-winning goal. His overtime tally against the St. Louis Blues in 1970 produced the iconic image of Orr flying through the air after being tripped by Noel Picard. Orr recorded at least 101 points in each of the first four seasons covered by the $1 million contract. He won four more Norris Trophies during that span and captured his second NHL scoring title with 135 points in 1974-75.
Knee injuries eventually limited Orr to 10 games during the 1975-76 season, his final campaign with Boston. He later played briefly for the Chicago Blackhawks before retiring. Orr finished his NHL career with 270 goals and 915 points in only 657 regular-season games. He won eight consecutive Norris Trophies, three Hart Trophies, two Stanley Cups and two Conn Smythe Trophies before entering the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.
NHL contracts have grown dramatically since Orr signed his historic deal. The importance of that day remains unchanged. On Aug. 26, 1971, the Bruins made the league’s first million-dollar investment in a player. Orr spent the following years showing why he was worth every penny.