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Legends of Hockey wrote:Most people will agree that Bobby Orr is the best defenseman ever. But how about the best pure defensive defenseman? While there are a lot of candidates, one of them would have to be the heavily underrated and under appreciated Dave Burrows.
While Orr lit up the scoreboard during the 1970s, Burrows was busy preventing goals with the Pittsburgh Penguins...
Burrows wasn't a physically dominating, crease clearing blueliner. Instead he relied on a greater understanding of the game to be in perfect position no matter what scenario he was faced with. He was an expert shot blocker and above all else, was known as one of the best skaters of his time. He amazed many observers with his incredible speed and agility. Some felt he could skate faster backward than most could go forward.
"I took a lot of pride in being able to move laterally and backwards with great ease. It took a lot of practice, but it was something I enjoyed doing," he said.
"In fact, I used to get a big kick out of skating backwards on two-on-one breaks or one-on-one breaks against me when I was back on defense. It was a challenge trying to break up situations like that. I enjoyed that part of the game the most."
Unfortunately for Burrows and defensive minded rearguards like him during the 1970s, he received virtually no recognition. Bobby Orr revolutionized the way defensemen played the game. No longer were they on the ice to stop goals, but instead to create offense.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Feb. 5, 1976 wrote:...defensive star for the Pittsburgh Penguins. ||| The Penguins are surpassed in defensive ineptitude only by the Washington Capitals, Kansas City Scouts and New York Rangers. Burrows manages to rise above the record, a glittering example of a defenseman's defenseman. At long last, help is on the way.
The Pittsburgh Press - Oct. 14, 1975 wrote:"He is the best defenseman in hockey," Boileau said, "so why shouldn't he be on the ice?" That statement is easy to make as long as the cast remains on Bobby Orr's leg, but becoming the Penguins' designated "Superdefenseman" is all right with Burrows. ||| Boileau said he may even use Burrows on the point during the power play... ||| "He's cool out there," Boileau said, "and he anticipates well. The most important thing a pointman can do on the power play is keep the puck in the attacking zone, and Burrows does that well."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jun. 22, 1973 wrote:Two of the brightest stars in the Penguins' galaxy will be around the Civic Arena scoring goals and stopping goals for some time to come...Dave Burrows, one of the most rapidly-rising defensive players whose future is unlimited, has autographed a three-year paper. ||| St. Paul (WHA) sought Burrows' services with a bundle of greenbacks. There seems to be little argument among hockey men that Burrows rapidly is becoming one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He is not spectacular, like some defensemen, but it is seldom an opposing player is able to get past him for a good shot on goal.
Legends of Hockey wrote:One label that bothered Edestrand during his NHL career was being called an "offensive" defenseman. "I'm sick and tired of it," Edestrand complained, while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins "People say I get caught up ice a lot, but I'm trying to prove differently." From that verbal retort in 1973, Edestrand concentrated hard on dishing out more hits and not getting himself out of position. He became a more defensive player, but that was also the last time he scored more than ten goals in a season.
mikey287 wrote:Just posting a profile...not my pick here in the 24th round...if it was, we'd all be fired...
dman66 wrote:Was going to make my last pick, then I looked at the first page. Why is Engelland not eligible for the draft Mikey?
I'm seeing 145 regular season games and 6 playoff games.
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