All-Time Top Cops on the beat

[GOON 21]

Originally Posted by BLACK OUT

Theres prob 50 players you could name that have done this job very well......... Just sayin

There is alot of truth to this


I still like the thread, but its kinda vague and to general, there are TONZ of guys that fit the bill and could be posted, just saying

[FitzG]

This goes back to 1948

[flex_buff_chest]

Semenko HANDS down. You knew that no matter who you were if you messed with 99 you would be hearing from Cement Head.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

There is alot of truth to this


I still like the thread, but its kinda vague and to general, there are TONZ of guys that fit the bill and could be posted, just saying

My original intent of the thread was to name who each of us thought did the The best "enforcing over the years" . I based my top 5 choices on:

1) Willingness
2) Supporting Cast
3) Longevitity
4) effectiveness
5) competition
6) number of incidents

The posts on the thread have been great. THANK YOU.

Most of the names certainly do the post justice!

I guess we have differing view points on who is the top 5.

Remember it doesn't have to be a heavyweight or a top ten fighter, they just have to be one of the all-time 5 best for the role.

[BENNETTWOLF]

Another guy i thought of late is Tim Hunter. I just recall respecting him in calgary because he was surrounded by a cast of agitators without a lot of really solid backup.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by smashem

Cops, Jay Miller, Chris Nilan, Gord Donnelly, another who i thought was a hugger but had to stick up for mates was Torrie Robertson. God i hated him.

Both Jay and Chris were very good cops with the B's, Chris was even better when he was with the habs. Donnelly was the lone wolf for a while on Quebec. He did some of his best work there.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by MattBurger

Currently I'd say that George Parros and Shawn Thornton fill this role the best.

I would definitely put Thorton up there but Colton Orr is definitely old school and a top policeman, especially with the Rangers. I hope he gets back to the NHL.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by BaddaBing Badda Boom

This incident always stands out in my mind as a premiere example of law enforcement in the NHL. The clip is a little late getting to what started it all - Hoyda whacking/boarding Bossy after the whistle....

Clark Gillies vs Dave Hoyda - YouTube

I always thought Hoyda was a spot picker. He took a cheapshot a Fotiu when he was fighting Cunningham in one Ranger-Flyer brawl and was tied up and also kept going after an overmatched Eddie Johnston in another Flyers-Rangers bench clearer.

In this clip, Gillies clearly came to Bossy aid but what is missing is that Behn Wilson was continuing to thug it up on Bossy with little support from the other Islanders on the ice until Nystrom and Howatt came off the bench.

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by spiderarms

I always thought Hoyda was a spot picker. He took a cheapshot a Fotiu when he was fighting Cunningham in one Ranger-Flyer brawl and was tied up and also kept going after an overmatched Eddie Johnston in another Flyers-Rangers bench clearer.

In this clip, Gillies clearly came to Bossy aid but what is missing is that Behn Wilson was continuing to thug it up on Bossy with little support from the other Islanders on the ice until Nystrom and Howatt came off the bench.

Hoyda was capable. He may have edged Nystrom.

Dave Hoyda vs Bobby Nystrom - YouTube

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by BaddaBing Badda Boom

Hoyda was capable. He may have edged Nystrom.



Dave Hoyda vs Bobby Nystrom - YouTube

I agree that Hoyda was a very good fighter but if you look at his fight card, it was lacking even though he had his opportunities being one of Philly's main fighters. When Hoyda did fight someone of his like stature, he was not as dominate in the fights (Plett, Gillies etc.) That fight with Nystrom, may have been one of his best. His fight with Eddie Johnstone is a primary example of what I'm talking about. Bench clearing brawl with the Rangers, he finds Eddie Johnston, not once but three times. He clearly beats him the first time but goes back for two helpings. Not to my surprise, Nick Fotiu is not dressed for this game. During his career against the Rangers, he never fought Fotiu though he had many opportunities.

[flex_buff_chest]

enforcing/fighting can be very distinct things. One can inform the other but that doesn't mean that you have to be a great fighter to be a great enforcer or being a great enforcer doesn't automatically make you a great figter.

I believe Semenko is the greatest enforcer of all time because he gave 99 the room to do what he did. Gretzky himself gives Semenko a ton of credit regarding this.

Take a guy like BGL. Maybe the greatest fighter of all time but was far too nice to be an effective enforcer. Semenko didn't give a sh*t. He would jump you, sucker you and be an all around douche. You might be able to beat him in a one on one fight but he didn't care, he would do something cheap....you always had to think he might do something crazy if you looke at Gretzky the wrong way.

[BENNETTWOLF]

Originally Posted by flex_buff_chest

enforcing/fighting can be very distinct things. One can inform the other but that doesn't mean that you have to be a great fighter to be a great enforcer or being a great enforcer doesn't automatically make you a great figter.

I believe Semenko is the greatest enforcer of all time because he gave 99 the room to do what he did. Gretzky himself gives Semenko a ton of credit regarding this.

Take a guy like BGL. Maybe the greatest fighter of all time but was far too nice to be an effective enforcer. Semenko didn't give a sh*t. He would jump you, sucker you and be an all around douche. You might be able to beat him in a one on one fight but he didn't care, he would do something cheap....you always had to think he might do something crazy if you looke at Gretzky the wrong way.

That's part of what made me think of Tim Hunter who got a lot of mileage by "solving" the fearsome semenko. I just recalled those teams wars while hunter was surrounded by pests like neil sheehy, paul baxter, fleury and the like without a lot of legitimate backup. What? guys like all heart Jim Peplinski or joel otto? He had so many big penalty seasons in calgary doing the heavy lifting.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to lose sleep over semenko, mcsorley and mcclelland looking to me to square up all night long

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by spiderarms

I agree that Hoyda was a very good fighter but if you look at his fight card, it was lacking even though he had his opportunities being one of Philly's main fighters. When Hoyda did fight someone of his like stature, he was not as dominate in the fights (Plett, Gillies etc.) That fight with Nystrom, may have been one of his best. His fight with Eddie Johnstone is a primary example of what I'm talking about. Bench clearing brawl with the Rangers, he finds Eddie Johnston, not once but three times. He clearly beats him the first time but goes back for two helpings. Not to my surprise, Nick Fotiu is not dressed for this game. During his career against the Rangers, he never fought Fotiu though he had many opportunities.

I must admit that what you have just cited, namely, Hoyda beating on Johnstone used to irk me to no end. I am willing to bet that Hoyda is tops on my list for Flyers that I held in contempt - u do have him pegged. That is why I kinda always liked the fact that Gillies really put the stamp on him and gave him long due justice - I mean even Wilson was picking on Bossy when Gillies was destroying Hoyda - no intervention by Wilson either on Gillies there - he'd rather wait till the end of a shift when Gillies was gassed - I mean pikin on Bossy

[srehm1]

Was Hoyda a spot picker? He only played two full seasons and 24 games over the next 2 years after that. In that time he managed to "find" Clark Gillies, Garry Howatt, Willi Plett, John Wensink, Bobby Nystrom, and Al MacAdam. Not only that but he actually fought them and did better in his bout with nystrom then oh, I don't know, guys like maybe larry playfair and Nick fotiu. it's funny but at no time did Fotiu hold Hoyda accountable for his antics against the Rangers. Never went after Hoyda for pummelling poor old eddie johnstone and never did anything to him for beating on ron duguay as well. Nor bud stefanski, either. Hoyda was on the ice when fotiu went after bam bam cunningham. fotiu never went after him for trying to throw a punch over the pile during that same preseason dust up. what kind of enforcing/policing is that?

Also, lets not make Johnstone into some kind of pacifist. Johnstone was small but he was also a spark plug who didn't back down an inch. He certainly was no shinking violet, that's for sure. Hoyda played the role of broad street bully well and fit in with that team despite having both Holmgren, wilson, and Bridgman on the roster as well. Hoyda could not play a lick but had he been able to actually play, would have had a nice career for himself fighting all the leagues toughest guys. Like any tough guy from that era, he has a deryk smith or a mike forbes sprinkled intermittantly on his resume'. they all did.

as for the topic of this thread, I'm not sure if Hoyda fits the criteria of all time cops on the beat. I can think of several who would rate higher. hoyda had just two full seasons to judge him on.

[flyersvikes]

Dave Schultz would be my No.1 cop for the simple fact that from 73' to 76' he protected maybe the most hated instigator in the league in Bobby Clarke. In his years with the Flyers I can't think of one instance or have even read of an instance on this site of him backing down from anyone. Did he have a tough supporting cast? absolutely, but there was no doubt who the #1 heavy was on the Orange and Black while he was there.

NHL Enforcers: Dave "The Hammer"...