Slapshooter
Registered User
- Apr 25, 2007
- 717
- 2
A bit off topic, but which of the HHOF players had the best fighting and enforcing abilities?
Gordie Howe has a very tough reputation, but I'm in imperssion that he was more feared due to his overall nastiness. Howe could hurt opponents in any way if they would mess with him.
On the other hand, effectiveness of an enforcer is not measured only by his actual fighting skills, (and even less by the number of fights fought) but by his abilty to intimidate the opponent from physically hurting the enforcer's team. (And to some extent, to intimidate opponent from using his hockey skills in full effect, but that's more like job of a goon.) However, I guess in that regard Gordie Howe was a some kind of enforcer. I just don't know if Howe's fearsome reputation scared the opponent not only to stay away from him, but also from his teammates.
Brian Burke said that Gordie Howe was the most feared player ever in the game. "Everybody was afraid of Gordie Howe. He could beat you on the ice and he could beat you in the alley, if he had to."
Clak Gillies is another tough SOB in the HHOF. And from recently added players, Cam Neely and Scott Stevens could do more than hold their own. Both were fierce fighters in their younger days.
Gordie Howe has a very tough reputation, but I'm in imperssion that he was more feared due to his overall nastiness. Howe could hurt opponents in any way if they would mess with him.
On the other hand, effectiveness of an enforcer is not measured only by his actual fighting skills, (and even less by the number of fights fought) but by his abilty to intimidate the opponent from physically hurting the enforcer's team. (And to some extent, to intimidate opponent from using his hockey skills in full effect, but that's more like job of a goon.) However, I guess in that regard Gordie Howe was a some kind of enforcer. I just don't know if Howe's fearsome reputation scared the opponent not only to stay away from him, but also from his teammates.
Brian Burke said that Gordie Howe was the most feared player ever in the game. "Everybody was afraid of Gordie Howe. He could beat you on the ice and he could beat you in the alley, if he had to."
Clak Gillies is another tough SOB in the HHOF. And from recently added players, Cam Neely and Scott Stevens could do more than hold their own. Both were fierce fighters in their younger days.
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