Five Spot: Top Five Brawlers on the Bruins

by Eric Ahearn

This week we are counting down the top five fighters on the Boston Bruins. Most teams don't have five guys on their roster that would be as willing to brawl as these five. With the B's taking on the Rangers this weekend, the team that fights more than anyone in the NHL, it's only appropriate to take a look at who might square off. Enjoy. 

#5 Nathan Horton:

You might say Horton should be left off this list since he’s currently fighting a concussion, but this guy is a bruiser. When he was traded to the Bruins he was asked to play a certain style of hockey and he has turned into a feared man. Some of the fights that jump out are wins against Dion Phanuef from Toronto and Evander Kane from Atlanta/Winnipeg. When healthy, and paired with Lucic, he becomes one of the two bash brothers on the top line that come to each other’s aid in a heartbeat. Horton could have been easily left off this list due to injury, but his loyalty to playing Bruin hockey made me keep him on.

 

#4 Zdeno Chara:

Little bit of a surprise here. Many Boston homers would have him at #1 simply because his physical size at 6’9”, 255 pounds makes him dominant. The reason why I have him down at #4 is because of his style of fighting. Chara is way more important to his team on the ice rather than in the box for 5 minutes of shame. Chara also usually will throw 3-4 bombs real quick during the fight…and nothing lands, he quickly wrestles the guy to the ground. He is still a great fighter, but when compared to our top 3…you got to bring more to the table.

#3 Shawn Thornton:

Another shock here. The man who is paid to be a fighter off the 4^th line is not our top dog. Though he will lead the team in fights until he leaves the Bruins at sometime in the future, he just is not as fierce as the top two. There is not much you need to write about Thorton. He has fought top fighters such as Laraque and Colton Orr, while also fighting the late Derek “boogey man” Boodgaard (6’8” 270). Thornton fears nothing and will fight a 9-year-old girl if he feels it will help out the team. During the fights he is a technician. He controls the other players’ arms until he feels that it is time to beat the bag out of his opponent.

#2 Adam McQuaid

Let me preface his break-down with the fact that he may be my favorite player in the entire NHL. When this man fights there is no shortage of passion. When the switch is flipped he gets so angry so fast that instead of cheering for him, you’re overwhelmed by the idea that you might see full grown man kill somebody on live TV. His fight against Raffi Torres this year solidified him as a top fighter in the league. Often people feel that McQuaid should fight more, but the reason he doesn’t? Would you fight him? Hell, I don’t think I would even look him directly in the eyes. Not too many people are willing to drop the gloves. He is your prototypical defensive defenseman. That’s it… I’m buying a jersey!

#1 Milan Luuuuuuucic

With the top-4 being as stacked at it is, I don’t think many people can complain with this choice. Not only does Milan bloody most people, but he often fights when the team needs him most. After running goalie Ryan Miller, he accepted the challenge of fighting Paul Gaustad. Gaustad measures in at 6’5” and was trying to do the right thing and stand by his team. Poor…poor man. He got dropped by Lucic after a good attempt and fell on Buffalo’s home ice. Once Lucic grabs somebody, the opponent immediately fights for survival more than he fights Lucic. Much like old-time hockey fans used to stand up when Bobby Orr began to take flight, people hope and pray for the next Lucic fight. He is definitely the top dog in my opinion. A true Bruin prototype.

Honorable Mention: TUUUUkka Rask:

He has never been in an NHL fight, but after watching this video, I am led to believe he would be the second player in hockey history to take of his skate and try to stab someone with it.