How often have you seen Probert get demolished in a fight? Enter Chris Simon vs. Probert in 1996 playoffs

[Big Phil]

Okay, so admittedly I never remember this fight. I was watching an old game on NHL classics the other day it was Game 4 of the 1996 series between the Avs and Hawks. One thing to remember, Chicago was up 2-1 in this series and it went to triple overtime before Sakic scored to tie the series. A very pivotal game to be honest that people forget about. Roy was brilliant in overtime and one thing that sticks out is that Roenick had a breakaway in I think it was double overtime and got his feet taken out from under him without the puck being touched. I have no idea how this was not a penalty shot, let alone a penalty. But nothing was called. Roenick was livid. It was actually a very bad non-call. Even in 1996, even in overtime in the playoffs, that was called. Anyway, earlier in the game there was a fight between Chris Simon and Bob Probert. And I don't think I have ever seen Probert get his clock cleaned. I've seen him technically lose a fight slightly where you give the other guy the edge, but I have never seen this sort of thing before.

Simon was tough of course, and you can't blame Probert, there has to be sometime he gets smoked in all of the fights he had. But anyway, just wondering if anyone remembers this at all.

 

[heretik27]

I'm going to assume without looking it up that because the announcer says Simon went after Probert because he ran over Sakic that it's possible Probert was near the end of his shift when Simon got to him? No shame in losing a fight to a tough guy like Simon though, he was a scary dude.

Just looked it up on yt, Probert was on the ice for a decent 40 seconds with a rush up the ice and back as well as two hits by my count before he engaged with Simon. Safe to say he was probably tired going into it.

 

[FerrisRox]

Bob Probert wasn't really Bob Probert in 1996.

 

[Brodeur]

This was a few years before I got into hockey, so this was an interesting retroactive rewatch. Crowder held his own against Probert in a few scraps.

The funny thing is that it might've helped the Devils towards a Cup.

Crowder left such an impression that after that season, Detroit signed him to a Group I offer sheet; Back in 1988-1994, there was a different set of RFA which had a process called "equalization" where the two teams essentially had to work out a trade or go before an arbitrator.

Fresh off getting Scott Stevens as equalization for Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello had the nerve to request Probert for Crowder. Detroit offered Dave Barr and Randy McKay. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the Red Wings.

McKay would be a useful player on a couple of Cup teams. As I remember it, Crowder hurt his back and only played a handful of games for Detroit then missed a couple seasons.

 

[Hockeyholic]

I was thinking of this series a few weeks ago.

Colorado is a Belfour flu away (And Hawks game 4 goal away) from possibly losing this series. This was by far their toughest challenge. Chicago winning this series essentially ensures Detroit a cup in 96.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

I was thinking of this series a few weeks ago.

Colorado is a Belfour flu away (And Hawks game 4 goal away) from losing this series. This was by far their toughest challenge. Chicago winning this series essentially ensures Detroit a cup in 96.

Balfour whiskey flu.

 

[GMR]

Probert was KO'd by Todd Ewen.



He later came back in the same GAME to fight Ewen.

 

[wetcoast]

Bob Probert wasn't really Bob Probert in 1996.

This was going to be my take and I remember Craig Coxe for the Canucks always did really well against Probert.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Probert was KO'd by Todd Ewen.



He later came back in the same GAME to fight Ewen.

Probert was the kind of guy that would come back at whoever beat him in a fight and get the better of them in the next bout.

 

[GMR]

Probert was the kind of guy that would come back at whoever beat him in a fight and get the better of them in the next bout.

Yeah, nowadays he'd never be allowed to return in that game. Different treatment toward head injuries.

 

[cupcrazyman]

It's a tough way to earn a living.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Colorado is a Belfour flu away (And Hawks game 4 goal away) from losing this series.

They lost the Hackett game, 5-1. You're acting like it was an overtime game or something.

 

[Hockeyholic]

They lost the Hackett game, 5-1. You're acting like it was an overtime game or something.

If memory serves correct, Chicago was up 1-0 in the series before Belfour got the flu.

Not saying Colorado doesn't win game 2. But it probably isn't a blowout either way.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

If memory serves correct, Chicago was up 1-0 in the series before Belfour got the flu.

Not saying Colorado doesn't win game 2. But it probably isn't a blowout either way.

Sure. That's a lot different than "Colorado is a Belfour flu away (And Hawks game 4 goal away) from losing this series."

 

[Hockeyholic]

Sure. That's a lot different than "Colorado is a Belfour flu away (And Hawks game 4 goal away) from losing this series."

Oh I'm so so sorry.

I forgot to include the word "Possibly".

Oops...

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Oh sorry Master.

If you wanted my attention, you've got it. That's a choice, I guess.

Your claim was a large stretch, and I called it out. It's a discussion forum.

 

[Hockeyholic]

If you wanted my attention, you've got it. That's a choice, I guess.

Your claim was a stretch, and I called it out. It's a discussion forum.

Wasn't a stretch at all.

You are looking to argue over nothing.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Wasn't a stretch at all.

You are looking to argue over nothing.

If it was nothing, you wouldn't have just now retro-edited your claim. Good on you for admitting that it was an issue.

 

[Hockeyholic]

If it was nothing, you wouldn't have just now retro-edited your claim. Good on you for admitting that it was an issue.

Yeah ok lol...

 

[Buffalowing1988]

Belfour was a gamer. Colorado was a wagon. I don't know why it needs to devolve.

It's rough to see that Ewen fight and think about where Probert even was mentally then. He kept it together for a long time but those hits added up. 2010/2011 was just a terrible time to be a fight fan.

I always thought of Probert as the "big bad" of the mid-90s even. I don't think he faced Buffalo much, if at all. But our own "badass", Rob Ray, started getting some ass-kickings not long after and it was tough to watch. It's a miracle that the man is now essentially going to be in charge of Sabres on-air commentary moving forward.

 

[seventieslord]

That season was a coming out party for Simon. I remember being 14, thinking Tie Domi was invincible and then seeing him get spanked by Simon. Not surprised to see he did the same to Probert that year. I doubt those are isolated incidents.

 

[GMR]

This was a few years before I got into hockey, so this was an interesting retroactive rewatch. Crowder held his own against Probert in a few scraps.

The funny thing is that it might've helped the Devils towards a Cup.

Crowder left such an impression that after that season, Detroit signed him to a Group I offer sheet; Back in 1988-1994, there was a different set of RFA which had a process called "equalization" where the two teams essentially had to work out a trade or go before an arbitrator.

Fresh off getting Scott Stevens as equalization for Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello had the nerve to request Probert for Crowder. Detroit offered Dave Barr and Randy McKay. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the Red Wings.

McKay would be a useful player on a couple of Cup teams. As I remember it, Crowder hurt his back and only played a handful of games for Detroit then missed a couple seasons.

Injuries ruined Crowder’s career as an enforcer. He wasn’t around long but made a splash for sure.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

"this all started because bob probert flattened joe sakic"

letting simon go might have swung multiple cups

 

[sr edler]

I actually witnessed a Probert fight live once in the late 90s, 98–99 season, with Chicago against Nashville.

It was one of these classic staged fights, typical for the era.

First I didn't even know he was in the lineup, but then this fight breaks out out of nowhere, and there he is all of a sudden. Well, it was actually the second staged fight of that 1st period, the first between Reid Simpson and Denny Lambert, and then Probert against Patrick Côté. Same Côté, by the way, who post career was convicted of robbing two banks in suburban Montreal. No goals had been scored at the time of any of these fights, so I found them a bit tedious.

I've no idea who won that Probert vs Côté fight because, 1) we sat a little bit too far away to get a great view, and, 2) I didn't really care (to follow it that closely).

He still played three more years after this season, Probert. But to me, watching DPE hockey live was a bit weird because there were some of these players you had watched or followed in the early 90s, and now they were kinda washed up. Doug Gilmour played 26:14 that game, and was still fairly noticeable, but still in a semi-washed up stage of his career. One player I didn't even know was on that Chicago team, until I checked the boxscore right now on hockey-reference, is Paul Coffey. I honestly had no idea I had ever watched a hockey game live with Paul Coffey in it.

 

[Hobnobs]

I'm going to assume without looking it up that because the announcer says Simon went after Probert because he ran over Sakic that it's possible Probert was near the end of his shift when Simon got to him? No shame in losing a fight to a tough guy like Simon though, he was a scary dude.

Just looked it up on yt, Probert was on the ice for a decent 40 seconds with a rush up the ice and back as well as two hits by my count before he engaged with Simon. Safe to say he was probably tired going into it.

There is a reason Simon avoided Probert for the rest of their careers. Because a motivated Probert is something you don't want to fight. This was a unmotivated and tired Probert (which sadly happened too often from 96 onward). Same reason he got clocked by Chris Tamer.