Hopfeully you have read my articles on the top fighters in other divisions in the NHL – the Atlantic (Atlantic Part 1, Atlantic Part 2,), Metropolitan (Metro Part 1, Metro Part 2) and Central Division. Today I conclude with the top Pacific fighters. The Pacific teams include; LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.
Jordan Nolan, Los Angeles Kings – The top fighter for the Los Angeles Kings is Jordan Nolan, who during the shortened season recorded 6 of the team’s 19 fights. His first fight was on the 24th of January against Ladislav Smid from the Edmonton Oilers. He also went up against Bryan Allen from the Anaheim Ducks, Wade Redden from the St. Louis Blues, Sheldon Souray from the Anaheim Ducks, Tom Sestito from the Vancouver Canucks and top fighter Brandon Bollig from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nolan has never been much of a top NHL fighter – the shortened season was the most fights he has recorded in the NHL. Other seasons had him in just one or two bouts. However, he did record up to 8 fights in the AHL and 12 fights in the OHL so it is difficult to say if he will be back on top of the fight card for the Kings. On a side note, in March he did get fined by the NHL for cross checking Henrik Sedin from the Vancouver Canucks, which shows his propensity for a physical game.
Matt Beleskey, Anaheim Ducks – Beleskey recorded 6 fights during the shortened season. His first fight of the season was against Aaron Volpatti from the Vancouver Canucks. He also took on Kevin Bieksa from the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Clowe from the San Jose Sharks, Scott Hannan from the Nashville Predators, Clayton Stoner from the Minnesota Wild and the pesky Jordin Tootoo from the Detroit Redwings.
Again, like Nolan he hasn’t recorded many NHL fights over the past few seasons. He has recorded a low of 2 to a high of 8 fights. In the AHL he has recorded less than 3 fights during each AHL season, though he was much busier in the OHL, where he recorded anywhere from 6 or 12 fights. I think he will be back on top next season.
Paul Bissonnette, Phoenix Coyotes – From the Coyotes I have to go with Paul Bissonnette. During the shortened season he recorded 6 fights. His first fight was against tough guy from the Stanley Cup winners from last season, Brandon Bollig. He also went up against Patrick Bordeleau from the Colorado Avalanche, Tim Jackman from the Calgary Flames, Mike Rupp from the Minnesota Wild and top fighters for the Columbus Blue Jackets and St Louis Blues, Jared Boll and Ryan Reaves.
Bissonnette has always been a top fighter in any league he has played in. So without a doubt I think next season he will be back on the top of the fight card for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Andrew Desjardins, San Jose Sharks – The San Jose Sharks top fighter is Andrew Desjardins. During the shortened season (and only his second NHL season) he recorded 5 fights. His first fight was against Kevin Bieksa from the Vancouver Canucks on the 27th of January (making two players having their first fights in the Pacific against Bieksa). He then went up against Duncan Keith from the Chicago Blackhawks and received a match penalty for a hit to the head. His last three fights to conclude to his fight card were Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings, Sheldon Souray from the Anaheim Ducks, and Steve Pinizzotto from the Vancouver Canucks.
I am not sure if he will be on top. Looking at his other hockey records not from the NHL he seems like a guy who could remain in the top position for his team. But again, who knows – he can also be a player who surprises everyone and will not cause any fights in an attempt to land a good contract to stay in the NHL. So again we will have to see what happens during the upcoming season. My money is on dropping the gloves.
Dale Weise, Vancouver Canucks – I picked Dale Weise from the ‘Nucks who, during the shortened season, recorded 7 fights. His first fight was against the top fighter from the Colorado Avalanche, Cody McLeod. He then at the same time took on Minnesota Wilds top fighter Zenon Konopka twice in the same game on February 7th. To finish his fight card he went up against Eric Nystrom from the Dallas Stars, top fighter Brandon Bollig from the Chicago Blackhawks, Kyle Chipchura from the Phoenix Coyotes and Rich Clune from the Nashville Predators.
Looking at his fight card from the last few seasons, I can see him remaining at the top of the fight card for the Vancouver Canucks. He has had regular fight seasons so there is no reason to think he won’t again.
Tim Jackman, Calgary Flames – Look for Tim Jackman from the Calgary Flames to have a big year of duking it out. Last season his first fight was against top fighter Brandon Bollig in February. He then went up against Phoenix Coyotes top fighter Paul Bissonnette followed by Kyle Clifford from the Los Angeles Kings, top fighter Cody McLeod from the Colorado Avalanche, Dalton Prout from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ryan Whitney from the Edmonton Oilers, Zack Kassian from the Vancouver Cannucks and top fighter Ryan Reaves from the St. Louis Blues.
I can see Jackman being on top of the fight card list again. He has recorded up to 19 regular season NHL fights, which is extremely active. In the AHL he has recorded a high number of 17 during one season. So time will tell if he will remain a top fighter, but with consistently high fight counts expect a busy season of bouts.
Mike Brown, Edmonton Oilers – He only played half the shortened season with the Oilers, but Brown made his time count. The first half of the season he played with the Maple Leafs but then was traded in March to the Oilers. He recorded 7 of the team’s 13 fights last season and a total of 12 NHL fights with both teams despite the shortened season. His first fight as an Oiler was against Detroit’s top fighter Jordin Tootoo on March 7th. He then went up against top fighter Rich Clune from the Nashville Predators, a second go-around with Jordin Tootoo, Barret Jackman from the St Louis Blues, top fighter Jared Boll from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Steve Begin from the Calgary Flames and top fighter Zenon Konopka from the Minnesota Wild.
In both the NHL and the AHL he has always been a big fighter. In the NHL his high number of fights was 19 and he once recorded 21 fights at the AHL level. He was the only one who recorded more than one fight for the Oilers so I still think he will be back on top next season.
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