Larry Robinson
A 6'4" defenseman who combined graceful skating with punishing physicality, forming the immovable backbone of the Montreal Canadiens' 1970s dynasty.
Born 1951 (age 75)·Canadian ice hockey player and coach·Birthday: June 2·Baby Boomers
Biography
Larry Robinson didn't just play defense; he imposed a geography on the ice that opponents dared not cross. Standing at six-foot-four in an era when that was a giant's stature, 'Big Bird' moved with a fluidity that belied his size, quarterbacking the Montreal Canadiens' attack as deftly as he shut down the league's most potent scorers. For 17 seasons in Montreal, he was the cornerstone of a blueline that was the envy of hockey, a key architect of six Stanley Cup championships. Robinson possessed a rare hybrid genius: he could deliver a check that rattled the arena's foundations, then, in the next shift, feather a perfect breakout pass to launch a rush. His +730 career plus/minus rating stands as a statistical monument to his two-way dominance. After hanging up his skates, he translated his understanding of the game into a successful coaching career, guiding the New Jersey Devils to a Stanley Cup in 2000. Robinson's legacy is that of the complete defenseman—a gentle giant off the ice who became an indomitable force on it.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Larry was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Larry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Larry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 75 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won six Stanley Cup championships as a player with the Montreal Canadiens during their 1970s dynasty.
- Awarded the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman twice, in 1977 and 1980.
- Holds the NHL record for career plus/minus rating at an astounding +730.
- Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995, his first year of eligibility.
- Won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1978 after a dominant postseason performance.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Big Bird' was given to him by a teammate due to his tall, lanky frame and curly hair, reminiscent of the Sesame Street character.
He grew up on a dairy farm in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and didn't start playing organized hockey until he was 14.
He scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Canadiens in Game 4 of the 1978 finals against the Boston Bruins.
After his playing career, he served as a head coach for the Los Angeles Kings and the New Jersey Devils.
“You don't win by chasing the puck; you win by controlling the ice.”
