When NHL betting fans turn
on a hockey game today, they’d swear they were watching “old-time hockey” from
the 1970s. Players are dropping the gloves at a rapid rate – 25 per cent more
often than last year – calling to mind the glory days of “Mad” Mike Milbury beating a fan with his own
shoe. While we may never see that level of carnage again (sigh), goons are
definitely making a big comeback in the NHL. Anyone who tracks NHL lines
should take note, as big fights can alter the tone of a game and sometimes send
star players to the dressing room.
Naturally, the fighting
renaissance calls to mind the question: who’s the best of the best today? I’m
not talking about power forwards like Jarome Iginla, punishing hitters like Dion
Phaneuf or even world-class agitators like Sean Avery. I’m talking about true
goons, enforcers who drop their gloves almost every night and protect their
teammates. Who strikes fear into the hearts of his opponents like nobody else?
Behold, the top five
goons in the NHL today.
5. Derek Boogaard – Minnesota Wild
A YouTube sensation,
Derek Boogaard is known for his flashy, one-punch knockouts. Sure, he’s not
very good at that “hockey” thing. He may
not even know how to hold a stick properly. But if your fellow NHL betting fan in the
adjacent cubicle yells “dude, you have to come see this fight!” -- chances are
he’s showing you some Boogaard magic. And who wouldn’t be intimidated by a guy
whose name starts with Boo? And ends with “gaard”?
4. Daniel Carcillo – Phoenix Coyotes
324 penalty minutes
would be respectable for a five or 10-year career. Phoenix’s Daniel Carcillo
did it in 57 games last year. Are you
kidding me? Not only does he have to be an extremely tough S.O.B. to fight that
often, the sheer fact that he had time to
amass that many PIMs is astounding. He even chipped in 13 goals last year,
presumably while staying on the ice for about one minute per game. If sportsbooks posted
the odds of Carcillo dropping the mitts on any given night, NHL betting fans would
have an easy decision.
3. Milan Lucic – Boston Bruins
When fans hear Lucic’s
name, they don’t immediately think “goon.” That’s because the kid has loads of
talent. Already adored in Beantown, Lucic has been anointed the second coming
of Cam Neely. He can score, he pumps up the crowd, and he can throw punches with
the best of ’em. Playing on the top line, he’s a big reason why NHL odds favor
the Bruins more often than not. Any
rival goon who underestimates Lucic because of his offensive prowess is in for
a rude awakening.
2. Georges Laraque – Montreal Canadiens
With apologies to
Donald Brashear, Laraque is still the best remaining member of the NHL’s old
generation of goons. Sure, he doesn’t drop the gloves as much as he used to,
but there’s a reason for that: everyone’s still afraid to fight him. An oldie
but a goodie, he sticks up for his teammates like nobody else. NHL betting fans should
always pick Laraque to win.
1. George Parros – Anaheim Ducks
Stanley Cup ring?
Check. Iconic mustache? Check. Economics degree from Princeton? Let me repeat
that. ECONOMICS DEGREE FROM PRINCETON!!?? Check. How can we not crown Parros
the king of all goons? He can trade blows with the best of them, but that’s
just the beginning. His bushy facial hair could make a primate jealous. Most of
all, he has as much brains as every other NHL enforcer combined. Princeton? If
the league’s goons formed their own society, Parros would clearly be their
King. No, Overlord. No, Supreme Chancellor.
An honorable mention
goes to these
guys, who apparently decided to recreate Braveheart on ice. Anyone who bet
online that this would happen is now very wealthy.