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"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
We lead the whole league in fights last year. With a young team, I like that we have guys who will drop the gloves on the roster. I don't want any of our young players developing timid streaks because we don't have guys who will answer the bell and keep other teams honest. Players seem to play with more of an edge when they have someone on the bench to fight.
It was frustrating when someone like Voros would try to handle business only to get his clock cleaned.
Of our recent goons I liked Orr. He got under Cindy's skin... He also threw punches to hurt people and was a top 3 heavy when he was here.
Joey kocur was the best tough guy the rangers ever had, for my money. He could play a little and really kemp things cool. Scariest fighters ever for the rangers were kocur, churla, and, domi. Id say. Chris simon too, but i dont remember many people willing to fight him.
If rupp does not get his game together he will be forced to become a goon. He was injured a lot this past season and never got on track, if he doesn't return to his old form he will only be a deterrent as he doesn't score, he doesn't win faceoffs or kill penalties, he doesn't do anything except intimidate and fight. That is a goon, I hope we get the rupp from the winter classic back, but only time will tell.
People who think Asham is just coming here to fight are going to be pleasantly surprised.
Yes he fights, and he's good at it. But he's also a hard-nosed competitive guy who's going to buy right into the shot blocking mantra, he agitates the hell out of the other team, and he's far, FAR better than Prust offensively. Asham has had 6 20 point seasons and a 30 point season. Prust has had one 20 point season. Rupp has never had a 20 point season. In fact, Asham's career high in assists ties Rupp's in points. He's a 4th line player but he's a decent passer and will pop in the occasional goal, in addition to being a nasty mother ****er, an all-out competitor, and a good team guy.
New York is really gonna like Aaron Asham, and I'm pumped to have him.
And don't mistake him being on multiple teams for him being a problem. Guys like him move alot because they're not Crosby or Stamkos, they're replaceable players. Even Prust who is a really great guy and has the heart of Rocky Balboa will be on his 4th different team in 8 seasons when he puts on the Habs jersey, 5th if you count separate stints with the Flames.
Kocur was the most feared fighter we ever had. He would try to line someone up for a big punch and if he did it could be lights out. Fotiu comes after. Nick liked to box--he didn't want to grab hold or wrestle. Domi for a small guy packed a lot of punch. McPhee was another small guy who embarrassed a lot of bigger guys. Langdon didn't have the punching power of the guys mentioned above but he was very strong and had a tremendous amount of endurance. He didn't KO too many but he cut up more than a few. Vickers was an interesting choice by Chosen. A very infrequent fighter but he knocked a few people out. Good hockey player for several years. If he had been a little bit meaner he'd be comparable to today's Millan Lucic. Ron Harris--another infrequent fighter but a bad one to dance with. Prust was a technician--another guy who could fight above his weight class. Graves--more a guy who fought when someone started messing with his teammates. Barnaby. Orr--lots of power--crappy hockey player. Stock--another little guy. He got in some real donnybrooks. Purinton was just a wild out of control guy. Funny though he coaches a BCHL team these days.
Some of these guys could really play--Kocur, Fotiu, Domi, Vickers, Prust, Graves, Barnaby.
Some not so good--Orr, Purinton, Harris (was a decent bottom pairing d-man who sometime played on the wing), Langdon, Stock.
McPhee never really showed whether he had it or not--as he was always getting injured--a lot of it was his hands.
The best fighter the Rangers ever had in my time was Kocur. That's including the modern day goofballs the Rangers have had. Nobody could go toe to toe with him. Excuse me very few were stupid enough to do so. Plus he could play.
Gravey, Mess, Kocur
Leetch and Beuk
What a great lineup to start every game.
I wear 22 because of Fotiu so I'm partial to Nicky but Kocur was one tough hombre.
No love for Jeff Bloemberg? ;-)
