2008-09 Probert Award: Fighter of the Year

[Merlin401]

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

Wade Belak, Nashville (11 fights)
Key Wins: KO'd Brashear, edged Boogaard twice, TKO'd Janssen, beat Hordichuk
Key Losses: One loss to Boogaard

Derek Boogaard, Minnesota (9 fights)
Key Wins: Edged Shelley, Ivanans, Hordichuk, one win vs. Belak
Key Losses: Edged out twice by Belak

Donald Brashear, Washington (11 fights)
Key Wins: Bloodied Shelley, killed Cote, Brookbank
Key Losses: The Huge Knockout loss to Belak

Eric Godard, Pittsburgh (21 fights)
Key Wins: Tuned up MacIntyre, beat Fritz, Got the better of a 4 fight series with Orr (including a TKO), Fight of the Year candidate beating Cote,
Key Losses: Lost to Jody Shelley and got edged by Wade Brookbank

Georges Laraque, Montreal (9 fights)
Key Wins: TKO of Shelley, easily beat Gratton, Peters, lesser fighters
Key Losses: Edged out by Fritz, lack of activity

Colton Orr, NY Rangers (18 fights)
Key Wins: Two edges over Godard, revenge TKO of Rupp, edged out Fritz, great draw with Brashear
Key Losses: Two losses to Godard + 1 TKO, loss to Rupp


My Pick

I still rank Laraque #1 but ignoring all past history I believe that Wade Belak had the best year. Congrats on making it all the way back to the top.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: Georges Laraque
2006-07: Derek Boogaard
2007-08: Georges Laraque

[Jensen]

I think Orr should be on there above Boogaard. Boogs didn't really do that much this year while Orr was far more entertaining and had a couple wins over Godard, a win over Fritz, and an exciting draw with Brash where he may have even gotten the edge.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by Jensen

I think Orr should be on there above Boogaard. Boogs didn't really do that much this year while Orr was far more entertaining and had a couple wins over Godard, a win over Fritz, and an exciting draw with Brash where he may have even gotten the edge.

While I don't think Orr deserves the award, I agree that he deserves to be nominated more than Boogaard based on this season's performance. And a sect of the masses may riot if Orr's name isn't included.

[IhateLindros]

I agree with the above and I'm sure there will be a bunch of people who will bitch about the omission of Orr. He's hf.com's resident hero [so to speak]

As much as I like Brashear for this award, I vote Belak all the way.

[JKidd]

Eric Godard... to have 21 fights, with only two losses - and having to beat Colton Orr 4 times, and once sending him to the ice in a heap. Not to mention taking on and showing two minor league goons, Fritz and Mac, what NHL enforcing is all about.

Wade Belak... takes out the transcending HW champ in Donald Brashear. Takes out the new monster in Derek Boogaard and takes out anyone else that called his dance number along the way, with the exception to one minor loss to Boogs.

I flipped a coin and it ended up heads for Godard.

[Merlin401]

Pfft, ok I put Orr on there for you Isles homers

[stevecanuck16]

BE-LAK BE-LAK BE-LAK.

As I've said in the Top 10 thread, Georges Laraque is still the champ, but Wade Belak had the best season this year. His TKO of Brashear will be talked about in "Remember When" for years.

[Snipes19]

Belak dominated and is becoming one of the top fighters in the league!

[OneilltheGiant]

Belak for me...

Excellent season capped off by dropping one of the all timers in his last fight...

[Isles4life]

After re-emerging from the obscurity of being a healthy scratch in Florida, Belak stormed back with a vengeance once he joined Nashville. He had a strong season with the gloves off overall, but his impressive win over Brashear cements his position at the top for this season in my opinion.

[Grittzkey]

I'll go with Orr, i think he did the best job enforcing.

[T800m101]

Lol, that Brashear vs Orr fight was no draw. Brashear edged him out.

[BStreetBullies]

Belak here. He was amazing, he took on the guys who most are afraid to go with and not only hung in there, but grabbed a few wins and a TKO against the image of fighting for the past decade.

Belak!

[Boogeyman2383]

Originally Posted by Merlin401

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

Wade Belak, Nashville (11 fights)
Key Wins: KO'd Brashear, edged Boogaard twice, TKO'd Janssen, beat Hordichuk
Key Losses: One loss to Boogaard

Derek Boogaard, Minnesota (9 fights)
Key Wins: Edged Shelley, Ivanans, Hordichuk, one win vs. Belak
Key Losses: Edged out twice by Belak

Donald Brashear, Washington (11 fights)
Key Wins: Bloodied Shelley, killed Cote, Brookbank
Key Losses: The Huge Knockout loss to Belak

Eric Godard, Pittsburgh (21 fights)
Key Wins: Tuned up MacIntyre, beat Fritz, Won 4 fight series with Orr (including a TKO), Fight of the Year candidate beating Cote,
Key Losses: Lost to Jody Shelley and got edged by Wade Brookbank

Georges Laraque, Montreal (9 fights)
Key Wins: TKO of Shelley, easily beat Gratton, Peters, lesser fighters
Key Losses: Edged out by Fritz, lack of activity

Colton Orr, NY Rangers (18 fights)
Key Wins: Two edges over Godard, revenge TKO of Rupp, edged out Fritz, great draw with Brashear
Key Losses: Two losses to Godard + 1 TKO, loss to Rupp


My Pick

I still rank Laraque #1 but ignoring all past history I believe that Wade Belak had the best year. Congrats on making it all the way back to the top.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: Georges Laraque
2006-07: Derek Boogaard
2007-08: Georges Laraque

Eric Godard didn't beat Colton Orr times!
Orr won the first two fights, Godard won the last two.

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Boogeyman2383

Eric Godard didn't beat Colton Orr times!
Orr won the first two fights, Godard won the last two.

I put Orr's two victories in there? Maybe you got confused by my wording? I just said Godard won the 4-fight series with Orr (not that he won every fight of the series)