Leafs bring up Orr for final farewell
Orr has fought 136 times over 12 NHL seasons, 63 times with the Leafs
Colton Orr would know as well as anyone whether fighting is filtering out of the NHL.
The Leafs’ one-time enforcer, who has been recalled from the Marlies for the parent club’s final game of the season Saturday — and likely the last one of Orr’s career — knows this much: players paid simply to scrap are vanishing but fighting itself remains a valid part of the game.
“You see a lot of it, guys (enforcers) sent down,” Orr said Thursday. “It’s changed a lot but I don’t think you will see the end of (fighting). There’s still a need for role players and guys who stick up for their teammates.”
Orr did that over 12 years in the NHL — six with the Leafs — with a fight card that shows 136 NHL scraps, 63 of them for the Leafs. His callup is a measure of thanks for that role, which came with untold injuries and head trauma.
Now, for one more game, the 33year-old gets a thankful acknowledgement from the organization. There were no announced plans for a tribute; it is likely the final send off will be left up to the fans.
“I’m very thankful for everything this organization has done for me . . . it will be emotional but I’m also looking forward to it,” Orr said after skating with the Leafs in practice.
Orr, who enters unrestricted free agency this summer, is not expected to return to Toronto, and could be one of the last batch of true, heavy- weight enforcer types in the NHL.
Part of Orr’s legacy has been hammered critically. There have been many calling for an end to staged fighting, and holding a roster spot for a player whose main role is fight.
The sacrifice enforcers have made was often overlooked until brain disease, recent player deaths, and concussion lawsuits against the league, drew a dark light to the spectacle of fighting.
Orr played in just 14 games with the Marlies this season and amassed just four penalty minutes. He was often battling injuries, many of which were aggravations of past trauma.
He was credited with being a solid teammate, never complaining despite being twice sent down by the Leafs.
His first setback, a demotion in 2012, prompted then GM Brian Burke to lament that the “rats” had taken over the game.
But Orr was also declining physically, and only a devoted effort by then Marlie coach Dallas Eakins and his coaching staff helped Orr to shed more than 20 pounds and return to the NHL.
Almost three seasons later, time has run out on his career in Toronto. The Winnipeg native leaves with 476 NHL games and almost $7-million in career earnings – but with no concrete plans for his hockey future.
“I’m not looking too far into the future,” Orr said. “I’ll take my time this summer, get into shape, and see what happens.”
On Thursday, Orr was greeted by former teammates and old friends.
“I think he’s the character guy we think every player should be like,” Leafs coach Peter Horachek said.
“He shows everyone the type of player we want, so its great to get him into the mix here for this game. And you see a lot of teams still have a physical presence. The role of the heavyweight fighter is going away, but there’s still a lot of physical players who can still play.”