The Top 10 Thread

[brawls16]

It was a real tough year this season, we saw way too many of the big boys sent down or cutt loose. Regardless, there were 10 fighters this season that played, that fought, that earned a spot in the Top10 no matter who was in and who was out.

Here it goes....

#1. Brian McGrattan - Belt holder
He's the Champion, no contest. Already a former Top5 and even Top3 fighter in his day, Brian came back from hard times in his personal life to regain his position in the NHL as one of the best! A perfect year for Gratts as he didn't lose a fight. His biggest competion on the year was George Parros who he had 2 outstanding fights with, earning a win and a draw. He also had what's going to be voted the Fight of the Year with Jay Rosehill and most likely the Fight of the Year runner-up with Cam Janssen. How about that! Add in two more solid fights with Jared Boll and Ryan Reaves, plus his TKO win over Kevin Westgarth in the pre-season, well then my folks we have ourselves a winner. Brain McGrattan is #1.

#2. Shawn Thornton - Fighter of the Year.
Out of the first 6 players in last years Top10, Shawn was the only one around this season so automatically he was in for a big jump. Then he goes off and leads the league in fights, did an outstanding job at enforcing and all in all his fights were really good, not too many duds. Most likely this years Fighter of the Year.

#3. George Parros
Always a boarderline Top10 fighter for some time now, George takes a huge leap, mostly due to the inactivities of previous members, but regarldess a solid display from one of the most active fighters of the past 5-7 years. Already a 3-Time Top10 fighter here on FC, Parros gets a Top3 spot for both his previous work, his high amounts of activity and most importantly his results from this year. Parros drew the Champion Brian McGrattan and gave him another solid go. No one had results like this against the New Champion. He also beat long-time veteran Eric Boulton and drew on of the most entertaining fighters ever, Darcy Hordichuk in Round15 of their series!

#4. John Scott
Again, Scott failed to put together a fightcard worthy of being considered a Champion-like fighter. Even though playing time and lack of opponants were a factor, he remains unbeaten in the NHL so I give him a Top5 spot, by default or not.

#5. Krys Barch
Yes, I said it. Barch's wins include George Parros, Cam Janssen, Jay Rosehill, Brandon Prust and Ryane Clowe. In addition to draws with Shawn Thornton, Jody Shelley and Jim Vandermeer. His only defeats on the year were in a second with with #2 fighter Shawn Thornton and in an upset against Chris Thorburn. That's a damn fine season, one of the best on the year. Very underrated this season.

#6. Cam Janssen
A younger version of Darcy Hordihuck, Cam has become the leagues most entertaining fighter the past little while now. All of his fights are at the very least decent, if not outstanding. He's got 2 fights that will be considerations for Fight of the Year for his bouts with Brian McGrattan and Michael Haley. Two wins against Haley plus another win against Brandon Prust, in addition with solid draws with #2 fighter Shawn Thornton and Top10 fighter Michael Rupp, well Cam easily earns a Top10 finish in my books.

#7. Matt Kassian
This years possible Rookie of the Year winner went undefeated with an impressive fightcard. Three wins against Darcy Hordichuk and a win against both Zenon Konopka and Guillaume Desbiens is ok. The huge factor here are his two solid draws with #2 and #3 fighters Shawn Thornton and George Parros. That's huge for any fighter, let alone a rookie.

#8. Michael Rupp
A surprise candidate this season, Rupp tore things up there for a bit. Huge wins against Shawn Thornton, Eric Boulton twice, Cam Janssen, Brandon Bollig and Lane MacDermid in addition to solid draws with Cam Janssen again and Paul Bissonnette. His defeats were George Parros and Jody Shelley respectivly, along with the only upset which was against Chris Thorburn. Solid year for Rupp, he's Top10 this season in my books.

#9. Eric Boulton
One of the longest surviving fighters in the league today, Eric put up another solid year and dispite his win/loss record, the talent on his fightcard and the results are more than good enough for a Top10 finish. Most of his fights were at least very decent, if not damn good! Wins against Jody Shelley, Tim Jackman and Doug Murray in addition to solid draws with Shawn Thornton and Brandon Prust are more than enough for me. Even his defeat against Chris Neil was a good showing.

#10. Jody Shelley
The old veteran finishes off my list. His fightcard doesn't have too many wins, but his showings against the Top10 fighters is damn impressive. First off, Jody TKO'd Michael Rupp in what might be his final NHL fight. Then he had solid draws with #2 Shawn Thornton and #5 Krys Barch plus a solid scrap with Darcy Hordichuk in another classic from those two! He finally got Zdeno Chara on his fightcard which went for a mutual draw, quite the name for an old veteran like Jody to get on there before he's done. Only real losses were against Jay Rosehill in the Enforcing Moment of the Season and in a very nice bout with Eric Boulton. Solid year from Jody, despite the win/loss.

Honourable Mention.
Brandon Bollig - Probably the runner-up for Rookie of the Year
Darcy Hordichuk - Outside of Matt Kassian, Darcy threw down hard this year in some beauties!
Ryan Reaves - Most likely a full-time Top10er next season.
Jay Rosehill - A full season would have put Jay in the Top10.
Milan Lucic - Did very well for himself. He swings with serious intent!

[Stevens Lindros]

Nice list, Janssen seems a little high though, lol.

[brawls16]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

Nice list, Janssen seems a little high though, lol.

Ya, numbers 6 through 10 are a coin toss really. I like Cam though as he actually enjoys fighting and always wants his fights to last a while. He rarely fights to win, he just fights for the sake of fighting and putting on a show. I like that. Just based on the entertaining value alone in his fights puts him in the Top10, but really I have no problems if you were to say he should be #10. He's a beauty!

I can only hope the Leafs bring Colton Orr back next year to team up with Jay Rosehill again. Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen has to be the best duo in the game!

[slashtrey]

Originally Posted by brawls16

Ya, numbers 6 through 10 are a coin toss really. I like Cam though as he actually enjoys fighting and always wants his fights to last a while. He rarely fights to win, he just fights for the sake of fighting and putting on a show. I like that. Just based on the entertaining value alone in his fights puts him in the Top10, but really I have no problems if you were to say he should be #10. He's a beauty!

I can only hope the Leafs bring Colton Orr back next year to team up with Jay Rosehill again. Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen has to be the best duo in the game!

Thornton and Lucic isn't a bad duo as far as heavyweight duos go.

[Whaler Fan]

Originally Posted by slashtrey

Thornton and Lucic isn't a bad duo as far as heavyweight duos go.

Yeah buddy.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlmCWcnXFOQ

[Stevens Lindros]

Matt Carkner doesn't get enough credit for actually finding 3 fights in 29 games [as well as the fight in his first playoff game this year, defending a teammate], he could have pulled a MacIntyre and found none.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by Whaler Fan

Yeah buddy.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlmCWcnXFOQ

I think Lucic is more of a power forward than a heavyweight enforcer, that role rests on Thornton's shoulders, not to mention Thornton is the much better fighter despite his smaller size.

[slashtrey]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

I think Lucic is more of a power forward than a heavyweight enforcer, that role rests on Thornton's shoulders, not to mention Thornton is the much better fighter despite his smaller size.

Nobody said he was an enforcer. That doesn't mean he's not a heavyweight.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by slashtrey

Nobody said he was an enforcer. That doesn't mean he's not a heavyweight.

Heavyweight and enforcer are usually used combined or interchangeably...

Physically, and with some of his opponents, he's a heavyweight, but over his career that's debatable because of most of his opponents and the fact he's a 2nd liner and a power forward. Not to mention, by your reasoning Brian Boyle is a heavyweight.

[straka91]

Fighting skill overall:
1.Big Mac
2.Macgrattan
3.Thornton
4.Scott
5.Parros (When balanced)
6.Bollig
7.Carkner
8.Erskine (Homer)
9.Boller (Homer)
10.Bam Bam (Homer)
Last: Wiese

Enforcing:
1.Neil
2.Thornton
3.Lucic
4.Reaves
5.Sestito
6.Engo
7.Bollig
8.Clowe
9.Parros
10.Haley (Homer)
Last: Scott, Big Mac, Westy

Irrelavent: Shelly, Rupp, Big Mac

Underrated: Barch, Hordichuck

[JeanLaRose]

Originally Posted by straka91

Fighting skill overall:
1.Big Mac
2.Macgrattan
3.Thornton
4.Scott
5.Parros (When balanced)
6.Bollig
7.Carkner
8.Erskine (Homer)
9.Boller (Homer)
10.Bam Bam (Homer)
Last: Wiese

Enforcing:
1.Neil
2.Thornton
3.Lucic
4.Reaves
5.Sestito
6.Engo
7.Bollig
8.Clowe
9.Parros
10.Haley (Homer)
Last: Scott, Big Mac, Westy

Irrelavent: Shelly, Rupp, Big Mac

Underrated: Barch, Hordichuck

McGrattan is a better fighter than MacIntyre.

[Stevens Lindros]

I really hope to see Shelley back next year, even if he doesn't get to play much.

[bruiser11]

Too bad McGrattan was only in 30 games this year.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by bruiser11

Too bad McGrattan was only in 30 games this year.

Better than 0!

[LuigiStone]

The only thing I can say after looking at some of those lists...HW fighting is dead in the NHL.

And by looking at the lack of threads...so is fighting in general.