Beuk

[SnowblindNYR]

Can someone tell me more about him? I know he's a huge fan favorite. He seems to be liked almost as much as Leetch, Richter, and Messier. He once again was brought up in the prospects thread regarding McIlrath. I do think that this is worthy of its own thread as that thread is about current prospects. I know he was a tough physical guy that fought and I believe was Leetch's stay at home partner. How was his positioning? Was he just a physical guy that could fight or was he great defensively? Strictly speaking on physicality how does he compare to someone like Chara? Who is he similar to? Now or in the past?

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[Inferno]

there was an MSG special on him before.

He was a physically intimidating defensive defenseman. brought next to nothing offensively but was the rock that let Brian Leetch become the offensive juggernaut he became. it's tough to say who benefited most from that pairing because Leetch was always able to do whatever he wanted offensively knowing Beuke weould be back there shutting it down. He crushed people with hits.

cant really think of anyone like him right now...he was so frigging huge...Chara is tall and stuff, but Beuke was like Eric Lindros big...different kinda big.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Did you know that he was Joe Nieuwendyk's cousin?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Beukeboom

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Beuke would have a breakaway and completely miss the net and everyone cheered for him.

It was impossible to hate the guy. He was huge, physical, and completely dominated his role as defensive defenseman. He wasn't as good as other all star defensive d-men, but he had heart and soul and was just a fan favorite. Also, as was already mentioned, he was the rock which allowed Leetch to pinch in and do his 80 points a season thing.

 

[UlfNilsson]

Think of Hal Gill, only much much better IMO.

 

[Callagraves]

Beuk was actually his last name. The boom part was added after every hit.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

Think of Hal Gill, only much much better IMO.

Hal Gill was a 5th 6th dman... even when he was on the Bruins and Penguins..

 

[eco's bones]

Keeping in mind that the NHL hockey of the 90's was in a lot of ways different from the NHL hockey of today. More scoring, more fights, much more nasty. For a forward to set up in front of the other teams net he had almost to expect to get crosschecked and slashed numerous times--sometimes even punched without the referee raising his hand.

Beukeboom was very big. He was 6'5 which was about as big as players got back then--a little bit lanky. He was an average skater but he had a lot of wing span. He played with an edge all the time and he hit like a truck. Players caught trying to get past him on the outside that were driven into the boards--it could be heard all over MSG. He was just a big, gnarly defenseman and he rode shotgun on the Rangers 1st pairing with Brian Leetch for years. Not too many messed with Leetch--between Beukeboom going right after the perpetrator or Graves (if he were on the ice--if not he'd be going after them later) it was a no win situation. Beukeboom had some offense--not a lot. I seem to remember him hitting 30 points one season but 30 points from a d-man then is not what 30 points is now. Jeff was not really a goon but he could hang with a lot of them in a fight--kind of like Chris Neil does for Ottawa or Lucic for Boston.

One of my earlier memories of him was when he was an Oiler (along with Adam Graves). In Edmonton one night he and Tie Domi who was a rookie dropped the gloves. Domi was built like a fire hydrant--really stocky, strong guy who would shortly become one of the toughest guys in the league for years and years. Beukeboom using his reach just tattooing him with shots to the head that would have knocked 95% of the guys in the league right on their ass. Must have nailed Tie 7 or 8 times right in the mush. Tie takes one step to the inside then--switches hands and nails Beuk with a left uppercut that just buckles his knees and hits him another time or two before he hits the ice. As Tie's heading off to the box Graves knocks him on his ass from behind. Very soon after that we had all three of these guys on our team.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Beuk was probably a 2nd pair defenseman, by trade, pairing him with Leetch upped his game which, at its heart, wasnt that good.

He was a big, tough, mean SOB though. One of the toughest you'll ever find.

 

[Dalagaze]

He was a big, tough shutdown D who allowed Leetch to pretty much do what he wanted. I'm so glad he's coaching McIlrath.

 

[Tawnos]

He was an average-to-above-average skater with enormous size. The thing is that, at the time he was in his prime, just about every defenseman who was huge was also a terrible skater. It's what set him apart. He played with an edge and his hockey IQ was, if anything, underrated due to his nastiness and physicality. If he wasn't a first pair D on his own, he was close to it. However, his chemistry with Leetch and their perfectly complimentary abilities made him a first pair guy... even an ideal one.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

Beukeboom was a fan favorite because he didn't take **** from anyone. And he wouldn't allow any of his teammates to worry about goons going after them. He was a solid fighter. Terrific checker. And as mentioned, although he was big, he could move well for a big guy.

Those were physical days. More fighting. More gooning. Kocur. Domi. Probert. You needed guys like Beuk on your team. The fact that he could not only play, but play well against anyone made him special.

Despite the rough exterior, Beuk had a heart of gold. He did a lot of work with kids. He's a hell of a father too. Brock's a hockey player. Even his girl has some balls, she's a rugby player.

They don't make them like they used to. He was a fantastic Ranger. The kind of guy you will never forget.

**** you Matt Johnson. Epitome of a piece of ****. I understand the nature of the game, and how emotions can sometimes get the best of you, but that ****** ended Buek's career. He still had hockey left in him too. Pisses me off just thinking about that. Jeff wasn't a dirty player. Tough, physical, played with an edge, but wasn't dirty. **** you again, Matt Johnson. That moron still hasn't extended an apology. Disgusting.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Beukeboom was a fan favorite because he didn't take **** from anyone. And he wouldn't allow any of his teammates to worry about goons going after them. He was a solid fighter. Terrific checker. And as mentioned, although he was big, he could move well for a big guy.

Those were physical days. More fighting. More gooning. Kocur. Domi. Probert. You needed guys like Beuk on your team. The fact that he could not only play, but play well against anyone made him special.

Despite the rough exterior, Beuk had a heart of gold. He did a lot of work with kids. He's a hell of a father too. Brock's a hockey player. Even his girl has some balls, she's a rugby player.

They don't make them like they used to. He was a fantastic Ranger. The kind of guy you will never forget.

**** you Matt Johnson. Epitome of a piece of ****. I understand the nature of the game, and how emotions can sometimes get the best of you, but that ****** ended Buek's career. He still had hockey left in him too. Pisses me off just thinking about that. Jeff wasn't a dirty player. Tough, physical, played with an edge, but wasn't dirty. **** you again, Matt Johnson. That moron still hasn't extended an apology. Disgusting.

I hope Johnson gets PCS.

There. I'll say it. I hope he suffers someday from what he caused Jeff to suffer from. He is pure scum and he deserves the same agony.

----

Beuk was a hell of a player. Solid enough skater (Mac is better there), not much offense (Mac better there), but very good positioning and a mean streak for days. I would say that Mac's hockey sense is a minor step below, but I like his measurables more than Beuk. And that's saying something.

 

[UlfNilsson]

Hal Gill was a 5th 6th dman... even when he was on the Bruins and Penguins..

Only much, much better. No sad face needed.

 

[eco's bones]

Matt Johnson was an absolutely worthless hockey player. He was huge--couldn't skate--was only in the NHL for one reason. For a so called tough guy it was a cowardly move on his part attacking a player from behind. It's the one thing his career is remembered for--pretty much a stain.

 

[offdacrossbar]

The more we compare mcilrath to beuk the more difficult it will be for Dylan to be his own player. Mcilrath is much more mobile and athletic.

Please keep this in mind, in today's nhl, I'm not sure beuk would be much more than a 3rd pair guy. He didn't skate very well. Playing with #2 helped his career though.

The game today is so much faster and guys are so much better skaters, even large guys, and guys like Jeff would struggle to keep up.

Great dude though. Met him a few times and just as nice a man as you could ever meet.

 

[Kocur Dill]

The more we compare mcilrath to beuk the more difficult it will be for Dylan to be his own player. Mcilrath is much more mobile and athletic.

Please keep this in mind, in today's nhl, I'm not sure beuk would be much more than a 3rd pair guy. He didn't skate very well. Playing with #2 helped his career though.

The game today is so much faster and guys are so much better skaters, even large guys, and guys like Jeff would struggle to keep up.

Great dude though. Met him a few times and just as nice a man as you could ever meet.

For this reason I'm glad we have Beuk showing him the ropes in the AHL and maybe, if the chip fall right, having Ulfie, who was by all means a better athlete than Beuk to maybe up McIlraths game to a higher level than "just shutdown defender" in the NHL soon.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

He and Graves were my two favorite players growing up.

 

[pld459666]

He was an average-to-above-average skater with enormous size. The thing is that, at the time he was in his prime, just about every defenseman who was huge was also a terrible skater. It's what set him apart. He played with an edge and his hockey IQ was, if anything, underrated due to his nastiness and physicality. If he wasn't a first pair D on his own, he was close to it. However, his chemistry with Leetch and their perfectly complimentary abilities made him a first pair guy... even an ideal one.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

His hockey IQ was very high because his positioning was almost flawless.

Knowing his limitations, he always put himself in position to be successful against pretty much any player.

Chara without the offence.

 

[a tribe cq]

Everything mentioned above is the reason my first Rangers jersey as a kid was a nice Beuk from Cosbys in the Garden for Christmas.

Can't beat memories like that!

 

[007]

I remember Beuk as being very mobile for a guy his size. Whether is was that or his hockey sense, he never seemed to get caught out of position, despite the big hits he threw. Granted, he was so big, especially considering players were smaller in general in those days, that there was no way he'd be a figure skater out there, and he could be beaten, but he and Leetch were a pretty unique pairing.

I also recall him deking Ron Hextall on a breakaway coming straight out of the penalty box and Sam & JD laughing about it for minutes afterwards... One of my favorite hockey moments, but I've never seen it mentioned, so I sometimes wonder if I misremember it.

 

[Thordic]

This thread makes me feel old

 

[007]

This thread makes me feel old

This thread makes me feel awesome, as I got to see Beuk and Leetch at their best!

 

[Machinehead]

Beukeboom was awesome as a fan because he played his role so well and yet was so easy to make fun of. I'll never forget all the jokes growing up about how slow he was. Endless entertainment

I think he benefitted greatly from playing with Brian leetch who is an all-time great but a guy a find to still be massively underrated despite being an all-time great. Leetch was just so dominant.

That being said the big man played the role well, and like I said was just a loveable, entertaining player.

 

[The Beezer]

Beukeboom was a fan favorite because he didn't take **** from anyone. And he wouldn't allow any of his teammates to worry about goons going after them. He was a solid fighter. Terrific checker. And as mentioned, although he was big, he could move well for a big guy.

Those were physical days. More fighting. More gooning. Kocur. Domi. Probert. You needed guys like Beuk on your team. The fact that he could not only play, but play well against anyone made him special.

Despite the rough exterior, Beuk had a heart of gold. He did a lot of work with kids. He's a hell of a father too. Brock's a hockey player. Even his girl has some balls, she's a rugby player.

They don't make them like they used to. He was a fantastic Ranger. The kind of guy you will never forget.

**** you Matt Johnson. Epitome of a piece of ****. I understand the nature of the game, and how emotions can sometimes get the best of you, but that ****** ended Buek's career. He still had hockey left in him too. Pisses me off just thinking about that. Jeff wasn't a dirty player. Tough, physical, played with an edge, but wasn't dirty. **** you again, Matt Johnson. That moron still hasn't extended an apology. Disgusting.

Well Said.

He was the physical force that the Blueshirts could use on the blueline now. Wasn't afraid to drop them to protect a teamate. He knew his role and it made Brian Leetch that much better.

Had the pleasure of meeting him at one of the Toys for Tots events, he was a true gentleman that came across as sincere and humble. Definitely one of my favorites, that unfortunately had to hang them up early.