Highest pick used on a goon?

[denverdevil]

Those with more hockey history knowledge than I can probably spit out a few names immediately.

I'm interested in knowing who are the highest drafted goons in the history of the NHL. I'm talking about players who were drafted specifically, or in very large part, for their gooniness.

I know what constitutes a goon is subjective so, of course, I'm just looking for your opinions.

 

[dafoomie]

Brad May was 14th overall in 1990, but he was drafted for more than that. I wouldn't quite call him a typical goon, either.

 

[asdf]

The Nords drafted Wade Belak 12th overall in 1994. He wasn't exactly known for his scoring prowess. Does that count?

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Scott Parker was taken 20th overall in 1998. He was considered a budding power forward, until teams realized he had hands of concrete and couldn't skate.

 

[Jungosi]

Link Gaetz was drafted #40th overall for nothing more than fighting.

 

[Bill_Meltzer]

An obvious one: Shawn Antoski in 1990 (drafted ahead of Keith Tkachuk and Martin Brodeur). He was Vancouver's second pick of the first round, but I think it qualifies.

 

[hfboardsuser]

Scott Parker, 20th Overall. The Avs had four first rounders, and knew they wouldn't be able to afford paying all three "first round money". They knew Tanguay, Skoula and Regehr would demand as much, so they decided to fill a need and meet their budget by drafting Parker.

 

[discostu]

Was Wade Belak ever considered to be more than a goon, to warrant his high draft placement? I know he played defence, but, was he considered a top defensive defenceman in juniors? The year he was drafted, he was actually only the 7th highest scoring defenceman on his team, but, revelations that Belak sucks offensively isn't exactly newsworthy.

 

[denverdevil]

The Nords drafted Wade Belak 12th overall in 1994. He wasn't exactly known for his scoring prowess. Does that count?

I would say a line like this in 2002-03 would help solidify your goony reputation.

GP G A Pts PIM
55 3 6 9 196

An obvious one: Shawn Antoski in 1990 (drafted ahead of Keith Tkachuk and Martin Brodeur). He was Vancouver's second pick of the first round, but I think it qualifies.

Good one.

1995-96
GP G A Pts PIM
64 1 3 4 204

 

[BenIgnorant]

Link Gaetz. As North Stars GM Lou Nanne put it:

in the first round we drafted Mike Modano to protect the franchise, in the second round we drafted Link to protect Mike, and in the third round we should've drafted a lawyer to protect Link."

In 1988 in the WHL link had 29 pts, 313 PIM in 59 games.

 

[canucksfan]

Alex Stojanov was drafted 7th overall by the Canucks. He only had 2 goals and 222 PIMS.

 

[Shoalzie]

Scott Parker was taken 20th overall in 1998. He was considered a budding power forward, until teams realized he had hands of concrete and couldn't skate.

He was the name I thought of. Wasn't he part of the same draft where the Avs had three or four first round picks? It think they got Tanguay and Regehr in that draft as well.

EDIT--Mr. Bugg beat me to it...

 

[pnep]

Wade Belak?

 

[pnep]

Larry Playfair ?

Steve Durbano ?

 

[denverdevil]

Larry Playfair ?

Odd name for a goon.

 

[timlap]

Belak doesn't really qualify. D-men don't have to score to be valuable, and I'm sure Belak would have been drafted with the hope that he would be solid stay-at-home guy who was also super-tough.

He's not a terrible defenceman either, just not quite NHL calibre. He is most effective as a 4th line winger to deliver big checks and keep the other team honest. (and chip in the occasional goal ).

I think there must have been some serious goon drafted high in the 70s, when goons were far more valuable. But I was not old enough then to be aware of how prospects were perceived.

 

[timlap]

Tiger Williams was 31st overall, though he was a bit more talented than a pure goon.

 

[reckoning]

1979 was the deepest draft ever. The first round alone had 11 players who went on to play over 1000 games. Who did the Winnipeg Jets draft? Jimmy Mann, whose NHL career consisted of 30 points and 895 PMs in 293 games. It was somewhat prophetic of the luck Winnipeg would have in the NHL.

 

[Mad Habber]

To be fair to the Canucks, they thought they were drafting a future power forward when they took Stojanov at 7th.

1989-90 Hamilton Dukes OHL 37 4 4 8 91
1990-91 Hamilton Dukes OHL 62 25 20 45 179
1991-92 Guelph Storm OHL 33 12 15 27 91
1992-93 Guelph/Newmarket OHL 49 36 35 71 55

but they knew exactly what they were getting when they drafted Antoski at 18th.

1987-88 North Bay Centennials OHL 52 3 4 7 163
1988-89 North Bay Centennials OHL 57 6 21 27 201
1989-90 North Bay Centennials OHL 59 25 31 56 201

 

[MXD]

They don't qualifiy as goons at all, but Behn Wilson was picked 6th overall and Phil Russell 13th.

 

[brianscot]

Bryan Marchment went 16th overall in 1987.

Not a true goon either. A true goon would at least fight you straight up instead of going for your knee.

 

[BNHL]

Andrei Nazarov was 10th overall in 1994.

 

[BNHL]

Brad May was 14th overall in 1990, but he was drafted for more than that. I wouldn't quite call him a typical goon, either.

I remember them hoping they had another Neely.

 

[EpochLink]

1979 was the deepest draft ever. The first round alone had 11 players who went on to play over 1000 games. Who did the Winnipeg Jets draft? Jimmy Mann, whose NHL career consisted of 30 points and 895 PMs in 293 games. It was somewhat prophetic of the luck Winnipeg would have in the NHL.

John Ferguson thought he would be this great power forward he was looking for, not to be. Fergie would strike out on that pick but found gold in the later rounds...Dave Christian, Thomas Steen and Tim Watters were drafted later in the same year. All three played more games than Mann did.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Tie Domi 27th overall in 1988.
3515 career PIM's.