Hes a wings pick from the 5th round last year I believe. He led the USHL in fights last season, and is one off the lead this year. Hes 6'4, 240lbs so he would be pretty huge even in the NHL.
Hes currently on his second suspension of the year and has 156 pims in 17 games, on pace to break the league record. Its tough to find a lot of footage of him but heres a video of him fighting another scrappy guy who is 6'6
Only guy I can think of whose looking to have more of a goon season recently is Darren Kramer with almost 50 fights in the WHL
Here's my list of the best enforcer prospects (no particular order):
Derek Mathers
Cody Beach (enforcer or grinder)
Jamie Devane
Luke Gazdic
Josh Caron
Brandon Mashinter (enforcer or grinder)
Dylan McIlrath (enforcer or shutdown defenseman)
Harry Young
Eric Gryba (enforcer or shutdown defenseman)
Mark Borowiecki (enforcer or two-way defenseman)
Here's my list of the best enforcer prospects (no particular order):
Derek Mathers
Cody Beach (enforcer or grinder)
Jamie Devane
Luke Gazdic
Josh Caron
Brandon Mashinter (enforcer or grinder)
Dylan McIlrath (enforcer or shutdown defenseman)
Harry Young
Eric Gryba (enforcer or shutdown defenseman)
Mark Borowiecki (enforcer or two-way defenseman)
I'm probably missing a few more prospects.
Johnny McGuire , Krammer , Samuel Morin , Samuel Noreau ,
I was stunned when the Wings drafted him. Obviously he's built like a truck but he has horrible feet and doesn't move the puck well. There's a reason he was passed over in 2011.
That said, I thought being drafted by an organization like Detroit would lead him to take the next step in his 2nd season in the USHL and get him away from the goonery and downright savage antics on the ice and re-focus his energy on learning how to improve aspects of his game in the defensive zone and his skating.
But clearly that hasn't happened.
He's still every bit of a thug as last year (granted, that's what the fanbase feeds off of in Lincoln), been suspended twice, and leads the next closest player by 56 in penalty minutes.
Maybe not being able to fight in college will finally help him and Andy Murray can get the best out of him when he goes to Western Michigan.
Hes a wings pick from the 5th round last year I believe. He led the USHL in fights last season, and is one off the lead this year. Hes 6'4, 240lbs so he would be pretty huge even in the NHL.
Hes currently on his second suspension of the year and has 156 pims in 17 games, on pace to break the league record. Its tough to find a lot of footage of him but heres a video of him fighting another scrappy guy who is 6'6
I was stunned when the Wings drafted him. Obviously he's built like a truck but he has horrible feet and doesn't move the puck well. There's a reason he was passed over in 2011.
That said, I thought being drafted by an organization like Detroit would lead him to take the next step in his 2nd season in the USHL and get him away from the goonery and downright savage antics on the ice and re-focus his energy on learning how to improve aspects of his game in the defensive zone and his skating.
But clearly that hasn't happened.
He's still every bit of a thug as last year (granted, that's what the fanbase feeds off of in Lincoln), been suspended twice, and leads the next closest player by 56 in penalty minutes.
Maybe not being able to fight in college will finally help him and Andy Murray can get the best out of him when he goes to Western Michigan.
I've always read hes pretty fast for his size which makes me think he'll be converted to forward but I agree the NCAA is the way for him to go and actually get a shot at the NHL.
If he can become a fast skater with that frame he could become the 13th forward who just runs everyone for the wings. He just switched to defense a couple years ago
I was pleasantly surprised that Detroit drafted him. I don't know much about guys outside of the NHL and (now) AHL. All you need to know is that this guy has the mean streak that Detroit has been missing. When will he head off to WMU? I thought he was supposed to start there this fall? College hockey will hopefully help him round out his overall game, especially skating, with the lack of fighting at the NCAA level.
No, he's not. I like him, but he would get destroyed by the OHL/WHL/Q guys. McKee is one scary SOB though.
What makes you so sure? I've watched him lay a beating to plenty of guys and hes 6'4, 240lbs. I'm not sayinghe would never lose a fight to the top dogs in other leagues but he could definitely hang with the big boys and probably be considered arguably the toughest player in any of those leagues or at least a dominant heavyweight with a couple guys maybe better.
I guess I'm asking is which guys are you so sure from those leagues would absolutely destroy him?
And the point of this thread isnt me saying hes the best fighter or toughest guy (although I tihnk hes probably up there) but more also to point out his antics. Multiple suspensions, all those pims etc. Is there anyone more of a meat head?
^^^^ He would definitly hang with them but its more difficult in the chl. Do you remember Andrew Conboy, he was the badess in the ushl and look what he became. Guys in this league are generaly softer and less tough, so he face less competition and look tougher......and for the ahl thing, I think I don't have to talk about it
^^^^ He would definitly hang with them but its more difficult in the chl. Do you remember Andrew Conboy, he was the badess in the ushl and look what he became. Guys in this league are generaly softer and less tough, so he face less competition and look tougher......and for the ahl thing, I think I don't have to talk about it
This. Brandon Bollig, Ryan Schnell, Andrew Conboy, Stu Bickel, Matt Clackson and Jared Boll were good fighters when they played in the USHL. But they never developed into legit heavyweights in the professional league.
He is the best USHL fighter I have seen in a long time. Plus his stength is already pro level according to the people that were at summer camp. Fischer said he would already be the strongest Wing in terms of what weights he lifts and the sheer power he has. I am sure he would come across more guys that could throw in the CHL, but I think he would handle himself quite well. He is a tough kid and he enjoys it, wherever he goes he is going to square up with the best they can offer. My guess is he won't lose a lot, but I still think he is a very rough project, he is going to have to be a lot better everywhere else in his game to make a decent pro career and I mean AHL at this point not even NHL.
He is the best USHL fighter I have seen in a long time. Plus his stength is already pro level according to the people that were at summer camp. Fischer said he would already be the strongest Wing in terms of what weights he lifts and the sheer power he has. I am sure he would come across more guys that could throw in the CHL, but I think he would handle himself quite well. He is a tough kid and he enjoys it, wherever he goes he is going to square up with the best they can offer. My guess is he won't lose a lot, but I still think he is a very rough project, he is going to have to be a lot better everywhere else in his game to make a decent pro career and I mean AHL at this point not even NHL.
sure, a guy that is 240lbs with a athletic body will be stronger than a 200lbs guy generaly but strength in a fight make minimal impact if you don't use it at your advantage or if you fight a guy that know what he do. Scott Parker wasn't strong at all but was one of the better in this area. I just hope for wings fan and fight fan that Mckee make it to the big club so we can enjoy watching him. Is body frame look alot like Kassian no?
^^^^ He would definitly hang with them but its more difficult in the chl. Do you remember Andrew Conboy, he was the badess in the ushl and look what he became. Guys in this league are generaly softer and less tough, so he face less competition and look tougher......and for the ahl thing, I think I don't have to talk about it
good comparison in conboy who is 6'3 but a little lighter. he went to Michigan state after and wasn't really allowed to fight. he played for habs farm team in hamilton but was absolutely not a heavyweight - he was OK as a middleweight but never cracked habs lineup - was eventually released and now playing in the ECHL
when i said ahl i didn't mean he could take on the toughest guys in the ahl i meant he could hang around as an 19 year old and win a few fights with guys who challenge him. Obviously if he took on a 27 plus goon with fighting experience he would lose, but saying that just because he is in the ushl he can not hang with people in the chl is crazy. The guy is 6'4 240 with a mean streak and he can throw em. Most fighters in the NHL are not that size let alone the chl.
one of the best this year in the ahl is Brett Gallant and he's 6'0'' and 185lbs
Sort of, but the best fighter usually has a lot of it and skills on top. It doesn't mean he wins everything, but McKee has a lot of power in his hands. He wins with a lot of leverage and power and then keeps the guy where he wants him while pounding away with his reach.
You can be a smaller guy and be successful, but when you combine the size factor if the guy actually turns in to a legit fighter it is a big deal.
Sort of, but the best fighter usually has a lot of it and skills on top. It doesn't mean he wins everything, but McKee has a lot of power in his hands. He wins with a lot of leverage and power and then keeps the guy where he wants him while pounding away with his reach.
You can be a smaller guy and be successful, but when you combine the size factor if the guy actually turns in to a legit fighter it is a big deal.
yes, I agree, but Mckee could face better competition in the chl and we could see if is really good or just ok.
This. Brandon Bollig, Ryan Schnell, Andrew Conboy, Stu Bickel, Matt Clackson and Jared Boll were good fighters when they played in the USHL. But they never developed into legit heavyweights in the professional league.
As legit heavyweights go in today's NHL, I would say Jared Boll is one.
There aren't many and the bar is now set much much lower.
