Leverage Kings

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

The first two guys that come to my mind are Simon and Dave Brown. These guys seemed to have the ability to place themselves where their respective jack-hammers worked to a tee. It always appears like Simon is reigning blows in a downward fashion. What accounts for this? I would assume good spacing with the feet/skates, the right angle, perhaps slightly askew off center. I’m sure balance is in there somewhere. I guess you could lump in Laraque, Maybe an example of someone now-a-days would be McIntyre (righty) - Any others? Strange how I see this more with lefthanders.

[BENNETTWOLF]

Several guys pop to mind along with the ones you named. Brown was the ultimate master.

Donald Brashear was great at holding on, then tugging/pushing to create space for his lefts.

Behn Wilson wasn't pushed around or knocked off balance easily.

Joe Kocur was so squat and naturally strong. Able to bull people around while they avoided his right. Tony Twist qualifies but wasn't nearly as accurate or as scientific. Paul Laus was another very solid and strong guy who wasn't very tall. Hard to position and good at setting up his powerful right. Rob Ray wasn't exceptionally scientific, more of a T2T battler but very balanced and able to depend on that to use a powerful right that won him most of his fights.

Three smaller guys:

Stan Jonathan was superb at turning his lack of size into an asset. Phenomenal at bulling inside, tying up and manuvering into position to use either hand from various angles. Garry Howatt was similar in his short, bulldog strength but not nearly as versatile or polished. Very effective though.

Tie Domi and his spin cycle. His strength and low center of balance made him uniquely effective.

Little recognized, Brian Sutter, was a masterful infighter. Like jonathan, he was really good at nuetralizing his opponents by tying up, confusing them and able to potshot with either hand.

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Agree with Jonathan as a small example of this. As successful a career as Behn Wilson had I never held him in the pantheon of great punchers. I think he had so many good traits that they all melded together that when combined often made it appear as it was virtually effortless for him. However, as far as this thread I seem to see the guys that are rather statuesque, upright just jack-hammering away with devastating accuracy -

[mikebflorida]

I think Brownie was the ultimate puncher in that it was almost impossible to tie up his left and even if you grab a hold of it he'd rip it out of your grasp which is difficult to do. Didn't hurt when they could wear those jerseys with the sleeves already cut so if you did grab it it would just tear right open.

Brownie would set himself, grab on with the right and INCOMING!!!

Behn Wilson and Kocur were just so strong that they could throw punches even if they were tied up. They also had great balance, strong legs so they were rooted to the ice practically, it's rare to see them off balance.

Brownie and Simon looked like they were throwing down at the opponents because they were so tall and they stood upright, not hunched over, same with Probert, very upright, firmly planted, and let loose a barrage.

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

I think Brownie was the ultimate puncher in that it was almost impossible to tie up his left and even if you grab a hold of it he'd rip it out of your grasp which is difficult to do. Didn't hurt when they could wear those jerseys with the sleeves already cut so if you did grab it it would just tear right open.

Brownie would set himself, grab on with the right and INCOMING!!!

Behn Wilson and Kocur were just so strong that they could throw punches even if they were tied up. They also had great balance, strong legs so they were rooted to the ice practically, it's rare to see them off balance.

Brownie and Simon looked like they were throwing down at the opponents because they were so tall and they stood upright, not hunched over, same with Probert, very upright, firmly planted, and let loose a barrage.

Brownie and Simon looked like they were throwing down at the opponents because they were so tall and they stood upright, not hunched over, same with Probert, very upright, firmly planted, and let loose a barrage.

Your last point is what I am trying to laser in on. Not so much strength, wilyness, but the pure physics - imagine if you will a plane with measured angles - Simon's stance seemed slightly off-center kinda perpendicular this provided him with an excellent angle to drop in those lefts. I think Brown stood more squared up to his opponent which obviously worked well for him

[srehm1]

Is it possible that Simon or Brown or Laraque are able to place themselves perfectly to land those jackhammers-because they're southpaws? A lefty fighting a right hander is usually going to have an advantage because he is used to fighting against right handers, while the righty very rarely fights other southpaws. Also the fact that in a lefty-righty matchup, both are able to throw punches without the typical tying up you see from righty-righty or lefty-lefty matchups.

Southpaws are a rare breed and fighting them is difficult-even for other southpaws. There are so few of them that they present instant matchup issues.

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by srehm1

Is it possible that Simon or Brown or Laraque are able to place themselves perfectly to land those jackhammers-because they're southpaws? A lefty fighting a right hander is usually going to have an advantage because he is used to fighting against right handers, while the righty very rarely fights other southpaws. Also the fact that in a lefty-righty matchup, both are able to throw punches without the typical tying up you see from righty-righty or lefty-lefty matchups.

Southpaws are a rare breed and fighting them is difficult-even for other southpaws. There are so few of them that they present instant matchup issues.

Yeah! for sure. We live in a right-handed world. Leftys are definitely the exception rather than the rule. I believe statistically they make up 10% of the entire population of the earth. To offset those leftys like in boxing, though it may seem counter-intuitive u wanna circle to his left therefor negating his wheelhouse then try and grab that chest/shoulder protector - Even myself, as righty when I turn a bicycle, motorcycle, car, skates, I am much more sure going to my left, when going right my depth perception, sense of spacing, seems a bit off -

[Kocur4life]

Ken Baumgartner seemed to get good leverage on his lefts, especially in his NYI days.