2006-07 Probert Award: Fighter of the Year
 

The best fighter with the best year. Basically, if you throw out all past history and started over this year, who would have been ranked on top?

Nominees

Donald Brashear
13 fights; key wins: Andrew Peters, Colton Orr x3, George Parros; key losses: edged by Andrew Peters

Derek Boogaard
10 fights; key wins: Jody Shelley, Raitis Ivanans, D.J. King, KOd Todd Fedoruk; key losses: edged by Georges Laraque, TKOd by Eric Godard

Georges Laraque
8 fights; key wins: Colton Orr, Raitis Ivanans, Derek Boogaard; key losses: none

Brian McGrattan
10 fights; key wins: edged Andrew Peters, edged Wade Belak, John Erskine; key losses: edged by Jody Shelley

Andrew Peters
17 fights; key wins: Colton Orr, edged Donald Brashear, Andre Roy; key losses: Donald Brashear, edged by Wade Belak, Brian McGrattan and Triston Grant

My Pick

Georges Laraque is still the champ and though this year did nothing to disprove that, it also didn't have enough evidence of it to make him the fighter of the year. With most of the top fighters less active and less impressive, that honor goes to Donald Brashear in my mind.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: Georges Laraque

Brashear put up a champion-worthy season and he is 33. Most hate him, but he floored Downey, Vishnevski, and laid 3 beatings on Orr, fought Roy 2x, smoked Parros, avenged the Peters loss, and then fought BGL, a **** fight, but nonetheless he fought him.

It's unfortunate he doesn't like the role of enforcer and that he normally beats people with wrestling takedowns these days, but there's still nobody who can beat Laraque makes him the top dog.

It still has to be Georges. Hasn't done anything to lose the belt, and nobody's done anything to claim it.

Although my hand was shaking when I placed my vote, I gave it to Brashear because he was more active than Laraque.

I voted for Brashear. Laraque was too inactive, and he really made a lot of people mad, including me. It seems like he never wants tof ight anymore, so while he still is the champ, he did not have a very good year of fighting at all. He disappointed us to say the least.

Boogaard didn't fight that much either, and McGrattan pretty much sat in the press box for over half the year. So it comes down to Brashear and Peters, and Brashear was more active, plus he won the fight between the two this season, so he has to get it.

Congratulations, Brash. He's fighter of the year.

Do you know how many teams could use a guy like Brian McGrattan? He'd look pretty good in a Red Wings uniform if you ask me. Dress him consistently or trade the guy. Let him do his thing elsewhere.

What was Boogaard's record this year?

Mostly wins except for the TKO loss to Godard and the loss to Laraque.

Favortism awrad....Andrew Peters. Brashear gets HM

I will have to go with Brash since he is one of my current favs.
Once he gets his jabs going, it's over unless your head is made
of steel. Plus his age plays a factor. I would have voted Boogey,
but that Godard incident changed my mine and Laraque wrestles.

These polls should be expanded to include alot more players. I personally can't pick any of these guys for "fighter of the year"... if you wanted to label it as the best out of this bunch, then I could understand, but none of these guys would get a vote for "fighter of the year", in my opinion.

Fighter of the year...which of these guys was the most entertaining to watch fight? Laraque might be undefeated but his fights are boring and mostly wrestling matches.
It comes down to Brash or Boogy. They are true fighters, slug and get slugged. I like the fights that end with a tried and true winner, not a take down but a knock down. Damn close, but I am going with Brash.

Sorry guys...I have to give it to Ian Laperriere. He was the only member of the Avalanche to throw the mitts throughout the season. He was willing to go even when Scott Parker was in the mix and wouldnt' go...

If you had tough guy of the year awards then the guys on that list might make it but fighter of the year has to go to Ian. Where is the next closest middleweight on that list??

Gotta give it to Peters