2008-09 Neely Award: Best Skilled Fighter

[Merlin401]

As described last year: The NHL has become so accustomed to enforcers fighting on behalf of skilled players that it is so rare to see the best players in the league drop the gloves. Although there is NO ONE like Cam Needy or Wendel Clark or Rick Tocchet anymore, there still are superstars who show enough heart, passion, and leadership to get involved periodically. This award recognizes these players, who embody everything hockey should be about: The Total Package.

Nominees

Kevin Bieksa - Vancouver Canucks
The rugged blue-liner continued to be an offensive force while proving to be a physical presence on the blue-line. He scored a career high 43 points while adding 5 fights and 97 penalty minutes. Bieksa only had one slight loss in his fights, that being a great fight with Ben Eager. Otherwise he had four solid victories, including Mike Richard and Dan Hinote.

Scott Hartnell - Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers got a steal when they picked up Scott Hartnell two years ago, who put up career numbers for his new team. He scored 60 points (30-30), 143 PIMs and a +12 rating. Hartnell and his crazy red hair dropped the gloves 7 times and one more in the playoffs beating the likes of Ian Laperriere, Brandon Dubinsky, and others.

Jarome Iginla - Calgary Flames
Iginla tallied 89 points, including 35 goals in Calgary while adding 3 more fights to his impressive career. He drew with Cody McCormick, edged out David Hale and knocked down Willie Mitchell in a solid 08-09 campaign.

Milan Lucic - Boston Bruins
Lucic started to blossom into the premier power-forward we expected last year, netting 42 points (17-25) with a +17 rating for one of the best teams in the East. He was even more impressive in the playoffs with 9 points, 43 PIMS, and a +12 rating in the playoffs. His 11 regular and post-season fights were nearly all wins, bookmarked with wins over rival Mike Komisarek. He scored big wins over Nick Boynton (badly bloodying him), Brendon Witt, and B.J. Crombeen. Lucic also went toe-to-toe with Chris Neil, Eric Boulton and knocked down Melichar.

Dion Phaneuf - Calgary Flames
Slightly down year for the all-star defenseman who tallied 47 points from the blueline. He also put up his second consecutive 100 PIM year while adding four fights, most interestingly against Jason Spezza!

Mike Richards - Philadelphia Flyers
Career high 80 points (30g, 50a), career high +22, and chipped in great leadership and 5 fights. Had his annual fight with Brandon Dubinsky while also going against Kevin Bieksa, Troy Brouwer, Dan Hinote, and Dan Girardi


My Pick

I think Milan Lucic took things to the next level this year. There is no one that talented that fights like he does. He's one of the few non-Rangers that I'd pay to see play.

Previous Winners

2007-08: Jarome Iginla

[jkidd]

I think this was all Lucic, with second place being a battle amongst guys still miles away.

No one was even close to the fight winning percentage he put up, on top of incredible skill and the hits he threw, were some of the best in the league.

Milan Lucic, by Secretariat kind of lengths.

[IhateLindros]

Lucic surprised the **** out of many people this year, thus deserving this award.

[stevecanuck16]

Homer in me wants Bieksa, but I can't ignore Lucic's stellar season. He gets my vote.

[Isles4life]

Love him or hate him, like his choice of opponents or not, it's hard to argue that Milan Lucic is a real good scrapper, and the rest of his game is developing nicely. The guy is a physical force who seems to make an impact one way or another every time he's on the ice.

[OneilltheGiant]

Lucic no question...

[Nightshade88]

Id normally go wuth Richards but his season wasnt too good this year.

[Boogeyman2383]

It's obviously gonna be Milan Lucic

[Grittzkey]

Looch is the obvious choise.

so i went with Bieksa.

[Godly_goon]

lol looch has this won great skill mixed with even better fights...

hurry up and vote u know how it is when lucic is mentioned the threads gunna be locked soon

[clydefrog]

mmmmm....Im gonna go out on a limb and vote for Milan Lucic.

[grits207]

Love him or hate him, it has to be Lucic.

[BStreetBullies]

Love Looch, but hate his fans, he showed his skill this year which nabs him this award.

[pramovich]

+12 in the playoffs, I want this guy on Team Canada for 2010. Just a beast.

[bigjohnson]

Lucic doesnt even compare to the other forwards, in terms of skill.

I'll take Iginla.