Hi. This is the first time I'm posting on Hfboards. But I have been following this forum for many years as a viewer, especially General Hockey Discussion.
In the 1990s and 2000s the enforcer was a common player role in the NHL. A player who deterred and often fought with other players. Sometimes they are called goons. Even during the first years after the 2004-05 lockout almost every NHL team had one or two fighters in their rosters. But since then the numbers of fights have decreased in the league. Nowadays there are rarely any players in the league as a whole with even 5-6 or more fights in a season (many people say that it's good though).
As the thread says, are there any enforcers/goons left in the NHL? I'm especially refering to fourth liners who usually play a maximum of 10 minutes per game (often less), have a clear purpose to play tough and fight (or at least be prepared to do it) and who usually pose a minimum offensive threat. But I guess there have existed traditional enforcers with some respectable offensive numbers too.
A player like Cody McLeod fits the criteria of a traditional enforcer/goon. But he plays in the AHL nowadays (and is the PIM leader). Micheal Haley also fits the criteria but he retired after the 2020-21 season (he only played in four NHL games that season). I guess Zac Rinaldo fits the citeria, but it looks like he won't play in the NHL anymore.
Ryan Reaves and Ross Johnston maybe?
Will the tradional enforcer/goon role die out? Can wee soon talk about the last goons in the NHL, almost like the last helmetless players or the last stand up goalies?
In the 1990s and 2000s the enforcer was a common player role in the NHL. A player who deterred and often fought with other players. Sometimes they are called goons. Even during the first years after the 2004-05 lockout almost every NHL team had one or two fighters in their rosters. But since then the numbers of fights have decreased in the league. Nowadays there are rarely any players in the league as a whole with even 5-6 or more fights in a season (many people say that it's good though).
As the thread says, are there any enforcers/goons left in the NHL? I'm especially refering to fourth liners who usually play a maximum of 10 minutes per game (often less), have a clear purpose to play tough and fight (or at least be prepared to do it) and who usually pose a minimum offensive threat. But I guess there have existed traditional enforcers with some respectable offensive numbers too.
A player like Cody McLeod fits the criteria of a traditional enforcer/goon. But he plays in the AHL nowadays (and is the PIM leader). Micheal Haley also fits the criteria but he retired after the 2020-21 season (he only played in four NHL games that season). I guess Zac Rinaldo fits the citeria, but it looks like he won't play in the NHL anymore.
Ryan Reaves and Ross Johnston maybe?
Will the tradional enforcer/goon role die out? Can wee soon talk about the last goons in the NHL, almost like the last helmetless players or the last stand up goalies?
