Is Brash Worth the Cash?

Stephen Cook
Sep 17, 2000

For fight fans, one of the more interesting contractual disputes to take place in the off-season has been between the Vancouver Canucks and their resident tough guy Donald Brashear. Brashear has indicated to Canucks GM Brian Burke that he will sign for no less than $1.5 million per year. This bold demand on Donald's behalf has been met coldly by most hockey fans. The general consensus surrounding Brashear is a player who scores 11 goals and fights 10 times per season is not worthy of such a lucrative deal.

However upon closer reflection, Brashear stacks up very well statistically with all other top enforcers in the NHL today. In addition, he holds much strength in his bargaining position that makes him indispensable to the Canucks specifically. In short, an enforcer the calibre of Donald Brashear is without a doubt worth the $1.5 million price tag that he has set for himself.

A common ploy in contract negotiations is to compare players who are of equal value. Players who are unsigned look to determine their worth by comparing themselves to players of the same ilk who are under contract. It's by this rationale that Donald Brashear set his market value at $1.5 million. Brashear used Tie Domi as his yardstick to determine his asking price. A few years ago, Tie Domi signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs that saw him receive an average annual salary of $1.5 million. A considerable sum for an enforcer, Domi was rewarded with this amount based not only on his prowess as a fighter, but also on his ability to take a regular shift, play a consistent, well rounded brand of hockey while not proving to be a liability out on the ice. He has the rare combination of toughness and talent for a modern day tough guy.

If $1.5 million per season is the established market value for a player of Domi's credentials, Donald Brashear warrants the same amount. A statistical comparison of the two players will emphasize this point.

These are the numbers of fights and goals for the two players over the last five seasons:

After looking at these cold hard statistics it's easy to understand why Donald Brashear would consider himself in the same pay bracket as Domi. The only real difference is that at age 31, Tie has probably reached the crescendo of his great enforcing career. Brash at 28 is just entering his prime and probably has more upside potential. Should these two players of similar toughness and offensive output be worth the same amount of money? Based on the evidence, yes. 

Brashear also compares favourably to other enforcers around the NHL. His detractors are quick to point out that his 10 fighting majors for the 99-00 season leave him behind the pack of other pugilists around the league. However when put into proper perspective his numbers don't look quite as grim. Brash posted a career low 10 fights and a career high 11 goals in the 99-00 campaign. Let us first analyze his fights.

The key factor that many leave out in any discussion concerning Brash is that he fought 10 times but only played in 60 games. If Marty McSorley didn't swing the lumber in all likelihood Donald would have played much closer to a full season. 10 fights in 60 games projected over an 82 game season leaves him in the 13-15 fight range. This is far more comparable to what other top ranked established heavies recorded last year. Sandy McCarthy (12 fights), Bob Probert (10), Georges Laraque (15), Domi (14) and Stu Grimson (12 in only 50 games) are all within the same vicinity as Donald fight wise when the numbers are crunched.

Offensively is where Brashear clearly distinguishes himself from his fellow enforcers. In the scoring depleted NHL, how many enforcers are capable of scoring 10-20 goals a season? According to last years numbers, aside from Donald, they could all be counted on one hand leaving five fingers left over. Donald was on a pace to score 15 goals during the 99-00 campaign compared to McCarthy (6), Probert (4), Domi (5), Laraque (8) and Grimson (1). This is what separates Brash from the average run of the mill enforcer. While considered in hockey circles as a first rate tough guy, its his ability to score, play on the top two lines and take a shift on the power play when asked that make him such a unique entity amongst enforcers. This asset is Donald's trump card in negotiations with Vancouver management. 

Aside from Donald's obvious attributes as a player and fighter, he also holds several key advantages in his bargaining position over the Canucks. If Brash were to sit out for any length of time, possible replacements that have been mentioned for him are Dody Wood and/or Mike Brown. With all due respect to Dody, unless he is the best kept secret in the minors that hockey executives have missed out on for the last 5 or 6 years he isn't a viable #1 enforcer at the NHL level. A solid #2 or #3 man on most teams to be sure, but not the go to guy.

Mike Brown is a raw rookie with a big reputation. However placing all the pressures that come with being a #1 heavy on the shoulders of a player barely out of Jr. hockey is a risky proposition at best. In either case, neither player is capable of replacing Brashear's goal production or spot on the top lines. They would most likely be crazy glued to the bench until the time came for their obligatory 2 or 3 shifts per game.

In addition, Vancouver lost toughness when Brad May packed his bags and headed to Phoenix. The Canucks who pride themselves on being a gritty and physical club are in no position to lose any more toughness: more leverage for Brashear.

Finally, with the Sedin twins (who Brian Burke mortgaged the house for) arriving on the NHL scene this year, Burke must surely want a known quantity around to protect his big investment. Donald would certainly provide a considerable deterrent to anyone looking to mess with the twins.

Is Brash worth the cash? - YES! Over the last five years Donald Brashear has established himself as one of the enforcing elite in the NHL. He has progressed past the role of a fourth line goon and contributed to Vancouver's attack on several different levels. Its time for the Canucks to ante up and pay him the going rate for enforcers of his ability. Otherwise the 2000-01 season may prove to be a long, bruised and battered one for Canucks fans.

To our delight here at hockeyfights.com, this article has been re-released on hockeyrage.com.

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