2011-12 Best Mid-Season Tough Guy Pick Up

[JKidd]

Our annual award to the guy who changed clubs mid season and made an impact with their new team.

Nominees

Brad Staubitz - Minnesota Wild to the Montreal Canadiens
Staubitz was cast away via waivers from Minnesota thanks to some selfish penalties, and not fighting when it was expected. When Staubitz was snagged via waivers by Montreal, a switch flipped with him and he fought almost anything that moved. Of his 15 total fights, 6 came with Montreal in the final month and a half of the season, taking on the likes of Chris Neil, Zack Kassian, Cody McCormick, and Zenon Konopka.

Krys Barch - Dallas Stars to the Florida Panthers
It came as a big shock, Dallas trading fan favorite and entertaining slugfest entrant Krys Barch to the Florida Panthers in December. But, it worked out very well for the Panthers, and their fans, who got to see Barch rack up 9 of his 12 fighting majors with the Cats, including two highly entertaining bouts against Cam Janssen and Jay Rosehill, respectively.

Zack Kassian - Buffalo Sabres to the Vancouver Canucks
Kassian only had 3 fights total in a handful of games, and only 1 with the Canucks after his deadline deal to Vancouver. But, Zack was viewed as a missing piece for the Canucks faithful, and was expected to bring the sandpaper the Canucks were missing with just their slew of instigators. A taste of things to come was offered when Kassian engaged Brad Staubitz in an entertaining fight in early March.

Brian McGrattan - Anaheim Ducks to the Nashville Predators
McGrattan signed with the Ducks hoping to ride shotgun with George Parros on the enforcing front. That never materialized and instead, the Ducks waived the perennial champion threat early in the year. Nashville wasted no time in snatching up Brian, who then provided 6 amazing fights for the Preds faithful against Cam Janssen, George Parros (twice), Jay Rosehill, Jared Boll and Ryan Reaves.


My Pick
This is a tough one given the candidates. All 4 offered something missing from their clubs. In the end, I went with Brian McGrattan. He didn't see all that much time in the Preds lineup, but when he was in, he provided some highly entertaining scraps against great opposition.


Previous Winners
2006-07: George Parros (Anaheim Ducks)
2007-08: Jody Shelley (San Jose Sharks)
2008-09: Wade Belak (Nashville Predators)
2009-10: Jody Shelley (New York Rangers)
2010-11: Mark Stuart (Atlanta Thrashers)

[MattBurger]

Went with Staubitz. When he was acquired by Montreal, he provided them with consistant energy and toughness game-in and game-out. McGrattan is obviously the most skilled fighter out of the bunch, but he didn't play enough to be the "best mid-season pick up".

[brianamoro]

Barch seemed ti be re energized after the trade and won a lot of fights, went with him

[DARCY T]

i might be biased but barch looked very good after he was traded to florida and he was exactly what florida needed

[bruiser11]

Staubitz, because he gave the Montreal lineup some much needed excitment in this department. Barch 2nd.

[Cat Smasher]

I picked Barch. Just like Staubitz he seemed to spark the team and they played him regularly. Bloodied Rosehill.

[fcm]

The Habs posted a positive record with Staubitz in the lineup and had absolutly NO fighter in its line-up since Ryan White and Travis Moen were both injuried.

Might be biased, but I gotta go with Staubitz since he sparked the team in the fighting departement with some 16 fights in the last 20 games or so.

Not only this, but he also posted a 5-1-0 record with EVERY fight rated at least over 6/10.

[swhite]

I have to go with Staubitz. He brought an edge to the Montreal and actually made the games somewhat worthwhile to watch.

[Walt]

I know he wasn't exactly a "mid-season" acquisition but I was impressed with Brandon Bollig after the Hawks called him up. For these purposes I went with Staubitz because his physicality manifests itself in fighting and checking.

[srehm1]

I liked the job Staubitz did when he went to Montreal.

[Killah_punk]

Staubitz added some much needed toughness to a soft Habs team, especially with White and Moen both missing time with injuries.

[slashtrey]

In no way should Kassian be nominated here. Staubitz.

[BullyFan]

Staubitz cuz Montreal needed it the most.
The rest of the team started fighting more after Staubitz got there too.

[Whaler Fan]

Barch for me.

I don't give teams credit for selectively deciding to play tough once they aren't in contention. Montreal had nothing to lose and wouldn't have picked up anything resembling toughness if they actually had something to play for. It's easy to play "tough" when you have nothing to lose.

[fcm]

Originally Posted by Whaler Fan

Barch for me.

I don't give teams credit for selectively deciding to play tough once they aren't in contention. Montreal had nothing to lose and wouldn't have picked up anything resembling toughness if they actually had something to play for. It's easy to play "tough" when you have nothing to lose.

Are you saying that playing tough makes gives your team less chances to make the playoffs?

Staubitz was Randy Cunneyworth's type of guy. When he arrived as head-coach, he decided that the team would be tougher, and when he was named head coach, the Habs were in 8th position. The team registered 30 hits per game instead of 19 under Martin. Traded Cammelleri for Bourque who plays the body, called-up Blunden who is useless but still plays with an edge with his big frame, gave Alexei Emelin a full-time job unlike under Jacques Martin, and finally claimed Brad Staubitz off waivers and called Ryan White up.

Something else that's good with Staubitz's pick up, if he wasn't claimed by the Habs, it'd just make one less fighter in the NHL and one more in the AHL. With the claim of Staubitz, it gave Staubitz another chance to play in the NHL, AND it gave Matt Kassian the chance to play full-time on the Minnesota Wild.

So Staubitz's pick up definitly is the best all around mid-season pick up.