2010-11 Neely Award: Most Skilled forward Fighter

[JKidd]

While the days of the feared power forward are all but gone, this award gets bestowed upon the guys that remind us of those forwards from yesteryears that struck fear into opponents with the mitts on, and off.

Nominees

Ryane Clowe - San Jose Sharks
Clowe is a perennial favorite for this award and returning to defend last years award. He's the total package as a power forward that truly reminds us of Cam Neely or Wendel Clark. This year, a great year for Clowe offensively and in the fisticuffs department with 24 goals and 12 fights. A fight card that has some great names and wins, taking it to Jared Boll, dominating Mike Weber, standing in for super star Danny Heatley in fighting Theo Peckham and turning in dominate beatings on Tim Jackman and Cory Sarich.

Milan Lucic - Boston Bruins
Lucic returns to contention this year with a great year notching 30 goals and 7 fights. He reminds Bruins faithful, and Bruins haters alike of the awards honored name, Cam Neely. He's a big guy that cycles and forechecks as hard as anyone. With the mitts off, he throws his hands with reckless abandon and produced amazing scraps with Jim Vandermeer and Jay Rosehill. He also scrapped with veteran Eric Brewer, the always tough John Erskine and game middleweight Cody McCormick to round out the notable opponents. He also helped transcend a linebrawl with a knock out punch on the Thrashers Freddy Meyer after everyone gathered and paired off.

Nathan Horton - Boston Bruins
Joining his Bruins teammate, Milan Lucic, is Horton. He was acquired to compliment Lucic's physical play with his own skilled physical play, and the pay off was awesome to watch. Horton notched 26 goals and 7 fights in his first season with the Bruins. His fight card sports Dion Phaneuf twice, a one punch knock out of Theo Peckham and a fight of the year candidate with Zack Smith.

Chris Stewart - Colorado Avalanche / St. Louis Blues
Chris Stewart missed a lot of time this year, ironically enough for breaking his hand in a fight, which limited the fisticuffs to just 3 mitt drops. But, in those 3 fights, Stewart showed the same promise he has shown in years past with a no prisoner style of fighting, standing up for teammates and incredible offensive skills. Along with the 3 fights came 28 goals across his tenure with the Blues and Avs. His fight card sports fighting machine Zenon Kenopka, a one sided beating of Kyle Brodziak and issuing another beating on Derek Dorsett.

Past winners

2007-08: Jarome Iginla
2008-09: Milan Lucic
2009-10: Ryane Clowe

[bruiser11]

Got to say Clowe on this one.

[kam]

Gotta go Clowe.


Could have been Lucic if he would have fought more.

[Fatt Patt]

Bruins going to have a good 1-2 punch on they're scoring line for years to come.......

[Clowes ABeast29]

Who the **** do you think im voting for? hahahahaha THE BEAST from the East (newfie) yeah!

[acdcrocksno1]

I went for Stewart mainly cause I hate the other 3

[brandonh19]

Horton for sure not only did he get 30 goals, or just fell short not too sure. He was always willing to scrap and is most likely getting my vote for fight of the year.

[skacore]

Definitely Clowe. Lucic had a great season scoring wise but didn't do anything spectacular with the gloves off. Horton had a decent season scoring wise, fight quantity went up a bit... but nothing spectacular. Stewart had a great season scoring wise, but again, nothing special fight wise.

Clowe had an incredible year all around. 62 points, 100 PIM and kicked ass all year long. Seeing him dominate guys like Boll and Jackman who are primarily fighters is just embarrassing sometimes. Clowe is a ****ing beast I would match him against pretty much any heavyweight and be interested in finding out how he'd do.

[Isles4life]

I would kill to have any of these candidates on my team. But Ryane Clowe takes the honors for a second straight season in my opinion. The guy had a huge offensive year and was outstanding once the gloves hit the ice. Not to take away from the other guys, but this is Clowe fairly easily this season.

[diablo]

Gotta go with Clowe

[jp4202003]

Originally Posted by kam

Gotta go Clowe.


Could have been Lucic if he would have fought more.

agreed and agreed

[ThrowdownSJ408]

Originally Posted by acdcrocksno1

I went for Stewart mainly cause I hate the other 3

WOW how weak of a call is this. Stewart is awesome and is list worthy but saying you hate these others when hockey would be better if there were more of these guys? What a hater

Went with Clowe, duh.

[Clowes ABeast29]

Originally Posted by skacore

Definitely Clowe. Lucic had a great season scoring wise but didn't do anything spectacular with the gloves off. Horton had a decent season scoring wise, fight quantity went up a bit... but nothing spectacular. Stewart had a great season scoring wise, but again, nothing special fight wise.

Clowe had an incredible year all around. 62 points, 100 PIM and kicked ass all year long. Seeing him dominate guys like Boll and Jackman who are primarily fighters is just embarrassing sometimes. Clowe is a ****ing beast I would match him against pretty much any heavyweight and be interested in finding out how he'd do.

Beat parros down pretty handily.

[Sputnik]

Can't go wrong with Clowe in this one: had a monster year and I don't remember a clear loss for him: impressive.

[JeanLaRose]

Clowe should run away with this. Great year for the big Newfie. Stewart was very close until his broken hand derailed both his and my fantasy season (he was amongst the leagues leading scorers up until his injury in addition to his willingness to hit and fight) but never seemed to find his stride after returning and was even benched at one point I believe.