2007-08 Most Improved/Comeback Fighter

[Merlin401]

Nominees

Wade Brookbank
After getting the call-up in early 2008, Brookbank went to work and turned in 12 fights the second half of the year, despite injuries. While the fights themselves were simply 'ok' (though he did post wins against Erskine and Shawn Thornton), it was an unlikely comeback for a journeyman enforcer who finally found a place giving some muscle to the weak Carolina Hurricanes. I think a lot of people figured he would never be back in the show but he may have clawed his way back to having a place in the NHL

Aaron Downey
Not much had gone right for Downey since the lockout. He was a punching bag in 05-06 with bad TKO losses to Fedoruk and Shelley. He lost his job the next year in Montreal posting another dismal year in the fight department. When he signed on with Detroit, the model of non-fighting organizations, most figured he would spend the rest of his career in the AHL. But a strong camp endeared him to his team and management and Downey won a place on the Wings. In 10 fights he posted a 5-0-5 record while keeping the Wings' opponents honest. Season highlights include a beating of Ian Laperriere in revenge of a questionable hit and a great win against George Parros which had the place rocking like the vintage Probert-era days. Its a great success story that will likely earn Downey at least one more year in the league.

Todd Fedoruk
In nine fights this year, the once up-and-coming heavyweight posted a modest 2-1-6 record with wins over Jeff Cowan and Alexei Semenov. That this season earned him a 'comeback' nomination shows just how far Fedoruk had fallen! After a devastating 06-07 in which he suffered two horrific knockouts and too many embarrassing losses to count, Fedoruk pulled himself back into the league with Dallas. He eventually found a home in Minnesota, chipping in 6 goals and 5 assists while providing muscle to the soft top lines in the Wild's lineup. He even scored in the first game of the playoffs ensuring that the Fridge will stick around for a while in the NHL, even though he may no longer be a top-flight heavyweights. We're glad the nightmare last year didn't cause him to pack it in!

Ryan Malone
Where did this guy come from? After the NHL mopped the floor with this kid for several seasons, Malone learned to fight (and to score plenty of goals next to phenom linemates) for an outstanding 07-08 free agent year. He still suffered some losses during the year, but also found time to break Mark Bell's face with a big right, beat Jason Smith in a great fight, and do well in a two fight series with top middleweight David Clarkson. He also added to his fight volume with 9 total fights, making him a surprise fighter for the year.

Doug Murray
Murray truly blossomed this year after languishing for two years on the San Jose blueline part-time. We knew the Swede was tough but I dont think many people expected him to put up double digit fight totals! Among his 11 fights he had a terrific fight with Jared Boll, a beatdown of a tough Rick Rypien, and even challenged heavyweight Eric Godard. Another surprising d-man who I considered for a nomination is Chicago's Polish Prince, James Wisniewksi who came out of nowhere to rack up 9 good fights. The two rugged Euro d-men fought on March 7th where Murray got the nod and the tie-breaker for a nomination!

Colton Orr
As I wrote in my fighting report card, he went from a mediocre heavyweight with extraordinary power to an elite heavyweight. Orr finally learned to hang with legit heavyweights while still killing everyone else. I have him at 10-3-5 on the year with wins over Belak, Peters, Boulerice and Parros. He handled himself well with Laraque, Belak and McGrattan, turning in some fine fights. Round out his year with some beat-downs on Wade Brookbank and Riley Cote and you have a huge improvement over previous years when Orr was powerful but barely a .500 fighter. Now he's a top 5 fighter for sure.

My Pick

As a Rangers fan I was pleasantly surprised with Colton Orr's transformation into a top of the line heavyweight. But if you told me Aaron Downey would go 5-0-5 in the AHL this year, I might have questioned it. He did it for the President's Trophy Red Wings instead. Winner: Aaron Downey.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: John Erskine
2006-07: George Parros

[Smerri1029]

Both Todd Fedoruk and Aaron Downey both came to mind immediately but with Downey's performance in his scraps this year, giving the Red Wings some toughness, and doing a good job at it, Downey gets my vote.

[skacore]

Gotta go with Aaron Downey, had a chance to watch him all year and I was honored. He can't skate, can't pass, can't shoot but he sure can chuck a mean left. Downey is an incredibly focused athlete and he takes nothing for granted, I didn't know much about him before this year but I knew about the brutal TKO's and pummel job from Brashear last year. Detroit couldn't have asked him to play a better enforcer role this year than he did... ok maybe a little better.

[Rockhead]

Why is Colton Orr on this list?

[Isles4life]

I gotta say Downey. The guys had some major up-and-downs in his career. He went from the infamous one-punch TKO of Boulerice to being one of the most disappointing fighters in the league. It was nice to see him reacquaint himself with being a good heavyweight scrapper.

[jp4202003]

It's Douglas Murray, so he says. And I voted for him.

[Powerforward]

Saw the names and Downey was my pick in an instant. He lifted the Wings from the worst enforcing team.

[UKRedWing]

Voted for Downey. He never lost a fight, hung in there with fighters who have TKO'd him in the past (Fedoruk, Shelley) and beat George Parros.

[Cat Smasher]

I don't think Ryan Malone belongs there, as a "come back" fighter. That's not his role, he's just a power foward, who is learning his role. And since he mostly gets time with the super stars, hey he is a gamer as well. He's not fighting heavies guys. Malone is your next gen power forward. Awesome.

Downey gets it though, since, he's a fighter.

[JKidd]

Love seeing Todd Fedoruk get his career back together. Not only that, on the team that started all the issues. His career was in complete and utter jeopardy it's quite disgusting. He even gets put on waivers, was essential Death offering him a hand shake... and he take his final shot with the Wild, and makes it a hell of a memorable one. On top of that, he can be expecting a nice payday and a nice home in my home state.

Gotta give the Fridge the nod here.

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

I don't think Ryan Malone belongs there, as a "come back" fighter. That's not his role, he's just a power foward, who is learning his role. And since he mostly gets time with the super stars, hey he is a gamer as well. He's not fighting heavies guys. Malone is your next gen power forward. Awesome.

Downey gets it though, since, he's a fighter.

The award is for most improved/come back fighter. Malone is obviously one who falls into the "most improved" half of the award. It can go to either type of unexpectedly impressive fight results for the year.

[BStreetBullies]

Fridge, just because he came back after near-death last year, and still took on some big names.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by Merlin401

The award is for most improved/come back fighter. Malone is obviously one who falls into the "most improved" half of the award. It can go to either type of unexpectedly impressive fight results for the year.

I still don't see Malone as a fighter.

[Rob666]

I'm going with Colton Orr.

[BGDDYKWL]

This one's tough. Orr's out IMO as he essentially went from a top 5-7 guy to a top 4-6 guy. I don't think Murray's improved as much as he simply got much more active (which does deserve credit). For Fedoruk to be back playing at a high level and still willing to drop the gloves is definitely impressive, but his card and results weren't all that impressive in and of themself. Many thought Downey was done, so for him to have a productive season deserves merit, and while people are quick to point out he went undefeated, the only legit heavy on his card was Parros. Malone went from a pathetic fighter to a pretty decent middle. He improved tremendously IMO. As for Brookbank, I wouldn't have been surprised to never see him in the NHL again, so that was a pleasant surprise. That and his card was pretty solid, and overall he fared decently well. This one comes down to Malone, Downey, Fedoruk, and Brookbank IMO. I'll have to give it a little more thought before deciding. I find myself leaning Fedoruk simply because of the circumstances, but we will see.....