Bucyk was a skilled left winger who was (at 6', 215 lb) the largest of his day. While he never was regarded as the best at his position, he had a long and stellar career and retired as the fourth leading point scorer of all time and having played the third most games in history. Despite his reputation for devastating hip checks, he was a notably clean player who won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 1971 and 1974.

Bucyk played junior hockey for four seasons for his hometown Edmonton Oil Kings before signing with the Detroit Red Wings in 1955. Two modest years later in 1958, he was traded to the Bruins in a surprising deal for Terry Sawchuk, one of the greatest goaltenders of the day.

Bucyk more than justified the deal by becoming an immediate star in Boston with his Uke Line partners of Vic Stasiuk and Bronco Horvath, helping Horvath to finish fifth in the league in scoring in 1958 and second in 1960, tying with Bobby Hull of Chicago in goals.

However, thereafter the team fell on hard times in the Sixties, finishing in last place five straight seasons, during which time Bucyk -- generally paired with center Murray Oliver and winger Tommy Williams -- led the team in scoring several times. When the Bruins became a powerhouse in the late Sixties, Bucyk -- by then the team captain -- rose with the pack, garnering multiple fifty-goal seasons in his mid-thirties and helping the Bruins to win two Stanley Cup titles in 1970 and 1972. Bucyk was particularly effective playing on the left side on Boston's greatly feared power play unit, which featured Phil Esposito, John McKenzie, Bobby Orr and Fred Stanfield.

Bucyk was an effective player into his penultimate season, and retired after the 1978 season, after which the Bruins retired his number #9 jersey. He has been connected with the Bruins organization ever since as a broadcaster and in the front office.

Bucyk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.