The return of the fighting d-man?

[Ciccarelli]

With less teams carrying a true heavyweight that are mostly playing on the 4th line wings, this season, at least so far we are seeing teams and coaches having d-men out there to do the fighting.

While in the past it was pretty common to have an enforcer or at least a tough dman that did some of the fighting, since the last lockout until last year and this year we basically saw teams going into a different direction. Coaches didn't want to have a dman sit for 5 mins.

This season so far we are seeing Bickel in New York, Engelland getting regualr shifts in Pittsburgh, Fraser surprisingly active in the fighting department in Toronto, Brendan Dillon getting a chance in Dallas, Matt Carkner, John Erskine (who may not be in the mentioned category because actually they are considerd HW's) playing on defense with the Islanders and Caps, Jay Harrison getting regular shifts in Carolina, McQuaid willing to do that job in Boston to.

Is this just a case, just my impression or are teams slowly going back to having that tough/physical dman that protects teammates and is allowed to fight when needed?

[ThrowdownSJ408]

Derek Engellend, Doug Murray, Mark Fraiser. There are other guys like John Scott who was a D man and turned wing and brad Staubitz was the same. Also the Sharks new call up AHL veteran tough guy Matt Pelech is a D men playing right wing.

[ghjkfdhgfd]

clayton stoner too!

[straka91]

Allen
Greene
Bissonette (Was a d-man before making the show.)
Souray (Even though he breaks his hand every time and doesnt do it much any more)
Rome
Peckham
O'Brien
Bickel
Sheldon Brookbank
Vandermeer.

I guess you can say they are making a comeback. If the NHL didnt reduce the roster years ago there would most likely be more.

[grove02]

Derek Engellend, Doug Murray

[I like Boobs]

Most of the defensemen mentioned so far haven't fought much or at all this season.

Souray: No Fights
Murray: 1
Stoner: 1
Peckham: 0
O'Brien: 0
Brookbank: 0
Erskine: 1
Engelland: 2
Harrison: 1
Dillon: 2
Carkner: 2
Fraser: 4

It's a long ways from being a comeback to the actual carrying of an enforcer defenseman... I don't think it's coming back at all to be honest, I think that because there are so many games in such a short period of time, we are seeing more fights from either frustration or cheap shots. Most of those guys mentioned are on pace for what they'd usually get in an extended season other than Fraser.

If you're lucky, your team carries a defenseman that will shed the gloves more than 6 times a year. Most teams don't have that these days. Pretty sad. And as previously mentioned, decreasing the roster size limit is a huge reason for this sad state.

[nyrgoal]

Originally Posted by I like Boobs

Most of the defensemen mentioned so far haven't fought much or at all this season.

Souray: No Fights
Murray: 1
Stoner: 1
Peckham: 0
O'Brien: 0
Brookbank: 0
Erskine: 1
Engelland: 2
Harrison: 1
Dillon: 2
Carkner: 2
Fraser: 4

It's a long ways from being a comeback to the actual carrying of an enforcer defenseman... I don't think it's coming back at all to be honest, I think that because there are so many games in such a short period of time, we are seeing more fights from either frustration or cheap shots. Most of those guys mentioned are on pace for what they'd usually get in an extended season other than Fraser.

If you're lucky, your team carries a defenseman that will shed the gloves more than 6 times a year. Most teams don't have that these days. Pretty sad. And as previously mentioned, decreasing the roster size limit is a huge reason for this sad state.

Im with you on this. Gone are the days of the D fighting. Goalies get blasted far to many times without any payback. There is no fear of crashing the net anymore because gone are the Scott Stevens or other big mean D who would take your head off just to protect there goalie or if you had your head down.

[FurnaceFace]

Gone are the days of yesterday.. I miss not having guys like marty mcsorley, scott stevens bryan marchment, and a whole cast of others. Same goes for forwards too. Just a different breed of player nowadays. We need new players with old school mentality. I dont think its so much the position, but like I said the mentality of the player himself. I think players have to many fears of not being played or suspended. Or just plain handcuffed by their coaches. I am getting the feeling tho, that teams are starting to see the value in a heart player.

[Ciccarelli]

As I've said maybe its just my impression or a case, but I actually think comparing this season to one of the first two seasons after the 2004-2005 (?) lockout we see an increase in coaches letting guys like Harrison, Engelland and the other above mentioned guys play and even fight.

After that lockout some years ago it clearly looked like the trend would go toward smaller mobile d-man and most d-man that fought have been on the shelf to remain in the AHL. IMO right now it goes into the other direction again, although I also doubt we'll ever see guys like McSorley again, but with less and less HW's and pure fighters in the lineup the job to fight could again go back to the big physical d-man, and coaches will let them fight more often to protect the teammates.

[straka91]

Originally Posted by I like Boobs

Most of the defensemen mentioned so far haven't fought much or at all this season.

Souray: No Fights
Murray: 1
Stoner: 1
Peckham: 0
O'Brien: 0
Brookbank: 0
Erskine: 1
Engelland: 2
Harrison: 1
Dillon: 2
Carkner: 2
Fraser: 4

It's a long ways from being a comeback to the actual carrying of an enforcer defenseman... I don't think it's coming back at all to be honest, I think that because there are so many games in such a short period of time, we are seeing more fights from either frustration or cheap shots. Most of those guys mentioned are on pace for what they'd usually get in an extended season other than Fraser.

If you're lucky, your team carries a defenseman that will shed the gloves more than 6 times a year. Most teams don't have that these days. Pretty sad. And as previously mentioned, decreasing the roster size limit is a huge reason for this sad state.

Since the OP listed Harrison as an example, I figured frequency of fights really didnt matter. If the NHL played 82 games, most of thoses players would of broke 5 fights. Thats where my line of thought was anyways.