Who is the best fighter in NHL history?

[Big Phil]

Okay, none of this pound for pound stuff. None of this "best of his era" stuff. I am talking about the most notorious, scary, toughest fighter in hockey history. The best one should be a player who can cross generations and still beat up all of that era's best fighters.

Now the obvious thing here is no fighter ever won all of his fights. Probert lost some mainly because the only ones willing to fight him were other fighters..........and even then it was only the best ones.

So imagine a best of 7 if you will. Who would be the Stanley Cup winner out of everyone? If you want to include someone like Stan Jonathan (often considered best "pound for pound" fighter) then that's fine, but keep in mind he is going against the field of everyone else in hockey history, not just his weight class. This has to be a guy who could win against all comers.

Who is the most prolific fighter in NHL history? Probert? Howe? Lindros? Chara? Ferguson? Gillies? Robinson? Laraque? McSorley? Clark? Ray?

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[Jules Winnfield]

Ogie Oglethorpe

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Kocur's punch could kill anyone, rarely lost fights.

 

[RabbinsDuck]

Pretty easy with Probert - runner-up is a good debate.

Probert had it all - undisputed heavy-weight champ for over a decade - would fight anyone, won most bouts and gave a beating even when he lost. The sheer volume and quality of his fights really tips the scales in his favor. An intimidating, fearsome enforcer who would go after anyone for any slight (a lot of enforcers nowadays are too gentlemanly to be all that effective) - had a bit of a 'psycho' edge as well. Could also play the game and log real playing minutes.

 

[RabbinsDuck]

Kocur's punch could kill anyone, rarely lost fights.

Kocur has to be a Top 5 -
Must have had one of the highest win percentages of those who fought prolifically (unlike guys like Howe, Robinson and Gilles - who really didn't fight that much).

I have a few inches on Kocur but his hands swallowed mine up when I have shaken his hand - like cement slabs.

 

[RabbinsDuck]

Has anyone seen a golden gloves boxer in a street fight? Rick Rypien's father was a golden gloves boxer and owned a gymn - and I thought Rypien was one the best pound-for-pound fighter I have seen in a while (Tootoo is up there for recent guys as well).

Red Kelly actually was a golden gloves boxer - not sure of any others. He must have really made short work of others the few times he actually did fight.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Tony Twist? Broke Ray's orbital, put the fear of God into Frankie Leroux after Leroux scored the win with a taped hand.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Wow

Has anyone seen a golden gloves boxer in a street fight? Rick Rypien's father was a golden gloves boxer and owned a gymn - and I thought Rypien was one the best pound-for-pound fighter I have seen in a while (Tootoo is up there for recent guys as well).

Red Kelly actually was a golden gloves boxer - not sure of any others. He must have really made short work of others the few times he actually did fight.

Jim Montgomery - played for St. Louis and Montreal in the 1990's, father represented Canada in the 1956 Olympics as a boxer. Yet neither was a street fighter.

Talking different levels of discipline.

 

[connellc]

I"m sorry but from 1995-1999 the roid-monkey Tony Twist was feared more than anyone in the history of the NHL. He'd def try to punish anyone he faught and tended to punch people while they were on their knees turtling. People were just too scared to drop the gloves wit him...

 

[RabbinsDuck]

Jim Montgomery - played for St. Louis and Montreal in the 1990's, father represented Canada in the 1956 Olympics as a boxer. Yet neither was a street fighter.

Talking different levels of discipline.

I knew a dorky-looking skinny kid in college, who happened to be a golden gloves boxer. He was the furthest thing from a street fighter but I caught the tail-end of him making short, painful work on a guy at least twice his size outside of a bar. I guess he did everything to avoid the fight as possible.

I'm just saying, a trained and experienced boxer is going to have a significant advantage even away from the controlled atmosphere of a ring.

 

[MoneyGuy]

Kelly Chase says it's Joey Kocur So I'll go with that. Probert number two.

 

[Lexus]

That video is wicked btw.

 

[tjcurrie]

Has anyone seen a golden gloves boxer in a street fight? Rick Rypien's father was a golden gloves boxer and owned a gymn - and I thought Rypien was one the best pound-for-pound fighter I have seen in a while (Tootoo is up there for recent guys as well).

Red Kelly actually was a golden gloves boxer - not sure of any others. He must have really made short work of others the few times he actually did fight.

My bro in-law beat Rypien in junior. He was a lefty but Shaun ( my bro in-law ) was ready for it.

Pretty easy with Probert - runner-up is a good debate.

Probert had it all - undisputed heavy-weight champ for over a decade - would fight anyone, won most bouts and gave a beating even when he lost. The sheer volume and quality of his fights really tips the scales in his favor. An intimidating, fearsome enforcer who would go after anyone for any slight (a lot of enforcers nowadays are too gentlemanly to be all that effective) - had a bit of a 'psycho' edge as well. Could also play the game and log real playing minutes.

This ^

Who was the one guy every young fighter coming up targeted as their "must fight" guy to challenge ? Bob Probert. That was the pinnacle of heavyweights too when Probert was in his prime.

His 1987-88 season has to be one of the most impressive in the history of the game:

74 GP
29 G
62 PTS
+16
398 PIMS
33 fights
All-Star

Incredible. Who the heck does that ?

 

[Fire Sweeney]

My bro in-law beat Rypien in junior. He was a lefty but Shaun ( my bro in-law ) was ready for it.



This ^

Who was the one guy every young fighter coming up targeted as their "must fight" guy to challenge ? Bob Probert. That was the pinnacle of heavyweights too when Probert was in his prime.

His 1987-88 season has to be one of the most impressive in the history of the game:

74 GP
29 G
62 PTS
+16
398 PIMS
33 fights
All-Star

Incredible. Who the heck does that ?

Chris Simon in 99-00 was impressive too.

79 GP
29 G
49 pts

 

[GreatGonzo]

I gotta give it to Probert. He was just scary, vicious, an animal. One of a kind fighter.

 

[vecens24]

Laraque is one of the best I remember.

People legitimately went out of their way not to fight him. I think he's the best of the 2000s in my opinion. He won a poll by THN unanimously in 2003, and then SI gave it to him again in 2008. A 6 year reign is pretty impressive in this day and age.

 

[Killion]

A 6 year reign is pretty impressive in this day and age.

Thats damn straight, and; W I N N I N G !.... sorry, couldnt resist.

Anyhoo, that a tough question. I wouldnt like any of the "heavyweights" chances from the Golden Era against many & most from the mid-70's on. Last 20yrs its gone into hyperdrive. Id be easier picking out the best by era. Lou Fantinato n' such. The pugilistic arts like much of the rest of the game has progressed to such a point that its virtually impossible to compare yesterdays Beat Kings to the past coupla generations of one hit knockout wonders.

 

[tp71]

Chris Simon in 99-00 was impressive too.

79 GP
29 G
49 pts

I miss tough guys who could put up points like that. Anyways, I gotta go with Probert and yea, I'm gonna be a homer and go Clark as my #2.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Lindros comes to mind as a dominating fighter. Before concussions, he would tear opponents apart.

 

[Killion]

I'm gonna be a homer and go Clark as my #2.

Wendy?. Nice try. Why dont you dig and be a real "Homer" tp?. No one was more feared than Tim Horton in the 06 era. Forget the fisticuffs, he'd grab you in a BearHug, squeeze until you were unconscious. Nickname was Superman. For damn good reason. Blind as a bat without the Clark-Kent Horn-Rims. Anger the man, and many tried, the best & most vicious fighters of that era, from 52-72, dead meat; nary a punch thrown.

Enjoying that sandwich?....

 

[Sens Rule]

Not mentioned so far:

Dave Brown... He was right there with Probert and Kocur as the most feared and deadly fighter of that era.

Dave Semenko... Didn't fight that much because he just didn't have too. He was that lethal.

 

[Killion]

Who is the most prolific fighter in NHL history? Probert? Howe? Lindros? Chara? Ferguson? Gillies? Robinson? Laraque? McSorley? Clark? Ray?

Compared to the 3 "Specialists" who died over this past summer, along with others like John Kordic or even a Brian "Spinner" Spencer?. I dont see one name up there that Id bet a plug nickle on. Chara maybe because he's a Freak of Nature, Land of the Giants, but the rest?. No way. Modern fighters are throwing 2-3 punches more every 3 seconds than even Proberts', Rays or Laraques eras. This new breed of fighter is right out of a Stan Lee Comic Book..... Watch Junior hockey today, a fight, just incredible. Zero respect. Its nuts. There Will be Blood and someones eventually going to die..... oh, wait, thats already happening..... pathetic. For what?. You cant spend it when your dead.

 

[Axxellien]

..Larry Zeidel...Fern Flaman...

 

[jkrx]

Best fighter period: Joey Kocur, I doubt it should even be up for discussion.

Most prolific: Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard, if someone had the guts to fight them they would regret it.

 

[crobro]

john kordic is the toughest fighter ever

never seen him lose a fight