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.
The Bruins have won numerous team honors. The team has captured the O'Brien Cup as championship runner-ups in 1938 and 1950. They have achieved 18 Prince of Wales Trophies—seven as American Division champions, three as regular season champions, three as East Division champions, and five as Eastern Conference champions. They have won six Stanley Cups in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, and 2011. They have won four Presidents' Trophies as regular season champions in four seasons—1989–90, 2013–14, 2019–20, and 2022–23.
The Bruins have also won many individual awards. Legendary defenseman Bobby Orr is the team's most decorated player, with eight James Norris Memorial Trophy wins, three Hart Memorial Trophy wins, two Conn Smythe Trophy wins, two Art Ross Trophy wins, a Calder Memorial Trophy win, and a Ted Lindsay Award, for a total of 17.
12 players have had their numbers retired by the Bruins. Lionel Hitchman's number 3 was the first in 1934. Eddie Shore's number 2 and Dit Clapper's number were retired in 1947. Bobby Orr's number 4 was retired in 1979, followed by Milt Schmidt's number 15 and Johnny Bucyk's number 9 in 1980. Phil Esposito's number 7 was retired in 1987. Ray Bourque's 77 was retired in 2001, Terry O'Reilly's 24 was retired in 2002, and Cam Neely's number 8 was retired in 2004. Rick Middleton's number 16 was retired in 2018, and Willie O'Ree's number 22 was retired in 2022. 58 players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame following play with the Bruins. Players like Bourque, Esposito, and Orr have been inducted as players, while O'Ree and Charles Adams, first owner of the Bruins, have been inducted as builders.
Internally, the Bruins have five team awards. The Eddie Shore award is given to the player "demonstrating exceptional hustle and determination." The Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy is a given to the player who is "most outstanding in home games." The John P. Bucyk Award, is given for "charitable and community endeavors." The Seventh Player Award is given to the player who "performed beyond expectations." The Three Stars Award is given to the players with the most three stars of the game honors. They are all given out annually following the end of the season.