Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Thursday Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Thursday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Scott Daniels...Hoo boy. He was like a punching bag on skates.

Terry Carkner should get an honorable mention. He got started slow, but he could finish strongly.

Seems to me that the definition of an enforcer is cloudy. Are players like Rick Tocchet and Paul Holmgren truly enforcers? I'd say they are players who take a regular shift, that can also fight. I think a player who is on the team, basically because of his fighting skills in an enforcer.

Greg smythe was pretty awful as a fighter too.

Seems to me that the definition of an enforcer is cloudy. Are players like Rick Tocchet and Paul Holmgren truly enforcers? I'd say they are players who take a regular shift, that can also fight. I think a player who is on the team, basically because of his fighting skills in an enforcer.
- MJL

Most of the guys listed, outside of Behn Wilson, started their careers in an enforcer role before becoming top 9 forwards or top 6 defensemen.


Even Tocchet and Holmgren likely made the team, in large part, because of their pugilistic abilities. Tocchet was also something of a surprise offensive force, making the NHL one year after being a sixth rounder.

Greg smythe was pretty awful as a fighter too.
- Freebird

Holy cow, he was awful, too.

EDIT: Forgot all about him, even after I mentioned the guy he was traded to Quebec for.

Most of the guys listed, outside of Behn Wilson, started their careers in an enforcer role before becoming top 9 forwards or top 6 defensemen.


Even Tocchet and Holmgren likely made the team, in large part, because of their pugilistic abilities. Tocchet was also something of a surprise offensive force, making the NHL one year after being a sixth rounder.
- Jsaquella

Seems to me that the definition of an enforcer is cloudy. Are players like Rick Tocchet and Paul Holmgren truly enforcers? I'd say they are players who take a regular shift, that can also fight. I think a player who is on the team, basically because of his fighting skills in an enforcer.
- MJL

I agree kind of... If Tocchet and Homer can make the list, Lindros should be mentioned there as well.

Dissappointed that Cote didn't make the bottom 5, I mean he has a whole suite named after him

Dissappointed that Cote didn't make the bottom 5, I mean he has a whole suite named after him
- Just5

Cote has one of my most memorable fights on record. His two punch dismantling of Andre Roy which led to one of the most epic meltdowns on record.

I agree kind of... If Tocchet and Homer can make the list, Lindros should be mentioned there as well.
- jak521

I always hated Gino Odjick. Not only was he a bad, dirty, sneaky fighter who picked his spots, he was the most awkward-looking skater I've ever seen and was upset when the Flyers got him.

But good pick on Roman Vopat. I remember a game where he was fighting Matthew Barnaby (not the biggest/strongest of players) by the Flyers bench. Barnaby was so not worried about Vopat that he just held him off and was yapping at the Flyers bench because he knew Vopat couldn't hit him. At that exact moment, I couldn't figure out which player I loathed more.

I agree kind of... If Tocchet and Homer can make the list, Lindros should be mentioned there as well.
- jak521

I never thought he was that good of a fighter. Sure he beat up guys like Norwood and Barnaby, but he never had any clear-cut wins over other big guys that I remember, save Stevens in his rookie year.

9. Donald Brashear: I know some folks won't like this selection, or will think Brash should have been much higher.

I would have put him ahead of Dan Kordic.

Would Dan Kordic have made this list if he had a different last name?

Greg smythe was pretty awful as a fighter too.
- Freebird

I see your Greg Smythe and raise you a Claude Boivin.

I was a big fan of Brashear when he was here. There was definitely some real skill hidden behind all the fighting and penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0Jx1MFb5M

I was a big fan of Brashear when he was here. There was definitely some real skill hidden behind all the fighting and penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0Jx1MFb5M
- Feanor

I liked Brash when he was here. He was good for that team.

- twotoekenn

http://dropyourgloves.com...hts/FightCard.aspx?P=2636

http://dropyourgloves.com/fights/FightCard.aspx?P=2636
- jak521

I vividly remember the McSorley loss and as I recall, Lindros fought McSorley while he (Lindros) was battling the flu.

I never thought he was that good of a fighter. Sure he beat up guys like Norwood and Barnaby, but he never had any clear-cut wins over other big guys that I remember, save Stevens in his rookie year.
- jmatchett383

I agree that he was never fighting true enforcers all the time, but the guy was physically a monster. How many guys in the league were bigger than him?

According to the website I posted, they gave him an overall record in his fights of 38-2-10.

Can't disagree with the list at all but personally would of liked to see Jack make the top 10, those were some fast hands. As for Hoyda he had the impossible duty to come onto the team as the heir apparent to Schultz, not an easy time for him.

Most of the guys listed, outside of Behn Wilson, started their careers in an enforcer role before becoming top 9 forwards or top 6 defensemen.


Even Tocchet and Holmgren likely made the team, in large part, because of their pugilistic abilities. Tocchet was also something of a surprise offensive force, making the NHL one year after being a sixth rounder.
- Jsaquella

What matters is what kind of player they were in their career, not how they started, or where they were drafted and why. Tocchet was clearly not an enforcer. He could fight, but his role in the NHL was not as an enforcer. Same for Holmgren.

http://dropyourgloves.com/fights/FightCard.aspx?P=2636
- jak521

Ah the Ulanov fight. I'm not a staged fight fan at all. But the true hockey fight like this one gets the blood going (in us, out of Ulanov).

I never thought he was that good of a fighter. Sure he beat up guys like Norwood and Barnaby, but he never had any clear-cut wins over other big guys that I remember, save Stevens in his rookie year.
- jmatchett383

Lindros was a fierce fighter. Capable of taking on and handling any player in the League in a fight.

Although not an enforcer, Mel Bridgman has to get an honorable mention. That was one tough man!