The boyish grin was back in Boston.
Standing by the statue of his iconic goal outside TD Garden on Saturday afternoon, Bobby Orr laughed as a drone buzzed the greatest defenseman of all time.
“That was fun,” he said, with a light laugh.
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Orr was one of several Bruins legends in town for Sunday’s Centennial Game against the Canadiens. Still the face of the franchise, he also is the opening act of a video featuring storied skaters of Black and Gold lore.
The film, shot entirely via drone, also has highlights with Johnny Bucyk, Willie O’Ree, Phil Esposito, Terry O’Reilly, Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand.
Jay Christensen, the creative director of JayByrd Films, doubles as the drone pilot. His mastery at the controls makes the whole thing come together.
Christensen, who worked with the Celtics on their championship banner raising among projects with myriad other NHL, NBA, and Major League Baseball teams, was in his element as he guided his drone in and around every nook and cranny, including the rafters where the Stanley Cup banners and retired numbers dangle.
The video features the Bruins reminiscing about signature moments and trademarks from their careers. Instead of their voices, the scenes include the memorable radio and television calls.
It was the brainchild of Eric Russo, the club’s senior manager for digital content.
After shooting seven scenes over the weekend, Christensen and his team went to work meshing them into the video that dropped on the club’s social media Sunday. It also was played during the pregame ceremonies.
“This is a first of its kind from a historical perspective,” said Christensen, who brought eight drones and countless batteries with him to Boston. (“Yeah, airports hate us,” he added.)
The drones and the attached cameras can sometimes be collateral damage during shoots. That’s OK with Christensen.
“If the storytelling is reigning supreme, that’s all that really matters,” he said.
Orr gazes, and Dan Kelly’s call on Mother’s Day 1970 echoes.
“Bobby Orr! Scores! And the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup!”
As Christensen wraps up the clip, a small crowd swells around the statue as fans and passersby realize the real-life legend is on hand. With phones at the ready, Orr summons the kids in the crowd to come up for some photos. Eventually, No. 4 indulges the adults as well.
In the middle of the scrum, Christensen pops in with his laptop and Orr beams as he is shown his part of the video.
“Ever been in a penalty box before? I can show you around,” said O’Reilly, with a smirk and a wink. “Pretty familiar territory for me.”
O’Reilly amassed more than 2,000 penalty minutes during his 14-year run with the Bruins, so it was only natural that his scene took place in the sin bin.
“I do have a gripe,” the always hilarious O’Reilly deadpanned. “Orr was my teammate and he gets a statue out front, and I get the penalty box. Do you think that’s fair?”
For the record, O’Reilly made it completely clear that it was.
Up on the ninth floor, Christensen does a flyby as Bourque and Esposito chat in front of a picture from Dec. 3, 1987. That’s when Bourque surprised Esposito by surrendering his No. 7, so the Hall of Famer could have it to himself.
Now both it and Bourque’s No. 77 hang from the rafters.
“It was a big shock to me,” Esposito said Saturday.
“Phil thought it was going to be his name and number and then when I retired, it would be my name and number,” said Bourque, as Esposito nodded in agreement.
“I remember Ray saying, ‘It was the first time I saw Phil speechless,’ ” said Esposito.
“And the look on his face,” said Bourque.
With a pop-in from mascot Blades, O’Ree and Bucyk admire their tributes at Heritage Hall.
For another scene, the unmistakable voices of longtime play-by-play man Fred Cusick and analyst (and former Bruin) Derek Sanderson can be heard.
As team president Neely peers over the railing from the management suite, Cusick recalls the night the power forward scored his 50th goal in his 44th game of the 1993-94 season.
The drone then whizzes by the television and radio booths, where from high above the ice, Judd Sirott, Andy Brickley, Ryan Johnston, and Bob Beers are making their calls.
With a cameo from anthem man Todd Angilly, Marchand zooms across a fresh sheet, first bombing a clapper and then — at Christensen’s request — going bar down at the other end.
“Everyone wants to hear that sound. That clang,” said Christensen. “That’s sweet.”
The video concludes with former captains Chara and Bergeron admiring the franchise’s 2011 Stanley Cup championship.
