2006-07 Shero Award: Fighting Advocate of the Year

[Merlin401]

Here's a new award that goes to ex-players, current players, or members of team management that have made it a point to stress the importance of fighting and physical play in the new-NHL and specifically made strides in keeping fighting in the game. We excluded media members less Don Cherry dominate this every year. Probably after he's gone, there will be a Cherry Award for pro-fighting member of the media for the year.

Nominees

Brian Burke, GM - Anaheim Ducks
The mastermind of the Ducks, stacking them with tough North Americans and a litany of middleweights and heavyweights. Also the architect of the new rule to relax the instigator rule.

Randy Carlyle, Head Coach - Anaheim Ducks
I suppose when you're team has 10 guys that will willingly drop the gloves, its hard NOT to ice a tough lineup. But he always seemed willing to get tough players their playing time and did a good job under Burke's philosophy.

Todd Fedoruk, Forward - Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers
Current players always add there 2 cents for fighting but can't really make an impact with how the game is run. But Todd Fedoruk twice became the spotlight of why fighting needs to go among the anti-figthing crowd and made important comments about how the fights were his choice, and how the other fighter was doing the right thing. He explained the logic and need for those fights, despite being on the losing side. Believe me, if Fedoruk came out and said "Fighting is putting my career in jeopardy, we should look to take this out of the game", we would all be in much worse shape.

Glen Hanlon, Head Coach - Washington Capitals
We all thought he was anti-fighting until he sent out the goons in Atlanta to start fight after fight. He paid $30,000 out of his own pockets to the fighting gods that night including pro-fighting comments and for that we salute him. His team was always tough after that as well.

Paul Holmgren, GM - Philadelphia Flyers
While picking up the pieces from this year's Broad Street Debacle, he has brought the hard-nosed spirit that he embodied as a player. Heavyweights have always been in the lineup to comliment Ben Eager and other tough customers.

Lindy Ruff, Head Coach - Buffalo Sabres
Another coach who sent out the goons in revenge of a Chris Neil hit. He had a lot of good things to say about the need for fighters after that and a ridiculous fine as well. Go run 'em, right Ruff?

John Tortorella, Head Coach - Tampa Bay Lightning
Has repeatedly stressed the need for toughness and fighting, while putting together a pretty tough team himself. Torts even mentioned after a nasty game against the Rangers with a late game brawl that such behaviour should be an every day occurance in the NHL and not something that surprises us.

My Pick

Brian Burke with ease. It seems as if he lives for making nasty teams. And the changes to the instigator rule will mark the first positive changes in fightings direction in years. Go Burke Go!

Previous Winners

first year being awarded

[Mr. Pink]

It's a close race between Carlyle and Burke, but they are both badasses. Give Burke credit for gettting those guys and then Carlyle for playing them.

[Isles4life]

I'd pick Carlyle over Burke. Yes, he had a ton of tough players for the modern NHL's standards given to him, but he let them go out there and play the physical style that helped Anaheim become such a successful team.

[ElBullEsMuerto]

Gotta go with Burke Cause a roster these days starts from the top-down and he's The H.N.I.C of Anaheim. Although I understand you can't have four guys from one team as nominess I'm surprised George ( I'm Bringin Porno Back) Parros didn't even get a HM along with Chris Neil (bench clearing hits) The Godfather Don Cherry, or Fox News for thier excellent loop of The Tomahawk Chop over a span of 72 hours while splicing in shots of the Emery vs. the world fight

[stevecanuck16]

Not only did Burke ice a very tough lineup, he made no effort to hide what he was doing. He was straight up honest about his intentions, and the success his team has had can only do good things for the fighting game.

[Snipes19]

I voted for Burke. He was the reason that the Ducks traded for May and Parros, and he also brought up all of their other fighters like Moen and Thornton. You can thank him for building the Ducks tough roster, and he's the main reason why they are one of the toughest teams in the league. He built that team. You have to vote for him.

[BloodontheTrack]

This one belongs to Burkie. He's a bit of riddle, a total professional, very kind in person, and "tough as a night in jail." He's my hero and we (Anaheim) are very lucky to have him.

[refightfan]

Burke gets my vote as he brought in a roster full of heavyweights, middleweights, and scrappy guys willing to drop the gloves. He’s got tge right idea and thats why the Ducks where the number one team in the West. Whenever a player or a Coach would make a comment towards wanting to fight any of his players Burke would reply "If you come into a barn looking for a dance. You'll be sure to find some partners". What a guy...

[Blues 34]

Gotta go with Brian Burke here. For fight fans sake we need the Ducks to win the cup.

[Rugged]

Voted for Brian Burke but I have to give a mild, homer shout-out to Ray Shero for bringing in Georges Laraque and Gary Roberts in at the trade deadline.

[IhateLindros]

I hope no one picks Holmgren until Riley Cote gets a fair shot!

[MrFrost]

Burkes press quotes are great. He wins.

[Lead]

As most people, I choose Burke as well. How can you hate this guy?

[DUSTER76]

Ya Burke, Hull should be up there also , came out many times against the instigator and made some people cringe.

[Thornton 19]

Burke no question, put together one bad ass team this year.