2006-07 Best Mid-Season Fighter Pick-Up of the Year

[Merlin401]

This is mid-season pick-ups that impacted the team both physically and in terms of their team attitude. Some good choices await:

Nominees

Sean Avery, New York Rangers
Turned the Ranger's season around from a failure to a promising position in the playoffs with his spirited play, timely goal-scoring, infectious energy, and a few well placed scraps against Mike Richards and Darcy Tucker.

Jeff Cowan, Vancouver Canucks
Bulked up their 4th line with this waiver claim off LA. Cowan turned out to be the grit that Vancouver needed to take their games to the next level. He also turned into Wayne Gretzky one week, capturing the NHL's player of the week with a ridiculous goal-scoring streak.

Georges Laraque, Pittsburgh Penguins
Provided the protection for Sid the Kid and Malkin that was lacking all year. The leagues reigning heavyweight was a solid addition to ensure no one touched the future. Maybe Pittsburgh has learned after letting Mario Lemieux get so abused two decades ago.

Shane O'Brien, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning continued to beef up at the deadline by relinquishing a 1st rounder for the scrappy O'Brien, who also would play a valuable role in suring up their defense both this year and for many years to come. What was seen as a rip-off in the Anaheim Ducks favor has turned into a valuable piece of the Lightning puzzle.

George Parros, Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks smartly cashed in Todd Fedoruk for a fighter with natural cheek-bones and an undamaged psyche with Parros. He answered the bell and fought everyone all year long, backing up a tough physical team.

Andre Roy, Tampa Bay Lightning
When the Pittsburgh Penguins put Roy on recall waivers, the Lightning jumped at the chance at having a skilled enforcer back on the ice with them, after suffering abuse in his absence after their Stanley Cup win. Roy regularly skated in the lineup and kept the opposition in line allowing the Lightning to play a gritty style without fear when necessary.

My Pick

Some great pick ups all around here. George Laraque's impact may be impossible to measure and Shane O'Brien may one day be seen as an absolute steal, but if Sean Avery were still playing on Los Angeles, the Rangers would be playing golf right now instead of the Leafs.

Past Winners

First-time category

[Mr. Pink]

The Stache!

[Isles4life]

Parros proved to be the anchor of that tough Anaheim line-up. It's tempting to pick Avery because of the impact he had on the Rangers, but I have a hard time referring to him as a fighter.

[andrew13]

stache

[JKidd]

Some tough choices again...

I'm going to go with Tampa picking up Andre Roy. That team was about as dull and lifeless (physically and emotionally) before he arrived, and he made some nice strides back his former mates. Him, paired with Nick Tarnasky and Shane O'Brien, seemed to be one hell of a physical triple threat coming down the stretch, and it all started (fighting and physical play wise) with Andre Roy being in the lineup.

[stevecanuck16]

Maybe a homer pick for me, but Jeff Cowan was exactly what the Canucks needed.

[Snipes19]

I voted for George Parros. When he went to Anaheim, the 'Stache became very popular, and he was the heavyweight that the Ducks needed. Once again he racked up a ton of FM's, and he had some good wins too, so you should be able to find his name on the top 10 list. He really made Anaheim's team exciting, and he is the main reason why they are one of the toughest teams in the league. Parros easily wins this.

[Rugged]

Laraque. The Pens had Chris friggin' Thorburn as their resident tough guy before BGL arrived.

[refightfan]

The fighter that help his team the most was Sean Avery. Avery could actually be a all-star for the way he gets understars skins. No star can take it from Avery as he can crack the best of them. Avery also is a good skilled player who hits. Hes the whole package and was the best pick up.

[Blues 34]

Gotta go with Parros.

[IhateLindros]

I voted for Cowan. Once he joined the Nucks and saw some ice he turned into a pretty solid player all around. The guy actually had a decent pint scoring streak up there as well. He was tough as nails down the stretch and helped his team win some tough battles with Anaheim. Great pickup for Vancouver.

[BGDDYKWL]

This one's interesting because Parros was the most active guy on this list, but Avery has likely helped his team the most, but you could certainly argue Cowan as well. Problem I'm having is it just seems like the winner of this category should be a legit fighter. Tough call.

[MrFrost]

Roy fits this perfectly. Tampa Bay wanted him back to do what hes doing and he did it well. Parros did the same but it was Federoks fall that made that deal happen. Tampa Bay.
I thought Jeff Cowan should get an honerable mention here as well. Nucks wanted grit and they got it with Cowan. Cowan may be a horrible fighter but he wont back down. Hes a force to be reckoned with. I think the Nucks will play him and keep him around longer than the Kings wouldve. Good move for both teams and for Cowan.

[DUSTER76]

I'd love to go homer w/ Avery , but I think BGL did more to ease the mind of a young PENS team. Now that I think about it Gary Roberts wouldn't be a bad choice either.

[Fighting Wombats]

Respect the 'stache!