A look at Northeast division team’s enforcers for the upcoming season
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Colton Orr, right, fights with Calgary Flames forward Brian McGrattan, left, during first-period NHL hockey game action on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Toronto. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Nathan Denette)
The next division we’ll take a look at, in our second part in a look at team’s enforcers for the upcoming season series, is the Northeast division.
The first team we’ll look at is my favorite and hometown team, the Boston Bruins. Shawn Thornton will be the enforcer once again for the Bruins this season. Thornton is not a heavyweight in size but had 21 fights in 74 games last season. Ex-Senator/Coyote/Flame Brian McGrattan was invited to the B’s training camp so look for him to challenge Thornton for that enforcer spot or at least a roster spot, but I’m guessing he’ll be either sent to the AHL or be released. I’m hoping he is kept in the Bruins system and brought up if needed. McGrattan played 34 games with the Calgary Flames last season and got into 14 fights.
The next team we’ll look at are the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres haven’t had an enforcer since they let Andrew Peters go a few years back. They do have Tim Conboy on their roster but I don’t know if he’ll make the team and even if he does, is anyone afraid of him?
Up next are the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are another team that doesn’t have an enforcer on their roster. Georges Laraque is now gone from the Canadiens and maybe doing more energy drink commercials?
Next up are the Ottawa Senators. The Senators have Matt Carkner and Chris Neil to be their team’s enforcers. Last season Carkner had 24 fights in 81 games. While Neil had 13 fights in 68 games. Francis Lessard is on the Senators training camp roster but I doubt he will make the team.
And last are the Toronto Maple Leafs, no not last in the division rankings… I think… ok yeah I’m just joking they’ll probably be last in the division by the season’s end, but if Carey Price sucks in net for Montreal then the Leafs may have more points than Montreal, who knows. The Leafs have one of the best tough guys in Colton Orr as their enforcer. Orr had 23 fights in 82 games last season. It’s rare to see a tough guy play in every game during the season, because of injuries and sometimes healthy scratches, but kudos to Orr. The Leafs signed small tough guy Mike Brown who will take on any lightweights-to-middleweights if necessary. Brown had 14 fights in 75 games last season. With Orr and Brown on the roster, there’s a small chance that tough guy Jay Rosehill will be needed, but you never know as he made the team at the start of last season.
The next division we will look at is the Southeast division. Stay tuned for that post!
Past parts of this series
