A spectacle recently took place in Las Vegas. The fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor looks to be the richest, most watched fight in the history of pay per view. Both fighters reached paydays of over $100 million dollars. So with the idea of an alleged “dream” match-up in mind, here is a list of some NHL super fights we wish could’ve happened.
NHL Super Fights – Dream Match Edition
Battle of Boston
Milan Lucic (6’3″, 236 pounds) vs. Cam Neely (6’1″, 218 pounds)
Wasting no time, we start with what would’ve been an absolute barn burner and a fight that would tear the heart of a Bruins fans in half. In the late 80’s and the 90’s Cam Neely was among the most feared players in the league. He’s a man who has 12 career Gordie Howe Hat Tricks (goal, fight, assist) which is good for fifth all-time. If you need a point of reference, take a look at his highlight reel, and then curse Ulf Samuelsson for taking him from us.
That being said, don’t count Lucic out of that equation. He was Boston’s heir apparent to Neely, and proved to be a worthy contender for the title as he made mince meat of opposing forwards, defensemen, and Ryan Miller. He’s also parlayed his toughness into big top line jobs with the LA Kings and Edmonton Oilers.
Prediction: Lucic likes to use his size and strength to beat down opponents while Neely throws with speed and abandon. The odds like Neely if these two throw haymakers.
Originator vs. Leader
Gordie Howe (6’0″, 205 pounds) vs. Rick Tocchet (6’0″, 210 pounds)
Why this match-up? We’ve already referenced the Gordie Howe Hat trick. Gordie Howe, the namesake was the one of the most talented and toughest players of his era. Known for his vicious elbows and frequent fights Howe is a legend. He also fractured his skull once attempting just to check someone. He missed the rest of the playoffs, but did return to score 86 points next season. He’s a measuring stick for all other power forwards.
Howe, however, only recorded two GHHT’s in his long five-decade career. (not including his one shift in ’97 in the IHL). The record holder? Why that’d be Rich Tocchet. With 18 total, his amount is unmatched and currently there doesn’t seem to be anyone on pace to catch him. Tocchet could throw with the best of him, and was a useful part of the Pittsburgh championship teams in the 90’s.
Prediction: Tocchet was a wild fighter, but Howe is an all-time great. He wins and skates off with a gentleman’s grace.
Superstar vs. Superstar
Sidney Crosby (5’11”, 200 pounds) vs. Alex Ovechkin (6’3″, 239 pounds)
Everyone loves a scrap between superstars. The high point of the 2004 Stanley Cup was the fight between Jarome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier. This would be no different. We’ve seen these two jaw at each other of the years, and have battles but they haven’t ever really come to blows. In this scenario they do.
Crosby is at a size disadvantage, but has the speed and experience. He’s had a few more fights than Ovechkin, but the Russian has the mass on his side. Crosby would be forced to spin the Great Eight to try and gain leverage.
Prediction: If the punches are close, look at forceful takedown win for Ovechkin.
The Battle of the Redwoods
Zdeno Chara (6’9″, 250 pounds) vs. Chris Pronger (6’6″, 220 pounds)
We can’t forgot about the defensemen, and these two have been some of the biggest and baddest of their day. Chara is famously the largest player to ever take to NHL ice. Pronger is no slouch in the size department, and is well known for his mean streak. Not many players can amass eight suspensions and a Hart Trophy to their names. Both have had fights on their records and both have proved too big and tough to handle for their opponents.
Chara is known as the more gentlemanly player of the two, but he is just that big that you can’t ever count him out of a physical contest. That being said, Pronger has left a longer trail of bodies in his wake, and looks to engage in these kinds of contests. Chara has also had trouble against people of similar size.
Prediction: Pronger cuts Chara down to size, possibly with a dirty underhanded tactic, or with body shots and uppercuts he seems to favor.
Goalies Can Fight Too
Ron Hextall (6’3″, 192 pounds) vs. Patrick Roy (6’2″, 188 pounds)
This is a fight that lovers of wild goalie brawls were dying to see while these two terrorized anyone near their crease during their respective careers. It almost happened twice. Once during the pregame brawl between the Flyers and Canadians that Mike Keenan prevented by locking Hextall in a literal cage. The other was in the dying minutes of a playoff series in 1989, Hextall went after Chris Chelios in retaliation for a hit on Brian Propp. The furious netminder then turned his gaze to the other end of the ice. Roy was waiting by the blue line, but Hextall was unable to break the grip of the official.
Without a major size difference and similar experience this one is tough to call. Both have a propensity for going after players and goalies. Neither is unbeatable either. Mike Vernon did very well against Roy at times and Felix Potvin arguably took a decision against Hextall.
Prediction: The hockey world explodes from the sheer awesomeness of the event. The result is hotly debated until the end of time itself.
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