This thread is a cummulation of The Lineage of the Heavyweight Champ down through the ages and top 10 threads for every year since 1975 in the NHL. A lot of people said they would like this to be a sticky and I think its information that is very useful to have handy. Please feel free to challenge any ranking with some factual and intelligent discussion.
The Lineage of the Heavyweight Champ
YEAR.......Fighters in the running for heavyweight crown
1955 through February 1, 1959..........Lou Fontinado (NYR)
2/1/59 through 1962........................Gordie Howe (DET)
1962 through October 8, 1963............Ted Green (BOS) *
thanks Deadman *
10/8/63 through June 1971:...............John Ferguson (MTR)
1964 through 1971 ...........................Orland Kurtenbach (BOST / NYR)
1971-1973......................................Jerry Korab (CHI) ??
early 1973 through May 8, 1975.........Dave Schultz (PHI)
1973 through November 13, 1976.........Dan Maloney (LA / DET)
1974-1976.......................................J. Bob Kelly (PIT)
1974- spring 1977..............................Bob Gassoff (STL)
5/8/75 through October 25, 1980.........Clark Gillies (NYI)
1977 through early 1980.....................Nick Fotiu (NYR)
10/25/80 through 1982.......................Behn Wilson (PHI)
11/23/80 through 3/10/85...................Larry Playfair (BUF)
1984 through January 9,1991..............Dave Brown (PHI)
1987 through 1989.............................Bob Probert (DET)
10/1990 through January 28, 1991........Troy Crowder (NJ)
1/28/91 through April 2, 1994...............Bob Probert (DET)
2/16/94 through fall 1996.....................Chris Simon (QBC/COL)
4/2/94 through 1998...........................Sandy McCarthy (CALG)
fall 1995 through 1998.........................Tony Twist (STL)
early 1999 through 2/10/06...................Donald Brashear (VAN/PHI)
March 15, 2000 through current.............Georges Laraque (EDM)
****
Some of the key dates:
2/1/59: Howe destroys Fontinato
10/8/63: After a young Mean Ted Green burst on the scene and claimed the title due to Howe's inactivity, he lost it just as quickly when John Ferguson cleanly beats him to become the undisputed (active) heavyweight champ.
1/9/75: Gillies beats down Schultz, somewhat ending his reign of terror and starting Clark's legend
11/13/76: Bert Wilson KOs Dan Maloney taking his share of the crown away
10/25/80: Behn Wilson gives Clark Gillies his worst ever loss. Combined with Fotiu being traded to (and doing nothing in) Hartford, Behn becomes king.
11/23/80: Larry Playfair validates his early success with an incredible KO of Dave Semenko making him and Big Behn the two most feared fighters in the game I'd say
3/10/85: The rare-to-fight Brian MacClellan beats on Larry Playfiar and drops him, signifying that Larry was finally over the hill.
1/9/91: On this day Dave Brown jumps Probert and Probert ends up coming back for the KD victory, re-establishing himself as a potential king after a 1.5 year layoff.
1/28/91: Troy Crowder's incredible run is offiicially put to rest. Four days after being TKOd by Darrin Kimble for his first NHL loss, Bob Probert exacts revenge with a TKO win of his own making him undisputed heavyweight king.
2/16/94: Chris Simon's decorates his second year of destruction with his 2nd win over Dave Brown giving him his first share of the crown.
4/2/94: I think I have this date right... Sandy McCarthy, after his dominating rookie year, dominates Probert to announce himself as the new king with Chris Simon.
3/15/00: Some may have a different start point, but Laraque pounding the old king in Sandy mcCarthy is where he legitimizes his crown IMO.
11/23/05: Laraque TKOs rookie phenom Derek Boogaard to set the tone for a monsterous season where he defeats all major contenders to the thrown (Boogaard, Fedoruk, Simon) while others fade away (Brashear, Cairns, Godard)
2/10/06: Brashear sufferes a knockdown at the hands of journeyman enforcer Doug Doull. With Cairns & Simon highly inactive, George Laraque takes over as undisputed heavyweight champ.
YEARLY TOP TEN LISTS
Remember, this is NOT intended as a retrospective yearly top 10. As two examples, in retrospect,
Wade Brookbank maybe shouldn't be top 10 in 03-04 but thats how we voted him at the time and thats how he stays. Similarly,
Bob Probert IMO didn't make a big enough splash in his rookie year to be top 10 at the time, even though in retrospect he probably was one of the 10 best fighters in the league.
Lets let the discussion and debating begin. I'll defend what I think is right, change what I think is wrong, and hopefully enjoy some good debate:
Note: Top 10 lists for 2002-03 forward are those that were voted on by the HF.com community at the time!
2008-2009:
1. Wade Belak, NSH
2. Donald Brashear, WAS
3. Georges Laraque, MTL
4. Eric Godard, PIT
5. Colton Orr, NYR
6. Derek Boogaard, MIN
7. Jody Shelley, SJ
8. George Parros, ANA
9. Raitis Ivanans, LA
10. Cam Janssen, STL
Notable Fights:
* Wade Belak landed a huge flush punch which knocked Donald Brashear woozy for a top-10-list-redefining KO
* Colton Orr and Eric Godard had an incredible 4 fight series with the series of epic slugfests being split 2-2, but Godard getting the edge with a TKO in round III
* Shelley had a solid year but still struggled with the top dogs, getting bloodied by Brashear in a great fight and TKO'd by Laraque
* Best fights of the year: Orr-Boulton and Godard-Cote
2007-2008:
1) Georges Laraque, PIT
2) Donald Brashear, WAS
3) Colton Orr, NYR
4) Derek Boogaard, MIN
5) D.J. King, STL
6) Brian McGrattan, OTT
7) Eric Godard, CLG
8) Georges Parros, ANA
9) Wade Belak, TOR/FLA
10) Raitis Ivanans, LA
Notable Fights:
* The two top dogs square off for an epic, controversial fight: Its all Laraque pounding Brashear to the ice before a (fluke?) roundhouse left from Brashear drops Laraque.
* Riley Cote vs. Shawn Thornton toe-to-toe fight is the crown jewel of Cote's exciting entrance to the NHL
* Great four fight series between Brad May and Kris Barch
* George Parros continues major improvement, and drops Jody Shelley and floors Riley Cote with a wicked uppercut
2006-2007:
1) Georges Laraque, PHX/PIT
2) Donald Brashear, WAS
3) Derek Boogaard, MIN
4) Andrew Peters, BUF
5) Brian McGrattan, OTT
6) Eric Godard, CLG
7) Colton Orr, NYR
8) Wade Belak, TOR
9) George Parros, ANA
10) D.J. King, STL
Notable Fights:
* Todd Fedoruk has a nightmare year, first getting his face broken by Derek Boogaard in a destructive TKO, then being knocked unconscious with a vicious KO right from Colton Orr
* Goalie Ray Emery fights the Buffalo goaltender and then heavyweight, Peters, in the same brawl
* Boogaard-Godard I (TKO win Godard) and II (another good slugfest)
* Brashear and Peters split a pair of very good fights
* Josh Gratton in two fight of the year toe-to-toe slugfests vs. Koci and Jim Vandermeer
* Brashear rocks Colton Orr x3
* Laraque takes another slight decision from Derek Boogaard
* Highly hyped Janssen-Belak fight ends in a split decision after a marathon bout
2005-2006:
1) Georges Laraque, EDM
2) Derek Boogaard, MIN
3) Brian McGrattan, OTT
4) Donald Brashear, PHI
5) Todd Fedoruk, ANA
6) Eric Godard, NYI
7) Colton Orr, BOS/NYR
8) Chris Simon, CLG
9) Andrew Peters, BUF
10) Jody Shelley, CLB
Notable Fights:
* Boogaard's spectucular TKO/KO streak. He set an NHL record with six in one year (Wade Brookbank, Kip Brennan, Trevor Gillies (KO), Matthew Spiller, Jim Vandermeer, and Brian McGrattan)
* Godard draws with Brashear, bloodying him and edges out Eric Cairns
* Colton Orr breaks Wade Belak’s nose and Andre Roy’s orbital bone
* McGrattan knocks down and bloodies up Tie Domi
* Shelley scores a 1-punck TKO of Downey, bloodying him badly
* Laraque ends Boogaard’s rookie TKO spree by TKOing the 6’8” rookie himself
* Brashear solidly beats Derek Boogaard
* Tremendous slugfest between McGrattan and Fedoruk (edge McGrattan)
* Peters blasts McGrattan with a hard shot, putting Gratts on the shelf for over a week
* Colton Orr takes two from Eric Godard, one that TKOd him and broke his nose, perhaps leaving him with a concussion as well
* McGrattan and Brashear both solidly defeat Colton Orr
2004-2005:
Lock-out year
2003-2004:
1) Eric Cairns, NYI
2) Matt Johnson, MIN
3) Donald Brashear, PHI
4) Georges Laraque, EDM
5) Scott Parker, SJ
6) Chris Simon, NYR/CLG
7) Wade Belak, TOR
8) Andrew Peters, BUF
9) Krzysztof Oliwa, CLG
10) Wade Brookbank, NSH/VAN
Notable Fights:
* Cairns breaks Fedoruk’s face, and gives concussions to
Richard Scott (career-ending) and
Jeff Cowan
*
Matt Johnson and
Andrew Peters split a pair of fights, with the 2nd ending in a huge Johnson KO
*
Matt Johnson soundly defeats
Georges Laraque
* Hordichuk drops
Peter Worrell
*
Wade Brookbank TKOs Oliwa
* Oliwa drops
Jody Shelley
*
Andrew Peters TKOs Brennan x2, edges
Eric Cairns and scores a flash KD on
Tie Domi
*
Dale Purinton KOs
Eric Cairns with a borderline sucker punch & hides in the rematch
2002-2003:
1) Donald Brashear, PHI
2) Georges Laraque, EDM
3) Eric Cairns, NYI
4) Peter Worrell, FLA
5) Wade Belak, TOR
6) Scott Parker, COL
7) Reed Low, STL
8) Eric Godard, NYI
9) Stephen Peat, WAS
10) Tie Domi, TOR
Notable Fights:
* Brashear demolishes
Sandy McCarthy in pre-season, virtually ending his career
* Worrell breaks
Eric Boulton’s orbital bone
*
Aaron Downey’s brutal one-punch KO of
Jesse Boulerice
2001-2002:
1) Donald Brashear, VAN/PHI
2) Georges Laraque, EDM
3) Peter Worrell, FLA
4) Chris McAllister, PHI
5) Eric Cairns, NYI
6) Jim McKenzie, NJ
7) Scott Parker, COL
8) Tie Domi, TOR
9) Stephen Peat, WAS
10) Sandy McCarthy, NYR
Notable Fights:
*
Peter Worrell caps a dominating season with wins over Cairns and McKenzie
*
Eric Cairns takes a solid decision from
Sandy McCarthy in a statement win at MSG
* Laraque gets a knockdown win against
Craig Berube
*
Stu Grimson is forced to retire after being beaten solidly be
Georges Laraque and then
Sandy McCarthy
2000-2001:
1) Georges Laraque, EDM
2) Donald Brashear, VAN
3) Peter Worrell, FLA
4) Stu Grimson, LA
5) Jim McKenzie, NJ
6) Sandy McCarthy, NYR
7) Scott Parker, COL
8) Reed Low, STL
9) Chris McAllister, PHI
10 Todd Fedoruk, PHI
Notable Fights:
*
Peter Worrell beats
Scott Parker, bloodying him
*
Sandy McCarthy and
Jim McKenzie have a good series, going 1-1-1 in 3 fights
* Parker TKO's Grimson in the pre-season
* Stu Grimon's monsterous KO of Reid Simpson
1999-2000:
1) Georges Laraque, EDM
2) Donald Brashear, VAN
3) Bob Probert, CHI
4) Stu Grimson, ANA
5) Paul Laus, FLA
6) Sandy McCarthy, PHI/CAR
7) Eric Cairns, NYI
8) Peter Worrell, FLA
9) Tie Domi, TOR
10) Craig Berube, PHI
Notable Fights:
*
Georges Laraque wins one-sided fight over
Sandy McCarthy
*
Jim McKenzie unleashes years of pent-up aggression on
Darryl Sydor
*
Sandy McCarthy trounces
Reid Simpson
* Tie Domi avoids McCarthy/Berube/Richardson in brawl
1998-1999:
1) Donald Brashear, VAN
2) Tony Twist, STL
3) Georges Laraque, EDM
4) Sandy McCarthy, TB/PHI
5) Stu Grimson, ANA
6) Paul Laus, FLA
7) Tie Domi, TOR
8) Krzysztof Oliwa, NJ
9) Peter Worrell, FLA
10) Rob Ray, BUF
*
Patrick Cote drops
Sandy McCarthy
*
Bob Probert TKOs the rookie
Scott Parker
*
Tony Twist edges out the youngsters
Georges Laraque and
Peter Worrell
*
Georges Laraque gets nice victories over
Rob Ray and
Stu Grimson
1997-1998:
1) Donald Brashear, VAN
2) Stu Grimson, CAR
3) Sandy McCarthy, CGY/TB
4) Tony Twist, STL
5) Tie Domi, TOR
6) Darren Langdon, NYR
7) Jim McKenzie, PHO
8) Paul Laus, FLA
9) Rob Ray, BUF
10) Bob Probert, CHI
Notable Fights:
*
Sandy McCarthy blows away
Dan Kordic, dropping him
*
Sandy McCarthy slightly edges out
Tony Twist in a mediocre fight
*
Bob Probert TKOs Darren Kimble and earns a win over
Tie Domi
* Brashear's rise to champion status is highlighted by a TKO victory over #7 McKenzie and a big KO of Cam Russell
1996-1997:
1) Stu Grimson, HAR
2) Tony Twist, STL
3) Bob Probert, CHI
4) Paul Laus, FLA
5) Sandy McCarthy, CGY
6) Tie Domi, TOR
7) Chris Simon, WAS
8) Donald Brashear, MON/VAN
9) Jim McKenzie, PHO
10) Dan Kordic, PHI
Notable Fights:
*
Sandy McCarthy bloodies
Ken Baumgartner in a one-sided fight
*
Marty McSorley bests McCarthy in a marathon bout
*
Chris Simon picks apart
Todd Ewen
*
Bob Probert gets a solid decision over
Donald Brashear
*
Tony Twist beats
Bob Probert and
Paul Laus solidly
1995-1996:
1) Tony Twist, STL
2) Sandy McCarthy, CLG
3) Chris Simon, COL
4) Bob Probert, CHI
5) Tie Domi, TOR
6) Rob Ray, BUF
7) Marty McSorley, LA
8) Stu Grimson, DET
9) Gino Odjick, VAN
10) Jim McKenzie, WIN
Notable Fights:
*
Sandy McCarthy bests
Chris Simon in a toe-to-toe fight
*
Tony Twist shatters
Rob Ray’s eye socket, breaks Janssens’ cheek, and beats down McKenzie, Antoski, Stojanov and others
*
Bill Huard TKOs
Tony Twist
*
Francois Leroux claims a disputed bloody victory over Twist due to a taped wrist
*
Chris Tamer gets the shocking TKO over Probert in his first fight as a Hawk
*
Chris Simon pummels Probert in their famous playoff battle
*
Sandy McCarthy knocks down
Stu Grimson
*
Sandy McCarthy forces
Donald Brashear to run away in fear during a fight
* Simon bests Domi in a great three fight series
*
Bob Probert TKOs
Reid Simpson
1994-1995:
1) Sandy McCarthy, CAL
2) Chris Simon, QBC
3) Stu Grimson, ANA/DET
4) Gino Odjick, VAN
5) Tie Domi, WIN/TOR
6) Tony Twist, STL
7) Joey Kocur, NYR
8) Rob Ray, BUF
9) Craig Berube, WAS
10) Marty McSorley, LA
Notable Fights:
*
Chris Simon defeats
Dave Brown, bloodying him as part of a dominating second season
*
Sandy McCarthy adds
Cam Russell and
Shane Churla to his TKO victim list
*
Sandy McCarthy also does well again with Louis Debrusk
*
Tony Twist defeats
Stu Grimson
*
Tie Domi earns a victory over
Sandy McCarthy
1993-1994:
1) Sandy McCarthy, CLG
2) Bob Probert, DET
3) Joe Kocur, NYR
4) Craig Berube, WAS
5) Gino Odjick, VAN
6) Ken Baumgartner, TOR
7) Marty McSorley, PIT/LA
8) Chris Simon, QBC
9) Tony Twist, QBC
10) Tie Domi, WIN
Notable Fights:
*
Sandy McCarthy delivers a statement win over
Bob Probert to close his great first season
*
Sandy McCarthy also decisions Baumgartner, McKenzie, Huard, Domi, etc
*
Tony Twist delivers a brutal KO of
Mike Peluso
*
Marty McSorley edges out
Gino Odjick in a tremendous late-season battle
*
Bob Probert thoroughly beats a young
Donald Brashear
*
Joey Kocur has a nice rebound year, beating Berube, Grimson and McCarty
*
Tie Domi KOs
Steve Smith (and drops Peluso)
1992-1993:
1) Bob Probert, DET
2) Gino Odjick, VAN
3) Craig Berube, CLG
4) Marty McSorley, LA
5) Ken Baumgartner, TOR
6) Jim McKenzie, HAR
7) Stu Grimson, CHI
8) Joe Kocur, NYR
9) Tie Domi, NYR/WIN
10) Louis Debrusk, EDM
Notable Fights:
*
Bob Probert wrecks
Tie Domi in the much-anticipated rematch
*
Marty McSorley outlasts
Wendel Clark in their epic playoff battle
*
Rob Ray stuns
Dave Brown taking a big decision from him
*
Randy McKay drops
Dave Brown
*
Tie Domi beats
Gino Odjick again
1991-1992:
1) Bob Probert, DET
2) Dave Brown, PHI
3) Tie Domi, NYR
4) Gino Odjick, VAN
5) Shawn Cronin, WIN
6) Joe Kocur, NYR
7) Craig Berube, TOR/CLG
8) Link Gaetz, SJ
9) Ken Baumgartner, NYI
10) Jim McKenzie, HFD
Notable Fights:
* Upstart
Tie Domi mocks Probert by doing a championship belt routine after eeking out a dramatic victory in Domi-Probert I
*
Dave Brown puts a beating on John Kordic
*
Dave Brown breaks
Ken Baumgartner’s orbital bone
*
Shawn Cronin drops
Dave Brown for the second time in 3 years
*
Tie Domi knocks down
Gino Odjick for his only loss in 32 fights
* The famous
Bob Probert-Link Gaetz fight that ends in a draw
* Great fight between
Tony Twist and
Jim McKenzie ends in a McKenzie TKO win
1990-1991:
1) Bob Probert, DET
2) Dave Brown, EDM
3) Troy Crowder, NJ
4) Joe Kocur, DET
5) Craig Berube, PHI
6) Ken Baumgartner, NYI
7) Marty McSorley, LA
8) John Kordic, TOR
9) Basil McRae, MIN
10) Mick Vukota, NYI
Notable Fights:
*
Troy Crowder starts his rookie year with these 5 fights: Bloodying
Bob Probert, KOing Jeff Chyrhrun, TKOing Jeff Horacek, viciously TKOing Craig Coxe, and TKOing Horacek again
* Probert drops Crowder in the highly anticipated rematch to decide the HW title
*
Bob Probert solidifies his #1 ranking with a TKO of
Dave Brown
*
Dave Brown gets a pre-season revenge TKO of
Shawn Cronin and a nice TKO over a young
Jim McKenzie
*
Dave Brown brutally beats on
Jim Kyte in the playoffs
*
Tony Twist overpowers
Todd Ewen for a big win
1989-1990:
1) Dave Brown, EDM
2) Joe Kocur, DET
3) John Kordic, TOR
4) Ken Baumgartner LA/NYI
5) Todd Ewen, MON
6) Marty McSorley, LA
7) Shawn Cronin, WIN
8) Craig Berube, PHI
9) Tim Hunter, CLG
10) Mick Vukota, NYI
*
Dave Brown delivers a brutal KO to
Cam Russell
*
Dave Brown also decisively beats on Jay Miller,
Stu Grimson and TKOs Darrin Kimble
*
Shawn Cronin scores a TKO win over
Dave Brown
*
Wendel Clark TKOs
Craig Berube, David Mackey, and
Cam Neely
* Mick Vukota TKOs and badly bloodies Al Secord
1988-1989:
1) Dave Brown, PHI
2) Joe Kocur, DET
3) John Kordic, MTL/TOR
4) Bob Probert, DET
5) Marty McSorley, LA
6) Jay Miller, BOS/LA
7) Lyndon Byers, BOS
8) Tim Hunter, CLG
9) Todd Ewen, STL
10) Craig Berube, PHI
Notable Fights:
*
Joey Kocur’s landmark KO of
Jim Kyte
* Lyndon Byers nails Glen Cochrane with a huge uppercut, TKOing him
* Brown vs. Miller V, VI, and VII (edge Brown in great fight, draw, TKO win Brown)
* Berbue scores a knockdown win over Baumgartner
1987-1988:
1) Bob Probert, DET
2) Dave Brown, PHI
3) Joe Kocur, DET
4) John Kordic, MTL
5) Jay Miller, BOS
6) Marty McSorley, EDM
7) Ken Baumgartner, LA
8) Todd Ewen, STL
9) Dave Richter, VAN
10) Lyndon Byers, BOS
Notable Fights:
*
Bob Probert dismantles
Wendel Clark and TKOs Dave Semenko in 2 notable revenge fights
*
Bob Probert lays a beating on Glen Cochrane
* Lyndon Byers picks apart rookie
Craig Berube
*
Wendel Clark TKOs Bob McGill
* Kocur defeats Jay Miller,
Tim Hunter and
Marty McSorley
*
Dave Brown easily defeats Kevin McClelland
* Jim Korn TKOs
Marty McSorley
* Bob Probert - Craig Coxe II
1986-1987:
1) Dave Brown, PHI
2) John Kordic, MTL
3) Joey Kocur, DET
4) Curt Fraser, CHI
5) Wendel Clark, TOR
6) Bob Probert, DET
7) Jay Miller, BOS
8) Marty McSorley, EDM
9) Todd Ewen, STL
10) Rich Tocchet, PHI
Notable Fights:
*
Dave Brown brutalizes Jay Caufield in their 3 fight series
*
Dave Brown vs. Jay Miller II and III (great win Miller, then Brown mugs him)
*
Wendel Clark edges out
Bob Probert in a great fight
*
Bob Probert KOs Gary Nylund with a thunderous uppercut
* John Kordic catches
Wendel Clark with a huge shot to salvage a decision in a great fight
* Curt Fraser cleanly beats Bruise Brothers
Bob Probert and
Joey Kocur
*
Todd Ewen scores a KO win over
Bob Probert
1985-1986:
1) Dave Brown, PHI
2) Dave Richter, MIN/PHI
3) Behn Wilson, CHI
4) Jim Kyte, WIN
5) Dave Semenko, EDM
6) Wendel Clark, TOR
7) Joe Kocur, DET
8) Chris Nilan, MON
9) Bob Probert, DET
10) Kevin McClelland, EDM
Notable Fights:
* Dave-Brown-Wells fight 3x in one game: edge Brown, TKO Wells, TKO Brown
*
Jim Kyte scores a TKO win over
Dave Brown
*
Wendel Clark and Behn Wilson fight to a fantastic draw
*
Bob Probert earns a slight victory over Dave Richter
* The great Probert-Coxe I battle
*
Joey Kocur KOs Don Jackson
* Dave Semenko beats
Tim Hunter, bloodying him
* Chris Nilan gets the better of
Tim Hunter in a three-fight playoff series battle
1984-1985:
1) Behn Wilson, CHI
2) Dave Richter, MIN
3) Dave Brown, PHI
4) Jay Wells, LA
5) Tim Hunter, CLG
6) Clark Gillies, NYI
7) Dave Semenko, EDM
8) Kevin McClelland, EDM
9) Glen Cochrane, PHI
10) Larry Playfair, BUF
Notable Fights:
*
Jay Wells scores two decisive wins over
Tim Hunter, one of them a TKO
* Dave Richter bloodies
Joey Kocur
* Brian MacLellan TKOs and badly beats Larry Playfair
* Glen Cochrane puts a beating on Jeff Brubaker
1983-1984:
1) Larry Playfair, BUF
2) Glen Cochrane, PHI
3) Clark Gillies, NYI
4) Behn Wilson, CHI
5) Dave Semenko, EDM
6) Jay Wells, LA
7) Tim Hunter, CLG
8) Kevin McClelland, PIT/EDM
9) Dave Richter, MIN
10) Bob Nystrom, NYI
* Glen Cochrane solidly beats Bobby Nystrom (and also TKOs Delorme)
* Bob Nystrom destroys Jim Korn
1982-1983:
1) Dave Semenko, EDM
2) Larry Playfair, BUF
3) Behn Wilson, PHI
4) Clark Gillies, NYI
5) Glen Cochrane, PHI
6) Nick Fotiu, NYR
7) Barry Beck, NYR
8) Curt Fraser, VAN
9) Jay Wells, LA
10) Bob McGill, TOR
Notable Fights:
* Dave Semenko TKOs Brad Maxwell
* Nick Fotiu scores an impressive beat down win over
Tim Hunter
* Glen Cochrane scores two dramatic open-ice TKOs of Hector Marini
* Brad Maxwell and Bob McGill earn a draw in a great toe-to-toe fight
* * Behn Wilson breaks Wayne Babych’s jaw and cheek
* Dave Semenko edges out Larry Playfair in pre-season
1981-1982:
1) Larry Playfair, BUF
2) Dave Semenko, EDM
3) Behn Wilson, PHI
4) Bobby Nystrom, NYI
5) Clark Gillies, NYI
6) Barry Beck, NYR
7) Curt Fraser, VAN
8) Glen Cochrane, PHI
9) Jimmy Mann, VAN
10) Brad Maxwell, MIN
Notable Fights:
* Clark Gillies KOs and breaks the jaw of Ed Hospodar
* Curt Fraser dominates Willi Plett in a four fight series, including a huge KO
* Glen Cochrane solidly beats Bobby Nystrom
* Dave Richter TKOs Al Secord, but would not fight again until 1983
1980-1981:
1) Behn Wilson, PHI
2) Larry Playfair, BUF
3) Dave Semenko, EDM
4) Bobby Nystrom, NYI
5) Clark Gillies, NYI
6) Barry Beck, NYR
7) Curt Fraser, VAN
8) Brad Maxwell, MIN
9) Stan Jonathan, BOS
10) Harold Snepsts, VAN
* Behn Wilson scores a solid win over Clark Gillies
* Behn Wilson gets the edge over Curt Fraser in an excellent battle
* Behn Wilson also delivers two big wins over Terry O’Reilly, sending him hurtling through the air
* Clark Gillies TKOs hard-headed Stan Jonathan
* Larry Playfair TKOs Dave Semenko
* Curt Fraser KOs Dave Farrish
* Brad Maxwell edges Stan Jonathan in a great toe-to-toe fight
* Barry Beck scores big wins over Bert Wilson and Chris Nilan
1979-1980:
1) Clark Gillies, NYI
2) Bobby Nystrom, NYI
3) Stan Jonathan, BOS
4) Behn Wilson, PHI
5) Dave Semenko, EDM
6) Larry Playfair, BUF
7) John Wensink, BOS
8) Jimmy Mann, WIN
9) Terry O’Reilly, BOS
10) Al Secord, BOS
Notable Fights:
* Terry O’Reilly and Clark Gillies split a vicious five fight playoff series, although Gillies’ performance leads the Isles to victory
* Bobby Nystrom wins a clear victory over John Wensink
* Behn Wilson brutally KOs John Hilworth
* Jimmy Mann TKOs Larry Playfair (Playfair wins the 2nd match though)
* Al Secord KOs
Jay Wells
* Dave Semenko makes his mark on the NHL, TKOing Sedlbauer among others
* Larry Playfair scores two good wins over Willi Plett
1978-1979:
1) Nick Fotiu, NYR
2) Bobby Nystrom, NYI
3) Clark Gillies, NYI
4) John Wensink, BOS
5) Stan Jonathan, BOS
6) Behn Wilson, PHI
7) Barry Beck, COL
8) Randy Holt, VAN/LA
9) Mel Bridgman, PHI
10) Curt Fraser, VAN
Notable Fights:
* Nick Fotiu decisions Behn Wilson in their classic match-up
* Fotiu beats down Paul Holmgren to complete a 5-0-0 year against the mighty Flyers (Wilson, Jim Cunningham 3x)
* Clark Gillies beats down Dave Hoyda during classic NYI-PHI bench-clearer
* Legendary toe-to-toe classic between Curt Fraser and Bobby Nystrom
* Bobby Nystrom takes a solid decision from rookie Larry Playfair
* John Wensink edges Behn Wilson in a great fight
* Barry Beck scores an impressive one-sided victory over Randy Holt
* Behn Wilson debuts, and his first season includes 2 good wins over Willi Plett
1977-1978:
1) Clark Gillies, NYI
2) Nick Fotiu, NYR
3) Stan Jonathan, BOS
4) John Wensink, BOS
5) Barry Beck, COL
6) Willi Plett, ATL
7) Bobby Nystrom, NYI
8) Jack McIlhargey, VAN
9) Tiger Williams, TOR
10) Mel Bridgman, PHI
Notable Fights:
* Stan Jonathan gives Pierre Bouchard his infamous, super-bloody playoff beat-down
* Stan Jonathan also KOs John Hilworth
* Barry Beck enters the league by demolishing Paul Holmgren
* Clark Gillies gets a win over Terry O’Reilly
1976-1977:
1) Clark Gillies, NYI
2) Nick Fotiu, NYR
3) Bob Gassoff, STL
4) J. Bob Kelly, PIT
5) Willi Plett, ATL
6) Bert Wilson, LA
7) Dave Schultz, LA
8) Jack McIlhargey, PHI/VAN
9) Terry O’Reilly, BOS
10) Dan Maloney, DET
Notable Fights:
* Willi Plett gets a big victory over Dan Maloney
* Stan Jonathan and Dave Schultz have a terrific toe-to-toe battle
* Bert Wilson draws blood in a good battle with Jack McIlhargey
* Bert Wilson defeats Dan Maloney
* Bob Gassoff completes a stellar season with impressive wins over McIlhargey, Mel Bridgman, and Paul Holmgren
1975-1976:
1) Clark Gillies, NYI
2) Bob Gassoff, STL
3) J. Bob Kelly, PIT
4) Dave Schultz, PHI
5) Dan Maloney, DET
6) Terry O’Reilly, BOS
7) Bert Wilson, LA
8) Jack McIlhargey, PHI
9) Garry Howatt, NYI
10) Dave Hutchison, LA
Notable Fights:
* Ken Houston breaks Dave Schultz's jaw, albeit with a bit of a cheap shot because he was held by the linesmen
1974-1975:
1) Dave Schultz, PHI
2) Dan Maloney, LA
3) Clark Gillies, NYI
4) J. Bob Kelly, PIT
5) Bob Gassoff, STL
6) Terry O’Reilly, BOS
7) Jerry Korab, BUF
8) Bert Wilson, NYR
9) Dave Hutchison, LA
10) Garry Howatt, NYI
Notable Fights:
* Gillies pounds on terror Dave Schultz on national TV
* Dave Hutchison bloodies up Bobby Nystrom