Your favorite Bottom-6 role playing forwards (okay, 3rd pairing dmen, clear backup goalies too)

[VanIslander]

I love so many role players.

These aren't top two lines, top-3 dmen or starting goalies, but wow-impactful limited-minute depth role players.

Carbonneau
Otto
Williams
Madden
Linseman
Moog
Momesso
Ricci
Skrudland
Keane
Dzurilla
Brunet
Miller
Holmstrom
Kasparaitis
Hannan
Ulanov
Ott
Hunter
Biron
Tootoo
McClement
Lapointe
Draper
Orszagh
Wilson
...
etc...

Click to read more...

 

[DitchMarner]

Mike Ricci
Dom Moore
Bryan Boyle
Chad Kilger

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Mike Peca
Mike Fisher
Kirk Maltby
Patrick Eaves
Dallas Drake
Mikael Samuellsson
Manny Malhotra
Sammy Pahlsson
Alan McCauley
Dave Bolland

 

[VanIslander]

Mike Peca

He would have been on a dynasty or perennial contender. Instead, he was a 2nd-line center (heck, first liner in Buffalo when Patty was injured).

 

[GammaAway]

He would have been on a dynasty or perennial contender. Instead, he was a 2nd-line center (heck, first liner in Buffalo when Patty was injured).

That's kind of how I feel about Holmstrom. Pre-lockout, he's stuck behind all those Hall of Famers, but after that his icetime is between 13:59 and 17:33 until his 39 years old season.

 

[Disappointed EP40]

Jannick Hansen

If that dude could only score.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

more recent Bruins ones for me:

The Merlot Line: Campbell - Paille - Thornton

A 4th line that you could roll out against anyone, always brought max effort, was a key cog to the Bruins success and were massive fan favorites

Adam McQuaid:

one of the last big nasty defensemen around. Hit like a truck, top level fighter, and could play 20min a game and was a very solid defensive defenseman. Plus, rocked the mullet

 

[Ceremony]

Jay McClement is the best Avalanche player I've ever seen

 

[YoSoyLalo]

Long live Brian Boyle

 

[VanIslander]

Long live Brian Boyle

He reminds me of Taylor Pyatt, another bottom-6er I really liked, they playing together for a while in NY.

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

Ive been wildly impressed with Zach Hyman as a role player on the leafs, although I think he technically has gotten better than bottom-six minutes at times.

 

[Stephen]

I want to mention Daniel Winnik. Yes, industrious, big wingspan, versatile checking forward and hometown Toronto guy, but also a draft pick generating machine for the Leafs, traded away 2 years in a row for 2 second round picks...

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Linseman
Holmstrom
Hunter

if we're going include guys like this who played in the top six more often than not, then i'm going with alex burrows. he may not have actually played in the bottom six, but he had a bottom six game (in a good way).

 

[VanIslander]

By Hunter I OBVIOUSLY didn't mean Dale Hunter, the center for Goulet.

I meant Tim Hunter.

 

[VanIslander]

Holmstrom averaged 13:35 minutes over his 1000+ game NHL career because he was so often 4th line/1st pp. He was most often a net-presence powerplay specialist. Little else. RARELY in a top-6 role.

 

[buffalowing88]

Darby Hendrickson. Just an asshole. He has rent-free space in my head though, so he must have been doing something right.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I loved Steve Bégin in Montreal. Pure heart.

I also liked Ulanov who was mentionned in the OP.

Trying to avoid the easy names like Carbo or Peca.

I thought Danius Zubrus was somewhat underrated too.

 

[MS]

Holmstrom averaged 13:35 minutes over his 1000+ game NHL career because he was so often 4th line/1st pp. He was most often a net-presence powerplay specialist. Little else. RARELY in a top-6 role.

Holmstrom was generally a bottom-6 guy with PP time pre-2004-05 lockout, but from 2005-2010 he was absolutely 100% a top-6 forward for the duration of that period.

 

[VanIslander]

100% a top 6 forward post lockout?

Lol.

We went to different games.

Even factoring in his HEAVY PP time, his ice time among forwards (as per hockey reference):

7th
9th
4th (Maybe THIS is your memory?)
8th
7th
7th
11th

He clearly was not a top-6 forward post lockout. He was a great pp net presence pre- and post-lockout. No, he wasn't drafted among the top-1000 (yeah, thousand) in the History board's subboard All-Time Draft this year, but he isn't far off given his clear though limited skill set.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Canadiens1958 used to praise Ralph Backstrom's contributions to the 1960's Montreal dynasty. He went so far as to say he was easily the 3rd most important player on those teams behind Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

He's a player I was also impressed with when I watched a couple of games.

 

[Sanf]

Trying to avoid the easy names like Carbo or Peca.

Same here.

Some of my favourites that first come to mind. And not going into backup goalies because there would be so many

Gaetan Duchesne
Stewart Gavin
Dean Evason
Antti Laaksonen
Wes Walz
Bob Bassen
Dave Lowry

 

[VanIslander]

Canadiens1958 used to praise Ralph Backstrom's contributions to the 1960's Montreal dynasty. He went so far as to say he was easily the 3rd most important player on those teams behind Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

He's a player I was also impressed with when I watched a couple of games.

Of the 25 players i mentioned, none were pre-1985, when i was 16. Yeah, i played youth hockey and was a rabid hockey fan since 1978 but I didn't notice depth players then.

Guys like canadiens1958 and pitseleh are so appreciated!

 

[VanIslander]

Gaetan Duchesne
Antti Laaksonen
Dave Lowry

Dang yeah!

 

[Sanf]

I guess i could name one from the past. Made lot of research about him few years ago. Obviously not a third or fourth line player because such things did not exist. But definitely equivalent from the time. Foyle Martin played very promising hockey for Calgary Canadians in Big Four and for Calgary Tigers in WCHL. Played lot as spare. Sadly died to blood poisoning at the age of 23. Was very highly regarded by Frank Patrick for example of his checking skills.

"in Foley Martin, hook-check wizard deluxe has signed with Tigers for another season. Foley is one is one of the most popular boys in the line-up, being a clean-cut young fellow with plenty of hockey brains and a wealth of ability as a stickhander, zig-zag skater and hook-checker.

If Martin could shoot he would be one of the most valuable men in prairie hockey. He has devoted so much of his time to perfecting that check that the shooting has been forgotten and now Foley finds himself in a bad way. He can spurt through the best of them and back-check like a fiend, but all his good work goes for naught once he passes the blue line and runs into score. He is weak on the shot, but outside of that the lad is wonder.
...
Foley has ben utilized to advantage as the third man for defense. With his team one up, Foley is a sure bet to throw in to tighten a defense for his hook check and returning break up dangerous attacks."



The Calgary Daily Herald - Mar 2, 1920
... and Foley Martin, who remained in the limelight with his clever hook checking and, sensational stick handling.

The Morning Leader - Nov 13, 1922
Foley Martin also put in an appearance Monday and was mystifying as ever to the boys when they attempted to pass up his hook check.

The Calgary Herald - Jul 8, 1950
The late Foley Martin who will always be remembered for his hook check...

The Morning Leader - Dec 10, 1923
FOLEY MARTIN, YOUNG HOCKEY STAR, IS DEAD

The blood poisoning from which Martin´s fatal illnes originated is said to have followed, the shaving of a corn with a razor, pneumonia setting in after the blood poisoning.

 

[VanIslander]

Sanf=Foley Martin

There is no other explanation.