Bring Back The Bruise Bros

He wasn't a good hockey player last year, and still isn't this year. Give me a hint?

If Kenny picks him up, I take back everything negative I've ever said about him and this team. Realistically, I hope someone picks him up and he sticks around the league. Why did Calgary waive him? He was basically a regular on their 4th line last year. What happened?

Pathetic. If Babcock is serious about this (which he's not), he should at the very least be demoted. Personally I think he should sit for a game. Diving and embellishing is an embarrassment to the individual player, the coach, and the organization as a whole. I detest nothing more about the way hockey is "developing" than the way diving and embellishing is basically commonplace. Total garbage.

Jeez, how many divers can you fit on one team?

Joke of a suspension.

Lucic and Torres are far from goons, but I get what you're saying otherwise.

Before his time with the Sabres, I don't remember Scott ever being the subject of any controversy. He's gone after Kessel, been suspended for a hit on Loui Eriksson, and was suspended for an illegal line change to start a fight. The Kessel thing was cheap and the hit on Eriksson is viewed as dirty, but the line change suspension was pretty debatable, from what I remember. I don't know, for some reason I think Scott's reputation as a dirty player is overblown because of his role as an enforcer. Anyone else feel that way? This thing with Jackman didn't really seem to be intentional, but that's not to say Scott had no idea that he'd make contact with Jackman. Doesn't warrant any kind of suspension, in my mind.

So much truculence in this thread.

Yeah, Carcillo's never been a pure enforcer and definitely has turned into a spot-picking nobody these past couple years. I'm saying he was a lot more exciting earlier in his career when he was with the 'Yotes. Props to Crombeen and McLeod for being willing, but they're mediocre fighters. Crombeen is a technical fighter to the point where he'll grab his opponent's arm for dear life and throw two punches and wait for the refs to come in. He was more exciting earlier in his career, too. Regarding McKee, it'd be nice but don't get your hopes up.

Yeah, guys like Crombeen, Hendricks and McLeod are generally boring, but at least they're willing. Then again, some middleweights like Tanner Glass, Matt Martin, and Wayne Simmonds can throw pretty well. Some middleweights that were exciting earlier in their career hardly even fight anymore. Dan Carcillo is a classic example.

Yeah, I think there's still a need for players that can scrap but they've got to be able to play, too. The era of the heavyweight enforcer is basically over at this point. There are still a few around, but many have been demoted or just unable to find NHL roster spots. Orr and McLaren have been in the AHL all year. Westgarth couldn't get an NHL contract. Bissonnette is in the AHL I believe. Krys Barch couldn't find a roster spot. Matt Kassian couldn't, either. Jay Rosehill has been in the AHL all year, too. And even the remaining "heavyweights" that have roster spots haven't really been active:Brian McGrattan: 8 GP, 0 fighting majors John Scott: 12 GP, 2 fighting majors Luke Gazdic: 10 GP, 2 fighting majors Eric Boulton: 4 GP, 0 fighting majors Shawn Thornton: 22 GP, 3 fighting majors Anthony Peluso: 11 GP, 2 fighting majors Tom Sestito: 2 GP, 0 fighting majors Patrick Bordeleau has been inactive due to injury Middleweight scrappers that can play are the new norm with regards to fighting.

You guys expected someone on this team to stick up for Smith? Regarding the jersey over the head, Smith was still throwing with it over his head. I'm fine with the refs letting it continue so long as the guy with the jersey over his head is still throwing. The refs have been intervening too early in fights this year, and I think that will be the new norm. It should be enjoyed when a fight is allowed to run its course.

This sort of fighting is going to become more common if the "goon" continues to be phased out.

I don't think there were 5,000 people in the arena. Pretty sad. There is so much going on in Miami. Didn't they have issues selling out playoff home games when they made the playoffs a few years back?

This made my day. He deserves it. Here's to a healthy season filled with big hits!

It's pretty surprising to see so many heavyweight scrapper-types being demoted: - Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren both demoted by the Leafs to start the year. -Jay Rosehill was sent down to the AHL by the Flyers. -Krys Barch and Matt Kassian were both released from their tryouts with the Coyotes. -Paul Bissonnette was released from his tryout with St. Louis (Granted, he hardly fought last year, but a heavyweight, nonetheless) -Sheldon Brookbank was released from his tryout with Calgary. -Kevin Westgarth was released from his tryout with Edmonton. We can argue all day about whether this is good or bad for the game, but it is undeniable that the league is moving in a direction that isn't favorable to the "goon" types. That being said, they are still around, just in smaller numbers. The "hybrid" enforcer seems to be becoming the norm pretty quickly. Guys that can play a regular shift and provide the physical edge and willingness to fight are more preferable than a one-dimensional goon. Guys like Derek Dorsett, Chris Neil, Zac Rinaldo, Matt Martin, Brandon Prust, and Tanner Glass.

Dan Carcillo back to Chicago on a one year deal. Happy for him, but he needs to get back to playing the way that got him into the league.

That's the fourth line I'm hoping for this regular season. Not sure what Callahan's chances of making it are, though.

Neither of these guys are going to make it to Calgary. I can see Yonkman getting an AHL deal. Not sure about Gillies. He should probably just go back to the KHL and randomly beat on finesse players for no reason. Sheldon Brookbank will make the Flames team before Yonkman does.

Ryan White has signed with the Flyers. 1 year, two-way deal. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/07/ryan-white-agrees-to-terms-with-flyers/related/

Lawl. Please. Afraid he was gonna throw one punch and slip and fall on top of them?He would've been interesting to see as a forward, though.

May have something to do with the status of Kimmo Timmonen.

Why does Lilja even get mentioned every time we talk about fighters? Guy didn't even fight 15 times in his whole career.

He won that fight, yes. Don't think it was a TKO, though. Not that it really matters.Ericsson is better with the gloves off than Lilja was.

I enjoyed Lilja's physicality on the blueline, but he wasn't a good fighter. The fight against Boll was a draw, in my opinion. Lilja got one in early, but it was a short fight. The fights against Begin and Neil were so short that I don't remember punches being thrown. He beat Patrick Sharp, but he's Patrick Sharp. He got dropped by Shea Weber. The Phaneuf fight was pretty short and uneventful, too.