Meet the Heat Colton Orr
While the roster is far from set, we’re running a new feature giving you, the fans, an opportunity to get to know players that we could see suiting up for Stockton this season or in future seasons.
Today we feature longtime NHL heavyweight Colton Orr.
Colton Orr has nearly 500 games played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and most recently the Toronto Maple Leafs.
You ever here the saying “I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley”? Well Colton Orr is a guy you wouldn’t want to meet in a well lit alley of the safest neighborhood in town, let alone a dark alley.
Measuring 6’3” and weighing in at 225 lbs., Orr is a legitimate heavyweight tough guy with nearly 500 games of NHL experience.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native ranks ninth among active players with 1,186 penalty minutes in his NHL career and established himself as arguably one of the top five fighters in the NHL over the last decade.
During his time in the NHL, Orr added 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) to his resume and played on three different teams – the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.
He occupied the same role with all those teams that he will with the Heat. Orr is a solid veteran presence who knows what it takes to be a pro hockey player and to stick in the NHL.
To go along with his NHL experience, Orr has 166 games played in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies and Providence Bruins respectively.
Orr has fought some of the biggest names in the NHL over the last decade.
Last season was cut short for Orr due to injury, but it was pretty obvious no one wanted a piece of him judging by his meager 4 penalty minutes in 14 games.
Orr is a guy that has earned respect throughout the hockey community. When that happens you are inherently feared by opponents, especially at the AHL level.
Therefore, Orr doesn’t even need to fight to intimidate and control the game. The simple fact that he’s wearing a sweater on the other bench is enough to make an opponent second guess taking liberties on a star player or a young guy.
Anyone with an internet connection can go on youtube and see what this guy has done to the likes of Shawn Thornton, Todd Fedoruk or John Scott. The list is longer than that, but you get the picture.
Orr exchanging pleasantries with then Buffalo Sabres forward John Scott.
An extremely nice guy off the ice, Orr doesn’t necessarily seem like a fighter when you meet him in person, as some of you got to do at Fan Fest. However, when that sweater goes on, Orr knows his role and how it fits with the team’s strategy and he is absolutely one of the best at performing that role in any league he steps foot in.
The message that signing Colton Orr sends – don’t mess with the Heat.
Read the other Meet the Heat’s:
Jon Gillies – Goaltender
Hunter Smith – Forward
Bill Arnold – Forward
Brett Kulak – Defenseman
Morgan Klimchuk – Forward
Kenny Agostino – Forward
Austin Carroll – Forward
Ryan Lomberg – Forward
