Phil Esposito

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Esposito is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He became the first player to score more than 100 points in a season, with 126 in 1968–69, a feat he achieved a further five times. In 1970–71 he scored 50 goals for the fifth consecutive season, including the then records of 76 goals and 152 points. He won the Art Ross Trophy five times, led the league in goals six times, won the Hart Trophy twice, and was a first-team All-Star centre six times. After retiring as a player, he served as head coach and general manager for the Rangers for two seasons. In 1991, he and his brother Tony co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning; Phil served as the franchise's first president and general manager until 1998. He now serves as the Lightning's radio colour commentator. His #7 jersey was retired by the Bruins on December 3, 1987, and there is a statue in his likeness at Tampa Bay's Benchmark International Arena.

In Their Own Story

The 1970 Stanley Cup Final marked a pinnacle for Esposito and the Bruins. After ending an eight-year playoff drought upon his arrival, he led Boston to their first championship in 29 years by defeating the St Louis Blues. During that postseason run, Esposito recorded a career-high 13 goals and 14 assists in just 14 games. The following season, he shattered records with 76 goals and 152 points, finishing one point shy of another 100-point campaign in 1969–70. His dominance was so complete that the top four scorers in the entire league—Esposito, Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, and Ken Hodge—all played for Boston. In 1972, he helped secure a second Stanley Cup, scoring 9 goals and setting a postseason-best with 15 assists in 15 games to lead the Bruins past their rivals.

Reader's Guide

Esposito was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to parents of Italian descent. He signed with the Chicago Black Hawks as a teenager and played minor league hockey for the Sarnia Legionnaires and St. Catharines Teepees. He made his NHL debut with Chicago in 1963–64. In 1967, he was traded to the Boston Bruins in a blockbuster deal. With Boston, he centered a line with Ken Hodge and Wayne Cashman, and alongside Bobby Orr, led the Bruins to the 1970 Stanley Cup. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1975 and later became their head coach and general manager. After his playing career, he co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning and served as president and general manager until 1998.

Did You Know?

• Esposito was the first NHL player to score 100 points in a season, achieving 126 in 1968–69.
• He set the single-season record of 76 goals in 1970–71, a mark that stood until Wayne Gretzky broke it in 1982.
• Esposito's 550 shots on goal in 1970–71 remain the single-season record; several players have come within 100 shots.
• In 1970–71, Esposito and three Bruins teammates finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring, a feat previously accomplished by teams such as the 1918–19 Montreal Canadiens.
• He and his brother Tony co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1991, the first NHL team in Florida.

Shattering Records: The Offensive Revolution

In the 1968–69 season, Esposito became the first player to score more than 100 points in a season with 126. He achieved this feat five additional times. In 1970–71, he became the first player to score 50 goals in five consecutive seasons. That same year, he set then-records of 76 goals and 152 points. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 215 pounds, he was known for maneuvering in the slot and getting shots off despite physical play. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer five times.

Championship Glory and Individual Accolades

Esposito helped the Bruins break an eight-year playoff drought after arriving from Chicago in 1967. The team defeated the St Louis Blues to win the 1970 Stanley Cup, their first in 29 years. They won a second Stanley Cup in 1972 against the New York Rangers. Esposito was voted the Hart Trophy for MVP twice and led the league in goals six times.

Executive Leadership and Franchise Building

After retiring as a player, Esposito served as head coach and general manager for the New York Rangers for two seasons. In 1991, he and his brother Tony co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning, the first NHL team in Florida. He served as the franchise's first president and general manager until 1998.

Enduring Legacy and Cultural Impact

Esposito was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history in 2017 and ranked ninth-best player of all time by The Athletic in 2023. His #7 jersey was retired by the Bruins on December 3, 1987. A statue stands in his likeness at Tampa Bay's Benchmark International Arena. He currently serves as a broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Lightning.