I was a huge fan of late 90's, early 2000 NHL fighters. Sadly, I was also a fan of WWF wrestling growing up, and the NHL fighters like the WWF Wrestlers are ending up with the same fate.
Don't know if some of you remember Stephen Peat, another fighter during that time. There have been articles recently about him by his father and a writer and how he is completely a mess. Some of the stories his dad tells are similar to the ones Johnson's family tells.
This is tough because guys like Nick Kypreos, PJ Stock, Georges Laraque, Tony Twist, Joey Kocur, etc are all around still and no evident brain injuries but other guys like Mike Peluso, Stephen Peat, Matt Johnson, Chris Simon are a mess. I know also Shawn Antoski had some issues and now turned it around. Same with Dale Purinton. I know former Pred's Enforcer Patrick Cote is in prison for armed robbery.
Is it the fighting? The drugs? The lifestyle? Can't find a place after hockey? Or a mix of all?
What happened exactly to Steve Montador and why? Bob Probert had a heart attack. Sadly, we know what happened to Ewen, Rypien and Belak.
I read an interview Ken Belanger the other day and he mentions that the transition is tough. Carcillo pointed this out recently as well. The guys don't know what to do when their career is over.