2010-11: Probert Award: Fighter of the Year

[JKidd]

The fighter of the year for this year, and this year only.

Nominees

Deryk Engelland - Pittsburgh Penguins - 13 fights
Key Wins: Colton Orr - KO win & UD, Jody Shelley - bloody UD win
Key Losses: George Parros - narrow loss, Paul Bissonnette

Matt Carkner - Ottawa Senators - 12 fights
Key wins: Derek Boogaard, Eric Godard, Shawn Thornton, George Parros, Rick Rypien - TKO win
Key losses: Colton Orr and Eric Boulton

Derek Boogaard - New York Rangers - 7 fights
Key wins: Colton Orr, Jody Shelley, Steve MacIntyre, Trevor Gillies
Key losses: Matt Carkner

Steve MacIntyre - Edmonton Oilers - 7 fights
Key wins: Raitis Ivanans via KO, Colton Orr, David Koci
Key losses: Derek Boogaard

George Parros - Anaheim Ducks - 27 fights
Key wins: Krys Barch, Paul Bissonnette, Colton Orr via TKO, Cam Janssen, David Koci, and Kevin Westgarth
Key losses: Frazer McLaren, Paul Bissonnette and Matt Carkner

John Scott - Chicago Blackhawks - 8 fights
Key wins: Zack Stortini, Kevin Westgarth x2, David Koci, and Cam Janssen twice
Key losses: None

My pick

There are far more than last year, but it's because nobody really took the bull by the horns and ran away with the title this year. Each guy has a knock against them - not speaking to their losses. DE has a very limited fight card, Carkner didn't fight the last half of the year, the late Derek Boogaard was on a tear before unfortunately getting injured, Mac was only dressed a quarter of the season, Parros fought a lot - but didn't convincingly beat a lot of guys, and John Scott fought...? Its a toss up year. Each guy has a case, and a knock against them. Our heart strings are all going to pull on us to vote for Boogaard due to his tragic death in the Rangers' off-season, but as much as we might want to, thats not who I would have voted on before the tragedy. So I'll go with Matt Carkner this year. It's really based on the fact he had a good number of fights given the league average for a HW, he beat enough of the top guys and losing twice in the process to perennially top 10 guys, isn't too shabby.

Previous winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: Georges Laraque
2006-07: Derek Boogaard
2007-08: Georges Laraque
2008-09: Wade Belak
2009-10: Colton Orr

[kam]

John Scott, no clear losses, would have fought more if he had played more than 40 games.

[Ottenator]

Its gotta be Carkner....he done damage to pretty much every top heavy in the league.

Lol at John Scott making the list. Since he has never fought any heavyweight in the top 20, he doesn't rank any higher than 20, on my list.

[nyislesfan45]

I'm going with Engel.

I think Gillies should've been nominated over Scott.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

I'm going with George.

He could get just about anyone to fight and played damn near every game.

Everything you could want in a fighter.

He wasn't a bag either. Although the Stache has questionable balance, IMO, he did his job and did better than any other listed day in and day out.

[brandonh19]

Impressive year for Engelland two top knock outs looks to be rookie of the year and fighter of the year. Hopefully not a huge drop off next year....

[Wild_KO King]

Though he wasn't nominated, Shawn Thornton was, in my opinion, the best fighter the past year. Not because he was the most dominant force, but because he epitomized what it means to be an effective enforcer, a la the late great Bob Probert. Not only did he string together an impressive fight card, and notch some notable wins, but he was also able to play a regular shift and was not a liability to his team when he took the ice.

Everyone loves a guy that can run through the competition, but when push comes to shove, Thornton is the enforcer I would want on my team.

That being said, I have to go with Engel for a very impressive season and taking out last year's "champ" in decisive fashion.

Though unblemished, Scott still has not proven to me that he has what it takes to be a top heavy. If given the chance, I think Big Mac has what it takes to be the top guy in years to come.

[Sapunka16]

If you look at that list, Boogaard has the best collection of wins and his only loss was to Carkner.

None of the other guys have a win card as impressive as Boogaard's was, and most of them lost to guys worse than Carkner.

Even more impressive is that he did all of this in just half a season's work.

[29th_Candidate]

Agree with Sapunka on Boogaard.

I don't understand the anti-Trevor Gillies bias, JKidd.

There are at least 3 of your selections I'd take Gillies over.

Scott? Oh please...

[yeah]

Obviously Carkner. Any other answers are just proving stupidity.

[skacore]

This was Engelland's year. Carkner a close 2nd... Boogaard is only behind because of quantity.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

Normally every fighter gets nominated? Or have i dreamed that up?

Anyway i'm going George Parros, due to him being so active, he had some good wins and although he lost a few, he never lost big.

[schlado]

I'm going with John Scott. " He didn't fight anyone" doesn't fly with me, because no one wanted to fight him. Think of that?

[gdameo]

Originally Posted by schlado

I'm going with John Scott. " He didn't fight anyone" doesn't fly with me, because no one wanted to fight him. Think of that?

yeah nobody wanted to fight him but they will fight boogey, engelland, carnker, etc

fking homer

[E.C.]

With me the two that it came down to were Boogaard and Carkner. Boogaard defeated MacIntyre who was another top contender, he beat Orr who was near the top last year, plus Gillies and Shelley. Even though Boogaard lost to Carkner in the fight they had, I still will vote for him. The reason is Carkner lost to Orr who Boogaard beat, and he also lost to Boulton who isn't even a top 10 fighter imo. That is why Boogaard gets the edge. Plus I feel it is a fitting tribute to him