Lineage of the Heavyweight Champ & Top Ten Lists '75-'09

[Merlin401]

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 / VAN)

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 ~2008.............Georges Laraque (EDM)

~2008 through current........................wide f'n open


****

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.
3/10/09: Wade Belak lands a massive shot on Donald Brashear which knocks him woozy, essentially ending any last chance that The Don had of a claim to the thrown.
Winter 2010: Brashear and Laraque's careers ends as they are sent to the AHL and suspension respectively, leaving a power vacuum at the top (tenuously claimed by Derek Boogaard)

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!


2009-2010:

1. Derek Boogaard, MIN
2. Colton Orr, TOR
3. Brian McGrattan, CLG
4. Matt Carkner, OTT
5. Eric Godard, PIT
6. Jody Shelley, SJ/NYR
7. Steve MacIntyre, EDM/FLA
8. Wade Belak, NSH
9. Donald Brashear, NYR
10. D.J. King, STL

Notable Fights:
* Pierre Luc-Leblond and Cam Janssen engage in a fight that lasts nearly 3 minutes
* Great fights of the leviathans: Brian McGrattan gets a decision vs Steve MacIntyre
* Boogaard scores a TKO over McGrattan
* Colton Orr vs. Matt Carkner 3x (Carkner gets a knock-down but Orr returns the favor with a KO)
* Jody Shelley scores a KO win over Colton Orr
* Evander Kane with a memorable massive KO over super-pest Matt Cooke
* Not a fight but both Brashear and Laraque are banished mid-season (Brashear to the AHL by the Rangers and Laraque suspended by Montreal, ending their careers)


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
* Slugfest between Friedrich and Vandenbussche sends teeth flying into the TB bench.

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 controversially appears to force Donald Brashear to run away in fear during a fight; alternatively, some say, it was a prolonged attempt by Brashear to remove his jersey.
* 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) Gord Donnelly, QUE
8) Todd Ewen, STL
9) Lyndon Byers, BOS
10) Dave Richter, VAN or Ken Baumgartner, LA (voting now)

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

[stevecanuck16]

Good post, Merlin! Excellent read.

[Deadman]

nice list !

I think perhaps Howe would have fit from 1959 till 1961. Then I think Ted Green may be a good choice from 1961 until early in the 1963 season when John Ferguson beat him.

Nice call on Ferguson and Kurtenbach.

You could give 1972 to Terry O'Reilly, (however Korab is a pretty good choice) but you could also start Maloney's reign in 1972.

the rest of the list is very good as well. Perhaps Kocur belongs in there somewhere in the 80s, and Twist in the 90's

[rock'emsock'em]

Excellent work on that Merlin. I agree perhaps Tony Twist should fit in some time between McCarthy and Brash during his really dominant period. I don't know if Semenko ever "solidified" a league title but he was pretty feared for awhile.

[jgdeadrabbit]

Originally Posted by rock'emsock'em

Excellent work on that Merlin. I agree perhaps Tony Twist should fit in some time between McCarthy and Brash during his really dominant period. I don't know if Semenko ever "solidified" a league title but he was pretty feared for awhile.

Agreement there.Gotta put Twist in there ,was champ for awhile.[As much as I disliked him]

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Deadman

nice list !

I think perhaps Howe would have fit from 1959 till 1961. Then I think Ted Green may be a good choice from 1961 until early in the 1963 season when John Ferguson beat him.

Nice call on Ferguson and Kurtenbach.

You could give 1972 to Terry O'Reilly, (however Korab is a pretty good choice) but you could also start Maloney's reign in 1972.

the rest of the list is very good as well. Perhaps Kocur belongs in there somewhere in the 80s, and Twist in the 90's

Ted Green is an nice choice and since Howe pretty much stopped fighting that probably makes sense. In fact it made so much sense I edited it in (and credited you ) And yeah, 1972 was a very tough year for me to decide; everyone was either a rookie or in their last year it seemed so it was kind of a toss up.

I knew Twist was going to be the #1 complaint and I didn't forget about him. I just don't know what years to put him in there. His best year (the year he broke Ray's face and left a trail of destruction) he also had those 2 embarrassing losses to end the year. I really can't figure out which years to put him.

Grimson was another one that seemed like he was always "almost" champ but was always 1 or 2 losses a year away from cracking into the top spot. It hurt him that Probert and McCarthy had his number too.

[Merlin401]

Also wanted to make a B-part to this post but forgot. Here's the height and weight of the heavyweight champ to see how the size of fighters has changed over the years...

Fontinato: 6'1" 185
Howe: 6'0" 205
Green: 5'11" 185
Ferguson: 6'0" 178
Kurtenbach:6'2" 195
Korab: 6'3" 218
Maloney: 6'1" 195
Schultz 6'1" 185
Gassoff: 5'10" 190
Kelly: 6'2" 190
Gillies: 6'3" 210
Fotiu: 6'2" 210
Wilson: 6'3" 210
Playfair: 6'4" 215
Brown: 6'5" 205
Probert: 6'3" 225
Crowder: 6'4" 238
Simon: 6'3" 220
McCarthy: 6'3" 225
Twist: 6'1" 230
Laraque: 6'3" 230
Brashear: 6'2" 225

Some of these could be off and obviously changed over the years, but this is what hockeydb.com has anyway

[Dr Hook]

Originally Posted by rock'emsock'em

Excellent work on that Merlin. I agree perhaps Tony Twist should fit in some time between McCarthy and Brash during his really dominant period. I don't know if Semenko ever "solidified" a league title but he was pretty feared for awhile.

I agree, add Twist between 96 and 98.

Also scratch Cairns from 03-04, and add Johnson's name. He earned that spot bigtime last season, plus his card is a notch up from that of Cairns.

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Dr Hook

I agree, add Twist between 96 and 98.

Also scratch Cairns from 03-04, and add Johnson's name. He earned that spot bigtime last season, plus his card is a notch up from that of Cairns.

Alright, I made up my mind on twist and put him in from fall 95 to 1998. Saying 1996 as a starting point doesn't really work because he ended 95-96 with those bad losses to Huard and Leroux and also had the TKO loss to Ewen early in the 96-97 season. So starting around his breaking Ray's face in the fall of 1995 seems about reasonable I guess...

Hook, Cairns istn' on the list (yet). Just a potential coming attraction. I'm not sold on Johnson as a champ yet. Cairns could be if his career path continues as it is going I think.

[the bong]

[quote=Merlin401]The Lineage of the Heavyweight Champ



early 1973 through January 9, 1975......Dave Schultz (PHI)
1973 through November 13, 1976.........Dan Maloney (LA / DET)
3/10/85: The rare-to-fight Brian MacClellan beats on Larry Playfiar and drops him, signifying that Larry was finally over the hill.
****a few coments on your outstanding list merlin . outstanding call on schultz a dirty fighter that would do anything to win he was not a great fighter as much as he was a intimidater put some much fear in to fights guys were afraid to hit back! maloney is # 1 on my list so glad to see him getting respect from a respected poster like yourself . brian macclellan would of been a great fighter. decided to be a player and ended up being a nothing........ still what a shot on playfair !

[Jocke]

Talk about an exclusive club. A very small bunch of members.

And this makes Probie even bigger compared to the others, since he had two reigns...

[scrapper62]

thanks for taking the time out for that enthusiastic post. Great read Merlin401

[1PUNCHKO]

Good stuff Merlin,thanks for the read dude.

[EDDIESHORETOEBLAKE]

Beautiful thread/post Merlin . . . here's my list from a thread done awhile back . . .

". . . Remember, this isn’t so much about who the best fighters were necessarily (in hindsight), but who were the “acknowledged” “Champs” of the league by peers, broadcasters, journalists, fans, etc. for the time frames . . .

In the 40s you had Black Jack Stewart . . .
The 50s, why don't we call Gordie Howe the "Champ", and Lou Fontinato a close second . . .
The early 60s had Orland Kurtenbach, with Terrible Ted Harris, the No. 1 contender . . .
The mid to late 60s saw, from most accounts, John Ferguson and then, perhaps Wayne Cashman . . .
The early 70s - Dan Maloney . . .
The mid 70s - Dave "the Hammer" Schultz and then Clark Gillies . . .
The late 70s – Gillies or Fotiu with a little bit of Nystrom or Jonathan thrown in and then Wilson
The early to mid 80s – Wilson or Playfair or Dave Semenko . . .
Mid 80s – Dave Brown, perhaps over (2) Jim Kyte and (3) Dave Richter(?)
The mid to late 80s to the early to mid 90s - (1) Probert, (2) Brown, (2a) Kocur, and for a year, maybe Troy Crowder . . . and for one game Tie Domi – at least he thought so . . . to a lesser degree, perhaps Marty McSorley staked a claim
The mid to late 90s . . . (1) Twist, (2)Simon, (2a) McCarthy, and (4) Grimson . . .
The late 90s to present . . . (1) Brashear, (2) Laraque and (3) Grimson . . .
. . . [this, I believe] for the most part, accurately reflect who the consensus "Champs" (and numbered "contenders") were for those periods of time???

BTW, I suppose if you had to break it down to a true linear lineage, I suppose it would be fair to say – Eddie Shore to Black Jack Stewart to Lou Fontinato to Gordie Howe to Kurtenbach to Ferguson to Cashman(?) to Maloney to Schultz to Gillies to Wilson to Playfair to Kyte(?) to Brown to Probert to Crowder to Probert to McCarthy(?) to Twist to Grimson(?) to Laraque to Brashear . . ."

[GOON 21]

Xcellent post Merlin! You bring up debatable arguments for the "champ".. Was there 1 deciding factor for you? a big W or big L

As far as today's champ you can name the usual suspects, i give Cairns the inside track for inflicting the most *damage/punching power* the past couple years... ALA Broken jaws, bones, etc..

I gotta call you on it Hook, (sorry bro) but Eric Cairns *dropped* Matt Johnson (i think it was a left, btw) the previous year also..