Jim Rutherford 1978 Vezina Trophy
The oldest NHL team in the United States, with six Stanley Cup championships.
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making them the third-oldest active team in the NHL, and the oldest in the United States.
- Player Name
- Ken Dryden
- Position
- Goaltender
- Vezina Trophy Wins
- 1
- Notable Achievement
- Won the Vezina Trophy in 1977-78 with the Montreal Canadiens
- Playing Style
- Calm, positional goaltender known for his size and consistency
Lore & Background
The Bruins are one of the 'Original Six' NHL teams, along with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. They have won six Stanley Cup championships, tied for fourth-most of any team with the Blackhawks (trailing the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings, with 24, 13, and 11, respectively), and tied for second-most for an NHL team based in the United States. The Bruins have also won the Presidents' Trophy four times, with their most recent win in 2022–23 amassing 135 points—the most in one season in NHL history.
In Their Own Story
The ice at the Boston Garden was slick with sweat and adrenaline as Jim Rutherford skated back from a neutral zone face-off. He didn't need to make saves; that was the job of the man in the crease behind him. Instead, Rutherford planted his stick, eyes locked on the opposing forward trying to cut inside. With a heavy shoulder check, he sent the attacker sprawling into the boards, clearing the path for the goalie. In the stands, fans roared not for a Vezina-winning save, but for the brute force of the 'Big Bad' defense that made Boston impossible to beat.
Reader's Guide
The first facility to host the Bruins was the Boston Arena (later known as Matthews Arena), the world's oldest (built 1909–10) indoor ice hockey facility at the time of its closure in December 2025 and subsequent demolition in 2026. Following the Bruins' departure from the Boston Arena, the team played its home games at the Boston Garden for 67 seasons, beginning in 1928 and concluding in 1995, when they moved to TD Garden.
Did You Know?
- The Bruins won the first ever NHL game played in the United States on December 1, 1924, hosting the Montreal Maroons at Boston Arena.
- The Bruins' original uniform colors of brown and yellow came from owner Charles Adams' grocery chain, First National Stores.
- In 1929–30, the Bruins posted the best-ever regular season winning percentage in the NHL (.875), a record which still stands.
- The Bruins' goaltenders in 1977-78 were Gerry Cheevers and Ron Grahame.
- The Bruins lost the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
More in Stanley Cups & Records
Elsewhere in the Boston Bruins universe
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