Gerard Gallant - Fighter or "Huggie Bear"?

[BobbyAwe]

Every YouTube vid I have found so far he went immediately for the full behind the neck semi-headlock where neither guy really had room to throw an effective punch? I'm not imagining he never had a real duke-out in 220 credited career fights, but was the clutch and hold on his usual tactic? There seems to be a trend from what I have seen?

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[Sheppy]

I absolutely hated that technique. Guys who did that were always afraid to get hit... Brashear did it quite a bit, Stortini, etc.

 

[FMichael]

I honestly didn't notice until it was brought to my attention.

That said - I think it was a form of 'self-preservation' when he took on bigger guys...That said I do recall him beating up Chelios (a guy his own size), and he didn't grab the other guy close in.

 

[SML2]

Gallant played in an era where steroids and drug use were off the charts. If you've never had the pleasure of tangling with a guy on either of them, it's about the same as riding a bull. Strap in and hope for the best. Even if he was a clinger, he had a job to do, and he figured out a way to do it.

 

[streitz]

He was physical and a pest, he wasn't a heavyweight.


Dude was like 5,9 or 5,10 max.

 

[FMichael]

He was physical and a pest, he wasn't a heavyweight.


Dude was like 5,9 or 5,10 max.

He was basically a Kirk Maltby who fought his own battles, and stood up for teammates (Yzerman in particular).

 

[streitz]

He was basically a Kirk Maltby who fought his own battles, and stood up for teammates (Yzerman in particular).

Much better player then Maltby but yeah sort of similar play style except he actually fought.

 

[elvisisalive]

when he played for summerside as a teenager, he would take his helmet off first, then beat the pulp out of the guy, no idea why anyone ever fought him back then

 

[Mrb1p]

Gallant played in an era where steroids and drug use were off the charts. If you've never had the pleasure of tangling with a guy on either of them, it's about the same as riding a bull. Strap in and hope for the best. Even if he was a clinger, he had a job to do, and he figured out a way to do it.

As if steroids aren't used in the NHL and as if theyre not even more potent.

 

[SML2]

As if steroids aren't used in the NHL and as if theyre not even more potent.

What are you even saying? In the 80s and 90s there were giant players using things you could buy over the counter that are banned today. Are you trying to say that today's game, where the players have gotten smaller, faster, more skilled and rarely fight is somehow more difficult for a guy like Gallant to fight, because that's what the topic of conversation was, IIRC.

 

[Mrb1p]

What are you even saying? In the 80s and 90s there were giant players using things you could buy over the counter that are banned today. Are you trying to say that today's game, where the players have gotten smaller, faster, more skilled and rarely fight is somehow more difficult for a guy like Gallant to fight, because that's what the topic of conversation was, IIRC.

The topic was "Players where on steroids and cocaine"

I hinted that players are still on steroids and cocaine, and more potent steroids.