Personally, I'd pick Bossy. Am I wrong? Who's your choice?
I recall an interview with Kevin Lowe where he said that the first time the Oilers met the Islanders in the playoffs, Potvin was the guy they feared. They respected the rest of the team, but Potvin was the guy that made them cautious carrying the puck over the blueline.
So much so, that, the next year, Messier made a point of running Potvin as often as possible to deflate his mystique.
...and if you did a follow up with Mark on who came out worse for wear in those confrontations, I doubt he says Potvin.
Messier was dirtier but not tougher and definitely not meaner.
A lot of Potvin's meanness has been glossed over during the years but the truth is Denis makes Scott Stevens look like a poodle to a rotty most nights.
haha, I wouldn't go that far, I mean Stevens was one tough SOB who scared the tail off of the opponents too. Another legendary story is how players didn't like cutting across the ice on his side. But yes, Potvin was tougher and meaner in my opinion. Something that didn't show up on the scoresheet although Potvin's "scoresheet" was incredible to start with.
You didn't see Messier dropping 'em with the Probert's but Potvin sure as hell dropped 'em with Schlultz's.
Granted, the Stevens comparison was a lil light, maybe a German Sheppard to a Rotty