Paul Stewart: Tough Guys vs. Bluff Guys

Paul who were some of the toughest guys, fighters, from the 80's and 90's that don't get talked about much.....Any thoughts on the Kordic Brothers?

Paul who were some of the toughest guys, fighters, from the 80's and 90's that don't get talked about much.....Any thoughts on the Kordic Brothers?
- rinaldo

Both Kordics were legit tough. Dan may actually have been tougher than John. I was rooting for Dan to make it as an official after his playing days, but that didn't pan out for him unfortunately.

Among guys you didn't hear a lot about, I thought guys like Randy McKay, Kris King (not big but very strong and tough), Jim Peplinski (very strong, knew when to go) and Phil Crowe were good fighters. I thought McKay was one of the best at his role.

Both Kordics were legit tough. Dan may actually have been tougher than John. I was rooting for Dan to make it as an official after his playing days, but that didn't pan out for him unfortunately.

Among guys you didn't hear a lot about, I thought guys like Randy McKay, Kris King (not big but very strong and tough), Jim Peplinski (very strong, knew when to go) and Phil Crowe were good fighters. I thought McKay was one of the best at his role.
- Paul Stewart

Crowe didn't get much nhl time...a few games with the flyers and I think the kings.

I thought Dan was a beast for a few years. could throw and take.

Any guys you thought were overrated? Thanks.

Crowe didn't get much nhl time...a few games with the flyers and I think the kings.

I thought Dan was a beast for a few years. could throw and take.

Any guys you thought were overrated? Thanks.
- rinaldo

Lindros

Lindros
- Streit2ThePoint

overrated?

What about the Byf guys?

Paul do you think the tough guys from the 80's could hang with the tough guys from the 2000's? Only reason I ask is because the guys are so much bigger and stronger these days and they work on their craft it seems all year round. Can you imagine if you had to square off with somebody like Boogaard in his prime? Did you ever have to go with somebody that big or close to that size before? In their primes could you see Schultz beating Laraque? I just don't because of the size and strength difference. Interested in what you think. Thanks

One the problems in the modern NHL is that there really is no room on teams' rosters for players who can only fill the enforcer roll. Every player, even the fourth line players, have to at least be solid hockey players. Legitimate tough guys were almost never good hockey players. There are exceptions, however, like Rick Tocchet. The last legitimate enforcer the Penguins had was Eric Goddard but they rarely played him because he wasn't a good hockey player (especially at the end of his career).

On the other hand, cheap-shot artists like Claude Lemieux, Matt Cooke, and Raffi Torres were actually NHL-caliber hockey players but their skills were often overlooked by opposing fans due to their dirtiness (Rinaldo is not - I can't understand why that guy is in the league). Claude Lemieux could play on the first and second lines (which made him especially odious - a cheap player on a top line) and Matt Cooke was a solid third line player.

I have to wonder what would happen in the modern NHL if the instigator penalty was done away with. There might be room for "lighter versions" of the old-time enforcers, provided that they can still play hockey, to deal with the cheap players.

Hi Paul,

Great blog by the way, love the insight and inside stuff on my favorite sport!

I watched you as a referee when I was younger and I always loved the fact you"weren't the show" although we all knew who was reffing the game!

My question to you is- did you like the instigator rule or not?

Pat

Paul Stewart: Tough Guys vs. Bluff Guys
- Paul Stewart

RIP ex Habs tough guy and 1993 Stanley Cup champion Todd Ewen.