2009-10 Probert Award: Fighter of the Year

[Gage55]

Originally Posted by nyislesfan45

What the hell are you talking about?

I misunderstood him, I thought he meant Orr had to decisively beat Godard to be champ, but now I see that he was reffering to the initial post where merlin listed it. My bad.

[Blues 34]

I go with Orr here would have went with Boogy but he needs to fight more.

[Killah_punk]

Steve MacIntyre fought all them recently and held his own.

YouTube- Steve MacIntyre vs Brian McGrattan Oct...

YouTube- Colton Orr vs Steve MacIntyre Nov 27,...

YouTube- Derek Boogaard vs Steve MacIntyre Jan...

[illukka]

gotta go with a heavy that drops em 23 times with fierce passion.
boogaard is the champ but he doesnt fight enough so orr based on activity and entertainment value

[fotiu22ko]

Orr- 11-8? I don't think so...Orr gets this easily!

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by Two-Four

Hey Merlin, when did Godard have a KO loss or decisive loss to Orr this year? Never happened.

KO win and decisive win over Matt Carkner... Eric Godard was just a regular slight/win, the 2nd person in the list. It wasn't the Orr KO'd everyone in that list

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by stevecanuck16

Colton Orr definitely deserves the Probert award. He got dropped hard by Carkner, then came back and dropped him several times. If that doesn't say Bob Probert, I don't know what does.

Fair point, same thing with Shelley, got dropped and then came back and forced the issue to get the win in the rematch.

[Two-Four]

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

Derek Boogaard, Minnesota Wild (9 fights)
Key Wins: TKO'd Brian McGrattan, Wade Belak
Key Losses: none (bloodied by D.J. King but probably won the great fight)

Brian McGrattan, Calgary Flames (14 fights)
Key Wins: Knocked down Darcy Hordichuk, beat Steve MacIntyre, Wade Belak x2, Cam Janssen
Key Losses: TKO'd by Derek Boogaard, lost to Colton Orr

Colton Orr, Toronto Maple Leafs (23 fights)
Key Wins: KO & decisive win over Matt Carkner, Eric Godard, Brian McGrattan, Cam Janssen
Key Losses: KO'd by Jody Shelley and knocked down by Matt Carkner, beat by Steve MacIntyre


My Pick

Only 3 nominees this year: everyone else is a cut below. The end of George Laraque and Donald Brashear, plus the fall of Wade Belak and Eric Godard left a power vacuum at the top. Here's the way I dissect this: Its hard to vote for McGrattan when he lost cleanly to the other two. Its hard to vote for Orr with some of those major and decisive losses. It's slightly difficult to vote for Boogaard due to the comparative inactivity. So I'll go on the path of least resistance and vote Derek Boogaard. I'll also say everyone loves a 20-fight fighter who throws 'em with reckless disregard to personal safety so I think Colton Orr will win the popular vote.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: Georges Laraque
2006-07: Derek Boogaard
2007-08: Georges Laraque
2008-09: Wade Belak

It says, "KO or decisive win over" then it lists 4 players. All the others you have, specify for each player. Very misleading. And even if you didn't mean "KO or decisive win" when mentioning Godard, Can you really list it as a notable or "Key" win for Orr. I mean, most people think it's a draw and some see an Edge Godard.

[Dark Light]

Also Orr avenged his loses with Carkner and Shelley. The only guy he didn't avenge his loss was with Macintyre. Unfortunately there wasn't any opportunity. I'm sure Orr would of wanted a rematch.

Plus he challenged Boogaard, but he refused. Also that close fight with Brashear, I remember Orr challenging Brashear again during that game, but he also refused. Chara refused a couple times. Chris Neil and Erskine also refused Orr invitation.

Orr was the most willing fighter among the elite top 5 HW's. He should get a lot of credit for that.

[canuckfan]

Orr had a hellluva year - but I wonder how Boogaard will do in New York with a greater selection of tough guys to fight out east. Next year should be his year once again!

[Boogeyman2383]

I think he tried to do it fairly.
The Godard/Orr fight and the Boogaard/King fight, were both very close fights, and the decision could go either way.

Down to the bottom line.
Orr is the most exciting fighter in the nhl, no question about it. (A lot of ppl give it too Rypien, but Orr has a willingness that most fighters dont.)
That said, sometimes always dropping the gloves can lead to demise.
Orr got completely spanked by Carkner and Shelley, while Boogaard's worst performance was a bloody nose.
To me I believe Boogaard is the champ, but respectable to Orr or Grats

[Flyers967]

Colton Orr had the best year of all three of these guys. Boogard didnt fight enough.

[muskokadangler]

He throws down sometimes goes down and throws down again!!!!!!!
THAT IMO is what a true Hockey fighter does
RIP Bob You have set the Bar Very VERY HIGH

[lgbar75]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Orr had a hellluva year - but I wonder how Boogaard will do in New York with a greater selection of tough guys to fight out east. Next year should be his year once again!

With the heavyweight division shifting almost exclusively to the East, I would think he'll have considerably more than 9 fights, providing he stays healthy of course. Godard, Shelley, Leblond and Gillies in the division alone, then Orr, King, Thornton within the conference.

[Sputnik]

McGrattan was pretty impressive this year despite losing to the other two nominees, but I chose him anyway: Orr would have been the best option but eight losses are way too much.
About Boogaard, I will NEVER vote as "fighter of the year" a player with only nine fights, no ****ing way.