Before this season kicked-off, one-by-one I went through every NHL team with the intent of determining each team’s top fighter of last season and then projected who I expected to see on this season’s list. Now that the regular season is behind us, let’s examine each team beginning today with the Atlantic Division’s top fighters. Please check back over the course of the next week as we dissect each division.
*Credit: hockeyfights.com*
Boston Bruins: Last season’s top fighter was Shawn Thornton. I predicted that this season would again be Shawn Thornton with the possibility of Adam McQuaid and Milan Lucic close behind.
The top three fighters of the season were indeed Shawn Thornton (with 10 fights), Adam McQuaid and Milan Lucic who each recorded 7. Thornton also got a 15-game suspension earlier in the season after punching Brooks Orpik.
These stats may have turned out a bit differently if Adam McQuaid was healthy this season and played more than 30 games. The last game McQuaid played was in mid-January (Adam McQuaid Sports Injury Alert Profile).
Montreal Canadiens: Last season the top fighter was Brandon Prust. Again this season the bet was on Prust with some money on new-comer George Parros, Travis Moen and Ryan White.
Brandon Prust was on the top of the list leading the team with 11 of the team’s 41 fights. Prust also recorded his 100th career NHL fight this season. Right behind him was George Parros who recorded 9.
Parros could have probably gotten away with more fights and placed on the top of the list if he played more games than he did this season. He ended up with two concussions, both from fighting. As well he only played 22 games, being a healthy scratch throughout most of the season (George Parros Sports Injury Alert Profile).
Moen was next on the list recording 5 fights, with Ryan White and Jarred Tinordi were tied at 4 regular season fights. White calmed down and played a much different season then last year and I think that helped control his fighting. He injured his shoulder in January right before a fight so perhaps it never fully healed?
For Tinordi, he was down in the AHL most of the season. If we were to combine both his AHL and NHL fights, for which he has 10, it would have pushed him ahead of George Parros.
Ottawa Senators: Last season I was torn between Chris Neil and Zack Smith. I chose Neil, given he has a more known past. However, for this season I kept Neil on the list but as well I kept Smith close behind, along with Jared Cowen.
Chris Neil was indeed at the top of the list with 15 of the team’s 31 fights. Matt Kassian was second on the list with 9 fights. Cowen and Smith both were on the bottom of the list (Smith with 3, Cowen with 1).
Toronto Maple Leafs: Last season it was Colton Orr. For this season I kept Orr on the list (it the the only thing he is paid for), and I bet on Frazer McLaren and Mark Fraser.
Orr made the top 3 of the list recording six fights but beating him was David Clarkson and Frazer McLaren, who each recorded 9 fights. Clarkson only played 6 more games (60) then Orr (54) did and even recorded three more fights
McLaren only played 27 games and still managed to top Orr. So if you put all these players into full 82 games for the upcoming season, it looks as if Orr could be out of the contender spot.
Buffalo Sabres: I had John Scott on my list and decided not to make any changes. I did not give any secondary options in this case. Somewhat surprisingly, John Scott was tied for second place on the team with three other teammates, all of whom recorded 5 fights. Other teammates were Marcus Foligno, Zenon Konopka and Mike Weber.
In first place, was Cody McCormick. Even though he is no longer with the Sabres (now on the Minnesota Wild) he topped the team with seven fights (eight combining both teams).
Next season it could be anyone on the top of the list. This team is rebuilding so who knows where we will end up.
Detroit Red Wings: For the Red Wings I picked Jordin Tootoo as the top fighter last season and kept him atop the list again for this season. During the regular season there have only been seven fights. Jordin Tootoo came in sixth place only recording one fight, though he spent a lot of time down in the AHL and recorded 10 there.
Brendan Smith recorded two fights, most of any player on the team this season. The Red Wings don’t play a physical, fighting game so it is hard to see where they will end up next season.
Tampa Bay Lightning: For the lightning, the top fighter last season was BJ Crombeen. I kept him on my list and added Keith Aulie.
Crombeen recorded 11 of the teams 30 fights. The next closest fighters for the team were Ryan Malone (5) and Radkos Gudas (4).
Gudas is a young player and I think as he grows he will start becoming a lot more physical and contending to be the top fighter on the team.
Keith Aulie only recorded one fight this season and is tied for seventh place.
Florida Panthers: Last season I had Eric Sellek as a top contender for this season. He did not play an NHL game this year and is no longer with the Panthers, playing now for the Chicago Wolves (AHL affiliate of the St Louis Blues).
This season the top fighters were Krys Barch (13) and Erik Gudbranson (7) combing for a total of 20 of the team’s 30 fights this season.
These were the top fighters in the NHL regular season in the Atlantic Division. Check back through the week for the rest!
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