2008-09 Biggest Let-Down

[Merlin401]

There weren't a lot of major disappointments this year: A lot of mediocre seasons from a lot of people. Due to the surge in fighting majors, most people didn't fall off the map in fighting, like previous years. Here's a few people that didn't really live up to expectations.

Nominees

Riley Cote, Philadelphia
A year after setting the fight world ablaze with a crazy rookie year, Riley Cote settled into a bit of a sophomore slump with the firsts. The activity was surely still top notch, as the gloves hit the ice 22 times. However, there seemed to be slightly less toe-to-toe battles and a lot less wins this time around. HF.com logs have him with a voted record of 4-15-3, including losses to middleweights like Joel Rechlicz and multiple losses to newly converted heavyweight Mike Rupp. The heart is there but bloodthirsty fans on Broad Street aren't getting him confused with Dave Brown anytime soon.

Steve Downie, Tampa Bay
Downie made his reputation last pre-season as a wild-man, earning a nearly record suspension for a leaping hit and using his fists to pummel some larger opponents. If he could avoid trouble with the law, Downie seemed like an ideal fighter/player but his time in Tampa Bay took off the luster. His slow speed was highlighted and he netted only 6 points in 23 games. Meanwhile he didn't win any of his 5 fights and didn't look like he could be a force in the NHL. The season then ended with him taking a swing at an AHL referee and perhaps this once heralded prospects story will be over almost before it began.

Andre Roy, Tampa Bay
Calgary resurrected Eric Godard's career and it seemed possible that Andre Roy would be destrined for the same massive spike in games played and fights under Iron Mike Keenan. However, he tended to get beaten out for playing time by younger hungrier forwards and was more-or-less a non-factor. Roy's fights were nothing to write home about either as he was unable to lock down a clean victory in any of his 9 fights. He even found time to twice get bested by Cam Janssen while getting knocked down by Derek Boogaard, making him a disappointing replacement for Godard.

Aaron Voros, NY Rangers
The Rangers through they struck gold with Voros as he actually led the league in points after the first week or so, while dropping the gloves a few times as well. But the heir to the Sean Avery throne he was not, as he went into the tank offensively. He also only tallied one borderline win in 10 fights, including a massive beating at the hands of Cam Janssen. Voros really just didn't create any energy and was not a good player or fighter, eventually leading to his being waived in March.

My Pick

I really expected a lot more out of Roy this year in Calgary. He seemed to have the right team, coach and surroundings to put up a big year but it didn't happen.


Previous Winners

2003-04: Georges Laraque
2005-06: Wade Belak
2006-07: Todd Fedoruk
2007-08: Andrew Peters

[IhateLindros]

Why isn't Andrew Peters on this list. He'll win this award hands down!

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by IhateLindros

Why isn't Andrew Peters on this list. He'll win this award hands down!

It wasn't entirely his fault, but I agree that he definitely deserves a nomination.

[jkidd]

An easy pick with Andre Roy. He was going to come into Calgary and be THE man in the NW division. He was going to have the experience to deal with Boogaard, be big enough for Hordi, force Stortini to open up, and be able to deal with the Cody's in Colorado... and none of it happened. In a division that is so easy to be either champ or chump - he came out on the chump end, with lofty expectations.

[caps05]

Does DJ King's early-season injury count?

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by IHateLindros

Why isn't Andrew Peters on this list. He'll win this award hands down!

He "won" last year already. I know he had a poor year but I dont see how we can make him most disappointing two years in a row. Based off last year I wasn't expecting anything. Anyone else with an idea on this?

Originally Posted by caps05

Does DJ King's early-season injury count?

No, that's not his fault.

[stevecanuck16]

Originally Posted by jkidd

An easy pick with Andre Roy. He was going to come into Calgary and be THE man in the NW division. He was going to have the experience to deal with Boogaard, be big enough for Hordi, force Stortini to open up, and be able to deal with the Cody's in Colorado... and none of it happened. In a division that is so easy to be either champ or chump - he came out on the chump end, with lofty expectations.

Yep. Cote will probably win due to the fanbases on here, but I came into this season excited for a Hordichuk vs Roy rivalry. All they managed was a crappy draw near the start of the year, followed by Hordi dropping Roy in a non-majors fight that injured Roy once again. His absence and ineffectiveness left the Flames with a disadvantage in the tough NW division.

[Isles4life]

Going into the season, Calgary seemed like a good home for Roy, and yet he had a miserable year. He couldn't get playing time, and got very little accomplished on the relatively rare occasions where he was able to drop the gloves. He seems to have the edge in this category.

[DARCY T]

shawn thornton

[Snipes19]

Here's another category where there's only once choice that really makes sense. Andre Roy did not do very well and was pretty disappointing.

It's not like anybody expected a whole lot out of the others. Cote is exciting but isn't necessarily 'good'. We know what he's gonna do every year... have entertaining fights but a lot of them will be draws or losses. Voros is a below-average middle weight, and Downie isn't a huge fighter so I never had high expectations for him. So they weren't let-downs because we expected all that before the season started.

But going into the season I thought Andre Roy might at least contend for a top 10 spot considering the HW division seemed fairly weak this year (since it was without guys like McGrattan and King). But Roy didn't perform very well... once again.

[OneilltheGiant]

There's only one guy Roy who I would pick out of the four there... But there's many more in the league I would say were worse than him... Fedoruk has turned from being a proper heavyweight into an occasionally fighter who normally loses.. Peters again was poor compared to what he should be.. and others as well.

[Shockadelica]

Riley Cote at least fought a ton. I vote for George Parros.

[The Crow]

Darcy Hordichuk anyone?

[OneilltheGiant]

Originally Posted by The Crow

Darcy Hordichuk anyone?

I thought Hordi done Ok ... Beat Parros a few times and dropped Shelley..

[pbag]

Cote did not scare anyone. Active as usual, but regression doesn't win any points in my book.

I think the Cote fights lost an average of 100 posts per thread compared to the year before, which is a pretty good indication on how he faired.