I never saw Shultz play and I only remember Wilson as a Black Hawk, so Dave Brown is my pick, with Lindros second. Brown had a devastating left hook. I remember him coming out half dressed and fighting Chris Nilan during the famous pre-game brawl before Game 6 of the 1987 Wales Final. Brown also had some good fights with Jay Miller of Boston. I heard that Brown and Miller were actually friends off the ice in those days.
But I was always a fan of Boxcar Hospodar as well.
Ah! I forgot about Hospodar! I remember when he crosschecked Gretzky in the head while laying on him in the 1985 finals. And I remember him crosschecking an unsuspecting Mark Napier in the mouth when he was coming behind the net.
I will always love Dave Brown though for beating up a whiny Scott Stevens 2 times in 5 minutes back when Stevens was with the Caps.
I never saw Shultz play and I only remember Wilson as a Black Hawk, so Dave Brown is my pick, with Lindros second. Brown had a devastating left hook. I remember him coming out half dressed and fighting Chris Nilan during the famous pre-game brawl before Game 6 of the 1987 Wales Final. Brown also had some good fights with Jay Miller of Boston. I heard that Brown and Miller were actually friends off the ice in those days.
Ah, that brawl was one of the best ever. Both of those teams had some mean fighters and some heavy weights. I think Montreal had Nilan and John Kordic. The Flyers had Brown and then Don Nachbaur, Darryl Stanley, and Tocchet, and Hospodar.
Schultz isn't one of the top 5 fighters the Flyers have ever had.
He really struggled with those bigger them.
Dave Brown is right there with Bob Probert as far as all-time top NHL heavyweights.
He tops any Flyers list.
Here is a list a comprised during a thread during the season of shame (2006-07)
This isn't a best enforcer, or how often you fought thread. Gloves are off, who could thrown 'em better than anyone else.
1. Dave Brown - Big for his time, devastating left hand. Arguably a top 3 or 4 all-time NHL fighter. Nothing better than him tuning up Domi, while he was a Rag.
2. Behn Wilson - Didn't turn out to be the player he should have, but a devasting fighter. Big, stong, a bit nuts .. another dominant left hander.
3. Donald Brashear - Didn't fight often enough, but don't remember him losing a fight as a Flyer. Big, strong and could just wear opponents down. Usually would be on the receiving end of the first one or two punches before taking over.
4. Eric Lindros - Too talented to fight often, but the strongest player in the league, with the ability to just rag doll opponents.
5. Dave Schultz - Nobody fought more, and the reason the headbutt is now outlawed. The "Hammer" was a big reason why so many opponents suffered from the "Philly flu". His pummelling of Dale Rolfe during game 7 vs. the Rangers in 1974 was a huge reason the team advanced to the Finals. He had his troubles with bigger players (Gillies, Robinson).
6. Paul Holmgren - Flyers 2nd all-time PIM leader, a fiteness freak. Big, strong RW with a wicked temper. Had shoulder issues that prevented him from being even better, but a tremendous player and fighter. Didn't lose the anger as a coach, where he once lifted and pinned Mike Bullard to a wall by his throat.
7. Rick Tocchet - Made the team due to his toughness before transforming himself into a great power forward. Had some legendary battles with Scott Stevens. Flyers all-time PIM leader.
8. Mel Bridgeman - Not many #1 overall picks are going to make a list like this, but Bridgeman was an animal. Underrated as both a player and a fighter
9. Glen Cochrane - The orginal Rob Ray, stripping himself before battle. 1100+ PIM's in just 257 games. Mark Howe's early defense partner, loved to throw down and could do it with the best of them. Took too many dumb penalties that lead to his downfall.
10. Craig Berube - Took over for Dave Brown after he was shipped to Edmonton. The Chief didn't get to 1,000 games played in the NHL because of his wheels or touch around the net. He knew his role and was a great teammate.
Honorable mention - Bob Kelly, Dan Kordic, Darryl Stanley and Jack McIlhargey
Nice list but you have Brash, Lindros and Shuktz too high.
Tocchet and Berube should be right behind Wilson.
Lindros is like Chara. If they choosen to be the best HW they could be but Lindros just don't fight enough of the heavies to be considered ahead of Tocchet or Berube who fought guys like Webdell Clark, Probert, Miller on a regular basis.
Brashear rarely lost as a Flyer but also never just destroyed people. He played it safe with the hugging in a lot of fights but he was tough.
Shultz was the face of the Bullies but was only truly dominant for a few years compared to Tocchet and Berube who fought the best for over a decade.
Berube is one of the few to take his series of fights against Probert (3-2-1 or 4-2-1).
Tocchet had the most career Gordie Howe Hat tricks (Iginla may have past him).
Ah, that brawl was one of the best ever. Both of those teams had some mean fighters and some heavy weights. I think Montreal had Nilan and John Kordic. The Flyers had Brown and then Don Nachbaur, Darryl Stanley, and Tocchet, and Hospodar.
Although they did end up fighting after a few minutes, did you see the way Nilan apparently RAN from Brown when he first came out? Watch the video - I can't form any other conclusion.
