Official hockeyfights.com All-Time Top 10

[FitzG]

Originally Posted by VideoGuy

If anyone wants to ask me about any old time fighters and brawls, just ask. I've heard first hand from a lot of players about their battles on the ice. I always make a point of asking them about certain incidents - mostly off camera. Some of the best stories that the players tell aren't aired during the classic games. Some have great memories and some don't and some exaggerate. Kent Douglas for one has an unbelievable recall of the penalty box fight he had with Reg Fleming. Most of the time, the films back up what they tell me and sometimes it doesn't but its still interesting to listen to. The trainers also have good info as they were close to the situations.

Caught an article on Flaman about Kent Douglas that read "one night Kent decided to take on Providence Reds player-coach Ferny Flaman, a man with a reputation of having never lost a fight. Big mistake. Flaman toyed with Douglas for a few seconds and then gripped Douglas by the seat of his pants and nap of the neck and casually hurled him into the Indians net. With the help of his teammates they pulled him out of the net where his skates were tangled in the mesh and he never annoyed Flaman again."

[VideoGuy]

From Leaf Program Feb. 28, 1959, Ed Fitkin wrote:
There are several good fighters in the NHL but the man I'd least like to tangle with, if I was an opposing player, is Fernie Flaman of the Boston Bruins. Fernie is one of those Pier-8 brawlers, hard as the prow of a ship, and possessor of a mean streak that turns him into a no-holds-barred battler.

This is in an article written just after Howe re-aranged Fontinato's nose. I think that Flaman and Howe tangled a few years earlier.

[FitzG]

Originally Posted by VideoGuy

From Leaf Program Feb. 28, 1959, Ed Fitkin wrote:
There are several good fighters in the NHL but the man I'd least like to tangle with, if I was an opposing player, is Fernie Flaman of the Boston Bruins. Fernie is one of those Pier-8 brawlers, hard as the prow of a ship, and possessor of a mean streak that turns him into a no-holds-barred battler.

This is in an article written just after Howe re-aranged Fontinato's nose. I think that Flaman and Howe tangled a few years earlier.

Nice write up, i'll save it and show it to Ferny some day. Too bad we can't send attachments here, i've got some pretty good ones. Nice find VideoGuy !!

[VideoGuy]

I always remember the quote from Billy Smith after a reporter came from the Leaf dressing room saying that McDonald was soaking his hand because of the fight and Smith telling the reporter, "tell McDonald I'm soaking my head".

One problem with the Leafs in the late 70's was that their best players were also their toughest players - Sittler, McDonald, Turnbull.

Originally Posted by 2,5,10GameMatch

Lanny McDonald pounded on Billy Smith, that says it all.

[peacemaker]

Originally Posted by VideoGuy

I always remember the quote from Billy Smith after a reporter came from the Leaf dressing room saying that McDonald was soaking his hand because of the fight and Smith telling the reporter, "tell McDonald I'm soaking my head".

One problem with the Leafs in the late 70's was that their best players were also their toughest players - Sittler, McDonald, Turnbull.

I guess you could throw Tiger on that list, b/c he was a very effective hockey player as well.
I didn't know Turnbull could throw 'em (maybe Perry Turnbull). I always presumed he was just 'feisty' more than anything.

[VideoGuy]

According to teammates of Ian Turnbull, Turnbull was the strongest Leaf and could be a tough fighter when riled.

Originally Posted by peacemaker

I guess you could throw Tiger on that list, b/c he was a very effective hockey player as well.
I didn't know Turnbull could throw 'em (maybe Perry Turnbull). I always presumed he was just 'feisty' more than anything.

[Merlin401]

I finally made my list (and it was a big one!)... so this is a bit anticlimactic. Here it is anyway

1. Bob Probert
2. Dave Brown
3. Behn Wilson
4. Clark Gillies
5. Joey Kocur
6. Nick Fotiu
7. Larry Playfair
8. Tony Twist
9. Stan Jonathan
10. John Wensink

[knuckles_nilan]

1. Bob Probert- They don't make them like him anymore
2. Dave Brown- Big, scary and mean
3. Marty McSorley- Relentless and tons of stamina
4. Joey Kocur- The man threw bombs.
5. Behn Wilson- Mostly from what I've heard, but I trust that the legend is true.
6. Dave Semenko- Truly feared in the '80's
7. Larry Playfair- Big, tough and owned my boy Nilan.
8. Chris Simon- mediocre card but what a path of destruction!
9. Tony Twist- Had a dominant run.
10. John Kordic- A wild animal for the first few years after he broke in.

Knuckles

[EDDIESHORETOEBLAKE]

Muchos gracias fellas . . . I was just reading your Top 100 Merlin - EPIC . . . and I was going to ask you if you wanted me to include your top 10 from that list - you've just answered my question . . .

[EDDIESHORETOEBLAKE]

After 102 ballots cast, here are the updated rankings (top 25 only – anybody that wants to know about the status of a particular player, just let me know)[amount of first place votes are in brackets]:

1. Probert (884.5) [56]
2. Brown (685) [5]
3. Wilson (535.5) [11.5]
4. Kocur (447.5) [16.5]
5. Gillies (400) [1]
6. McSorley (254.25) [1]
7. Nystrom (226.5)
8. Twist (193)
9. Playfair (189)
10. Fotiu (180)
11. Jonathan (151.25)
12. Semenko (124) [1]
13. Domi (102)
14. Ferguson (91) [2]
15. Grimson (87)
16. Wensink (83)
17. Kordic (78.75)
18. Berube (69)
19. Ray (68)
20. Simon (59)
21. Miller (50.5)
22. Gassoff (39) [2]
23. Schultz (37)
24. Brashear (35) [1]
25. Cochrane (32)

The following is a list of posters who have contributed their Top 10 list to the thread . . . if you DO NOT see your poster name on this list, you are a LOSER - get with the program, and post your TOP 10 ALL-TIME list!!!!!

No1BeatsNeely
Eddie Shore
Kocur 26
Chainsaw Churla
Mick32
Jmiller
Vlad Tepes
Gygax
Shoebottom
The Reaper
Miller29
Sammy
Fight Fan
Igbar
Bubbles
Kidcollins
Bert14
Macinnes
BigGeorges27
EDDIESHORETOEBLAKE (still a loser regardless)
Quiksilver
5 and a Game Misconduct
McMorrow
Gtkeane42
Hordibrusk29
I like Boobs
Blues 34
Nighthawk
Dogfaced Boy
Cobain
Dr. Hook
King Krazy
BamBamCam
North Star
Drillcheck26
ProPilot
BM24
Ovydell
Haymaker26
Misfits859
GentleBehnNOT
KordicNilanRoberge
Big Joe
Cottonzway
Windsorhammer
Ewen21
KocurChick
Playfair 27
Oldtimehockey1
Motown Madman
Begbee
Fridge 29
DownGoesWebb
Nsh03
Jabba
Spuddy17
Big24
Joclance22
Odjick29
BullTerrier92
Fearless
Robby the Robot
Walt
Bob
Slick
Jeff Hanson
Khawk20
Buffalo Brawler
Kidd Yidd
Ranger 27
Ihavefighttapes/2,5,10,Game,Match
PhilliBulli
ThemsFightinWords
Swerv95
Badda Bing BaddaBoom
Klammer
Deadman
Gazza 51
KingCobraFan
MattBurger
Krash
Satchmo
Mnfightfan
Willie Trognitz (although did not put his in any particular order – what NOT to do )
PinoyRoy51
Stoneman
Lefthand
Cummins15
Bob Probert
Travis 24
Chris123
Joe C.
Haymaker 11
FitzG
Turnash
Peacemaker
FullForceFive
Big Chris
Ober
Playoff Beard
Merlin401
Knuckles Nilan

[BlackOptimus]

(1) Probert
(2) Kocur
(3) Grimson
(4) Brown
(5) McSorley
(6) Twist
(7) Manson
(8) Cox
(9) Laraque
(10) Gillies

[Blues 34]

I had a few lists on there here is the last one.

Probert
Brown
McSorley
Kocur
Semenko
Gillies
O'Rielly
Miller
Kordic
Jonathan

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Merlin401

I finally made my list (and it was a big one!)... so this is a bit anticlimactic. Here it is anyway

1. Bob Probert
2. Dave Brown
3. Behn Wilson
4. Clark Gillies
5. Joey Kocur
6. Nick Fotiu
7. Larry Playfair
8. Marty McSorley
9. Stan Jonathan
10. John Wensink

Happened to come across Nystrom destroying Wensink in that epic playoff war again and realized its not fair to have them 10-11 like I do. So, the 10 spot is the only change.

1. Bob Probert
2. Dave Brown
3. Behn Wilson
4. Clark Gillies
5. Joey Kocur
6. Nick Fotiu
7. Larry Playfair
8. Marty McSorley
9. Stan Jonathan
10. Bobby Nystrom

[FitzG]

What I thought was unreal about that fight was Wensink never moved back an inch when Nystrom was throwin' em'. That impressed me more that Wensink was totally unfazed before leaning Nystrom over the boards if I remember right. I talked to John about that fight and he said to this day he doesn't know why he didn't switch to his left. Funny he remembered the fight like it was yesterday. Wensink still looks like he could play and is built like a rock though the afro is long gone.

Originally Posted by Merlin401

Happened to come across Nystrom destroying Wensink in that epic playoff war again and realized its not fair to have them 10-11 like I do. So, the 10 spot is the only change.

1. Bob Probert
2. Dave Brown
3. Behn Wilson
4. Clark Gillies
5. Joey Kocur
6. Nick Fotiu
7. Larry Playfair
8. Marty McSorley
9. Stan Jonathan
10. Bobby Nystrom

[peacemaker]

Revised:

Top 10

1) Bob Probert
2) Dave Brown
3) Dave Semenko
4) Behn Wilson
5) Nick Fotiu
6) Larry Playfair
7) Clark Gillies
8) Donald Brashear
9) Tie Domi
10) Marty McSorely