2011-12 Scott Stevens award: Most skilled fighting defenseman

[JKidd]

Nominees

Sheldon Brookbank - Anaheim Ducks - 8 fights
It took a while for Brookbank to catch on with an NHL team, but he's really found a home in Anaheim. This marks the first time he's up for the award, after posting a very stellar season. Brook notched 14 points, along with an average time on ice over 15 minutes, and going +11 through 80 games played. He also got into 8 fights, taking on the likes of Derek Dorsett (twice), John Scott, Kyle Clifford and Jared Boll.

Deryk Engelland - Pittsburgh Penguins - 7 fights
Engelland continued to see regular time with the Penguins this year, and he showed plenty of signs of being your prototypical stay at home defenseman while adding plenty of right hands. Deryk played in over 70 games, and in those games had an average ice time over 16 minutes, while hanging 17 points on the board, going +10 and getting into 7 fights. On the fight card, John Scott, Chris Thorburn, Ryane Clowe, Ryan Reaves and Tim Gleason.

Luke Schenn - Toronto Maple Leafs - 6 fights
Youngster Luke Schenn finds his way to this list for the first time. Getting him here was a great point total of 22 points, 270 hits, and over 16 minutes of average time on the ice. Schenn was a minus player overall, at -6, but makes up for that with the points the and hits. The fisticuffs portion that got Schenn a nomination saw him drop the gloves 6 times. Chris Neil, David Clarkson, Gregory Campbell and Nate Thompson are the notables on the card.

Adam McQuaid - Boston Bruins - 6 fights
Big Adam McQuaid finds his way to the list for the first time after showing to be a very reliable, rugged, stay at home blue liner that brought bag of knuckles whenever asked. McQuaid played in over 70 games this year, averaging a shade under 15 minutes of ice time, notching 10 points, going a +16, landing 104 hits and dropping the mitts 6 times. The fight card Adam sports is impressive, featuring Matt Martin, Raffi Torres, Zenon Konopka, Matt Hendricks, Ryan White and B.J. Crombeen.

Tim Gleason - Carolina Hurricanes - 5 fights
Gleason gets his first crack at the Stevens by providing one heck of an overall game for a blue liner. Tim played in all 82 games, notching an ice time just under 21 minutes, putting up 18 points, dropping almost 130 hits, being a +12 and letting his gloves drop 5 times. Gleason's fight card consists of Paul Gaustad, Andy Sutton, Chris Thorburn, Deryk Engelland and Kyle Clifford.


My Pick
Very tough year to pick a Stevens winner. Each guy played some solid, skilled, tough, physical hockey this past season. I'll go with Deryk Engelland. Engelland not only provided some high end physical defense, but also some high end fighting skills for a 2nd year in a row.


Past Winners
2010-11: Douglas Murray

[MattBurger]

Out of those choices, Engelland is the closest thing to a heavyweight, so I went with him.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by MattBurger

Out of those choices, Engelland is the closest thing to a heavyweight, so I went with him.

Same here. McQuaid is a good fighter, but he can't hang with the big boys.

Kind of a weird award descripiton. Judging by some of the votes a few may have taken that as the best Dman who fights, not the Dman who fights BEST... I mean Schenn.... really??

[kmd19]

This is a tough one. If I take the approach of comparing any of these guys to Stevens, I have to go with Gleason. He's the only one with stats that show he plays considerable minutes every night, hits, has positive stats and will fight when necessary.

[smashem]

Engs for sure, Mcquaid has surprised me alot over the past couple seasons. I talked with a AHL referee and he said he is a pretty good fighter.

[RetardedChimp]

John Scott would take it if he was on the list, but since he isn't, Engelland.

[Killah_punk]

Engelland and Gleason had a nice short bout this season.

Tim Gleason vs Deryk Engelland Jan 17, 2012 ...

[fcm]

Engelland.

But... I can't see how Douglas Murray already won that????

[Stevens Lindros]

No Stu Bickel in the nominees?


EDIT: For the record obviously not saying he would have won.

[Walt]

I think Shea Weber should be there. He's skilled and tough. And, of course, Chara. Maybe I misunderstood the category?

If it's just who is the best fighter from the blue line I'd probably go with John Erskine as Scott played a lot of forward this year.

[kam]

Originally Posted by Walt

I think Shea Weber should be there. He's skilled and tough. And, of course, Chara. Maybe I misunderstood the category?

If it's just who is the best fighter from the blue line I'd probably go with John Erskine as Scott played a lot of forward this year.

I was thinking more along those lines too but Stevens did put up big PIM numbers early in his career, this list sucks. Then again so do most of todays NHL defencemen as far as fighting goes.

[ssully1618]

but......mcquaid would pump engelland

[Blues 34]

Enggeland here for me

[hockey doc]

Chara should be there instead of spotpicker mcquaid, agree with Weber as well. Engelland is my pick.

[mikebflorida]

Tough not to pick DE, he's got good fighting skills and a temper which you have to like.

As far as "skill" as a dman, he's not all that good but neither are the others. This is a weird category.