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 the Metropolitan Division’s top fighters. Click here to see the Atlantic Division.
*Credit: hockeyfights.com for stats*
Metropolitan Division Top Fighters
New York Rangers: Prior to the season I predicted that Arron Asham would lead the team in fights, as he did in 2012-13. Other contenders were Stu Bickel and Derek Dorsett. However, the 2013-14 season saw Asham have only two fights dropping him into a tie for second place on the Rangers. Brian Boyle, Justin Faulk, Brandon Mashinter and Rick Nash all also had two fights this season. In first place on the fight list was Derek Dorsett who recorded 10 of the teams 25 fights.
As for Stu Bickel he did not play a game with the Rangers. He spent the year with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
New York Islanders: Last season saw Matt Martin on the top of Islanders fighting list and he repeated that feat this season. Martin was involved in 10 of the team’s 39 fights. Other top fighters included Matt Carkner with nine, and Eric Boulton with eight fights.
Martin did fight with Derek Dorsett this year in a matchup of two men who took Metropolitan Division Top Fighters honours.
Carolina Hurricanes: Kevin Westgarth led the Hurricanes in fights in 2012-13. He could not repeat the feat this year, as he was traded to the Calgary Flames early in the season. Jay Harrison was also one of the teams top pugilists last season.
As a team the Hurricanes didn’t fight much, being involved in only 8 fights for the season. The busiest fighter was Brett Bellemore who recorded three of the eight fights. Jay Harrison came in second place recording two of the fights.
New Jersey Devils: 2012-13 saw Krys Barch as the top fighter for the New Jersey Devils. However, he went to the Florida Panthers this season.
With Barch out, Ryane Clowe became the Devil’s fighting leader recording five of the teams ten fights. Clowe’s first fight of the season was in October against Penguins’ Tanner Glass.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Last season for the Penguins saw Deryk Engelland as the top fighter. This season Engelland dropped into a tie for second place with Robert Bortuzzo, each having six fights.
Claiming the crown was Tanner Glass, who had seven fights, including bouts with Ryane Clowe and Derek Dorsett.
Philadelphia Flyers: The Philadelphia Flyers were amongst the NHL’s leaders with 45 fights being the third most in the league. Leading the way was Jay Rosehill with 10 of the teams 45 fights. Zach Rinaldo recorded 7 fights. Luke Schenn and Wayne Simmons are tied for third place with 6 fights a piece. Hartnell was tied for fourth place recording two fights this season.
It was a wild season for the team fighting wise. Even back-up goaltender Ray Emery recorded a fight this season when he fought (assaulted?) Capitals Goaltender Braden Holtby.
Washington Capitals: Last season’s top fighter was Matt Hendricks, who left in free agency. Before the season I predicted that Steve Olesky and John Erskine would see increases in their fighting majors. I was wrong as Olesky recorded three fights, and Erskine had just two.
Meanwhile the top fighter on the team this season was rookie Tom Wilson who recorded 14 of the teams 36 fights.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Jared Boll was once again the Blue Jackets top pugilist, recording 8 of the teams 39 fights. Close behind was Nick Foligno who recorded 7. Boll took on top Atlantic Division Fighters Brandon Prust from the Montreal Canadiens and Chris Neil from the Ottawa Senators.
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