2011-12: Most Improved/Comeback fighter of the year

[NJDevils17]

Nominees

Brian McGrattan
After spending all of last season in the minors between Providence and Syracuse, many of us wondered if we'd see McGrattan back in the NHL again. Thankfully, after Anaheim placed him waivers, Nashville claimed him feeling that they needed a big body presence in their line-up. McGrattan wasted no time becoming a fan favorite in Nashville with good fights against Cam Janssen and Jay Rosehill, as well as destroying Jared Boll.

Wayne Simmonds
Simmonds really elevated his entire game since joining the Philadelphia Flyers. In addition to becoming a good player, his fighting skill and frequency rose significantly. Highlights include big wins over David Clarkson and Eric Brewer, as well as stepping up to tougher competition against Stu Bickel and Deryk Engelland.

Mike Brown
Before this season, Brown was never really known as a typically good or exciting fighter. That all changed this season. Brown won 6 of his 10 fights this season including wins over tough competition such as Jim Vandermeer, Kris Newburry, and Zenon Konopka. Brown has not only turned himself into a serviceable player, but also a guy who you want to see fight often.

Chris Thorburn
Thorburn has mostly been a #2 guy is whole career, usually in the shadow of Eric Boulton when it came to fighting. But after Boulton went to New Jersey, the Jets became Thorburn's team to watch out for. Thorburn stepped his competition by fighting more heavyweight type fighters like Deryk Engelland, Michael Rupp (twice in the same game), Jared Boll, John Erskine, and Krys Barch. He managed to put up a very respectable 6-4-1 record too.


My pick

For this year, I'm going with Wayne Simmonds. I thought he really stepped up into one of the top middleweight fighters this year by taking on tougher competition and by doing very well in those fights too.


Past winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson
2005-06: John Erskine
2006-07: George Parros
2007-08: Aaron Downey
2008-09: Wade Belak
2009-10: Brian McGrattan
2010-11: Matt Bradley

[MattBurger]

Comeback Fighter of the Year and Most Improved should really be two separate awards.

In this case though, I'm going with Chris Thorburn. He did remarkably well considering his fight card this season and his history of being a punching bag.

[kmd19]

Going with McGratten. Great to see him back after his troubles.

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by MattBurger

Comeback Fighter of the Year and Most Improved should really be two separate awards.

In this case though, I'm going with Chris Thorburn. He did remarkably well considering his fight card this season and his history of being a punching bag.

Kind of agree with you in principle but we've always put them together because, honestly, there are just not that many valid nominees in a given year. Together, they both make up one solid group of nominees.

[DARCY T]

brown...thorburn improved a lot as well but i can choose only one player...simmonds has been already good as a king last year

[Cat Smasher]

Went with Mike Brown. All his fights were tuck em and chuck em and he only lost twice. Tko'd Kosto and Rinaldo. That's not saying much though.

[Walt]

I might have included Eric Boulton on this list. He was never a favorite of mine but he found new life with the Devils and made a pretty good tandem with Janssen. He allowed Clarkson to flourish as a solid two way forward.

[slashtrey]

Definitely McGrattan

[IhateLindros]

Mike Brown. Not gonna vote for the guy who's getting Fighter of the Year. If he wins that award, what did he need to improve?

[slashtrey]

Originally Posted by IhateLindros

Mike Brown. Not gonna vote for the guy who's getting Fighter of the Year. If he wins that award, what did he need to improve?

He gets my vote more for being the best "comeback" fighter, not the most improved

[Big_Fat_Dan]

McGrattan as a comeback fighter, but most improved has to go to Thorburn, had a decent year and took on some tough customers.

[Isles4life]

Mike Brown has got my vote. Not only was he really entertaining, but he did shockingly well this season considering the pretty unimpressive public opinion he'd had in our community in previous seasons.

[Blues 34]

McGrattan

[lgbar75]

I went with Thorburn. I cast my vote judging by most improved and I think Thorburn really went from a stiff to having an impressive year. Hopefully he can keep some consistency next year.

[Sputnik]

Gratts, he came back from oblivion to be one of the most feared fighters in the NHL again.