The enforcer worst at hockey is..

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

So I got thinking about who the worst player in history would be, and I figure it has to be an enforcer- but there are tiers even there. Some guys could actually play, some guys chipped in occasionally, and others were pylons- I’m looking for the pylon’s pylons, the guys who grenaded the puck worst the two times they touched it each game. Any nominees? Stats help, but testimony is also useful. These guys are all worlds better than we’ll ever be, but all the same- who’s the guy who made ya ask “how’d that guy get the call up?”

 

[jcs0218]

Dennis Bonvie was pretty bad. He might not be the worst, but he was the first name I thought about,

92 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, 311 penalty minutes

I also remember seeing him a breakaway once, and he couldn't stickhandle at all. He used the blade of his stick, put it on top of the puck, and pressed down to clamp the puck to the ice so that it didn't get away from him.

 

[JackSlater]

Jeremy Yablonski played one NHL game, scored 0 points, got into a fight and was a -1. Also played 283 AHL games and attained 26 points. 14 points in 107 ECHL games. 0 points in 24 KHL games. 6 points in 113 games in the WCHL, a league that eventually folded into the ECHL. 5 points in 74 WHL games. Not so impressive for a winger, but it just might have helped that he was a successful amateur boxer and measured at around 6' 240.

 

[seventieslord]

Probably have to qualify this with a games played number or you can just name guys who only got into a handful of games like Yablonski ^^^

I mean, yeah, he's probably worse than Belak or Colton Orr, but they were NHL players and he really wasn't.

If we use a small GP threshold like say, 300, we would capture in that net a bunch of guys who played at least a few full seasons in the AHL/IHL too, and could probably identify a handful of them who didn't even have the upside to be remotely good players a full level below the NHL. Dennis Bonvie, for example, did have four AHL seasons with 27-31 points. there have to have been a few guys who didn't come close to that.

 

[Bluesguru]

Cam Janssen has my vote.

Rocks for hands.

5 points in 171 games. 4 goals and at least 2 were off his body deflecting in net.

 

[spazway49]

Tony Twist 445GP 10G 18A 1121PIM

 

[ted2019]

Jeremy Yablonski played one NHL game, scored 0 points, got into a fight and was a -1. Also played 283 AHL games and attained 26 points. 14 points in 107 ECHL games. 0 points in 24 KHL games. 6 points in 113 games in the WCHL, a league that eventually folded into the ECHL. 5 points in 74 WHL games. Not so impressive for a winger, but it just might have helped that he was a successful amateur boxer and measured at around 6' 240.

In the KHL he had an impressive 190 PIM's in 24 games. Around 7.91 MPG.

 

[ted2019]

I think this list should start and end with Jon Mirasty. Guy couldn't play a lick but stayed around hockey only due to his fighting skills. In his career here were his stats.

GP: 463
Goals: 17
Assists: 34
PIM: 2660

 

[ShelbyZ]

When I think of the pinnacle of bad at anything but being an enforcer but spent at least a full season on an NHL roster, the first name that comes to mind is Garrett Burnett.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Dennis Bonvie was pretty bad. He might not be the worst, but he was the first name I thought about,

92 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, 311 penalty minutes

I also remember seeing him a breakaway once, and he couldn't stickhandle at all. He used the blade of his stick, put it on top of the puck, and pressed down to clamp the puck to the ice so that it didn't get away from him.

Considering he averaged under 4 minutes a game, its not that bad.

Bonvie was actually a pretty good playmaker (for a goon) in the AHL.

John Scott may have been the worst.

 

[K1984]

Steve Macintyre. He couldn’t really skate laterally, just in direct lines like he was on a track.

 

[The Panther]

John Scott was pretty bad, as noted.

I always think of Neil Sheehy, who was maybe the lowest-skilled player I can remember. His NHL arrival was purely for the purpose of hitting Gretzky and Kurri (often after they scored) at which he was adept. But he just could not handle the puck or make a pass.

Managed to get in 379 NHL games (and 54 playoffs!), so I guess he was doing something right. (Mind you, in those 54 playoff games, he picked up only three assists, so I reckon he wasn't getting a lot of ice-time.)

Gretzky was very nice to him after the Flames beat Edmonton in '86, but Wayne got his digs in when the Edmonton media informed him that the Flames had traded Sheehy in early 1988. Gretzky said, "I guess they realized you have to actually be able to play the game."

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Probably have to qualify this with a games played number or you can just name guys who only got into a handful of games like Yablonski ^^^

I mean, yeah, he's probably worse than Belak or Colton Orr, but they were NHL players and he really wasn't.

If we use a small GP threshold like say, 300, we would capture in that net a bunch of guys who played at least a few full seasons in the AHL/IHL too, and could probably identify a handful of them who didn't even have the upside to be remotely good players a full level below the NHL. Dennis Bonvie, for example, did have four AHL seasons with 27-31 points. there have to have been a few guys who didn't come close to that.

I’m enjoying all the responses, but you’re right, I was originally looking for the worst NHL regular, one of those names everyone would know- but Yablonskis are good too!

So..

>10 gp= Yablonski

10-100 games= ?

100-300 games= ?

300-500 games= ?

500+ = ?

 

[VanIslander]

Rob Ray.

Seriously, man. Have you seen him play?

If you have watched any of his 15 years of NHL hockey, you would understand.

I am not gonna look up his stats because he clearly was always the biggest FOOL on the ice.

He has been described as a 1970's throwback who made it to the 1990's.

He had zero puck skills. But, man, could he agitate, draw penalties and drop the gloves.

He made the Broadstreet Bullies look talented.

 

[Sanf]

Normand Baron atleast had a really weird career path to NHL. Only major junior hockey he played was according to available stats 7 games in 1976-1977 in QMJHL. He played junior B hockey and retired apparently after 78-79 to pursue his bodybuilder career.

In 83-84 he made comeback to hockey. Got contract with Canadiens. Apparently said that he want to be bodyguard of Guy Lafleur. From that starting point surprisingly played 27 regular season games and even 3 playoffs games in next three seasons (with Canadiens and Blues). And had even somewhat decent stats in IHL. But what I have read from newspapers he really wasn´t much of NHL player.

 

[GMR]

Tony Twist 445GP 10G 18A 1121PIM

Stu Grimson played 729 games and scored 39 points.

I doubt any enforcer played that many games and scored so few points. That's 1 point per every 18 1/2 games.

 

[VanIslander]

Stu Grimson...

Damn. I forgot about that meathead.

 

[gary69]

Jay Caufield, NHL GP 225, 5+8 =13 PTS, 801 PIM.

Couldn't really skate, and had a poor balance which was a hindrance for his fighting as well.

 

[njdevils1982]

Cam Janssen has my vote.

Rocks for hands.

5 points in 171 games. 4 goals and at least 2 were off his body deflecting in net.

video quality is bad…..goal quality is not

 

[Albatros]

Trevor Gillies was also pretty awful.

 

[ShelbyZ]

Guys like Andrew Peters, Riley Cote, Brad Norton and Francois Leroux also come to mind.

There's also Doug Doull. 35 games with the Bruins in 03/04, but didn't even get 100 total minutes of ice time. Otherwise had 1 assist and took 4 shots on goal.

I feel like there has to be more examples in the Garrett Burnett with Mike Babcock realm where an enforcer that would've otherwise never sniffed the show made it only because of a previous relationship with a coach. Scott Sabourin and DJ Smith in Ottawa is a similar case as well.

I would imagine there are also less than NHL qualify enforcers that got called up and had a decent cup of coffee because the NHL team felt like they needed that element in the line up but didn't have a better option than whatever minor league goon was in their system, or got called up simply because the NHL team wanted more tough guys for some game where they needed to retaliate for something or send a message. Not sure who those would be though.

 

[Buffalowing1988]

Rob Ray.

Seriously, man. Have you seen him play?

If you have watched any of his 15 years of NHL hockey, you would understand.

I am not gonna look up his stats because he clearly was always the biggest FOOL on the ice.

He has been described as a 1970's throwback who made it to the 1990's.

He had zero puck skills. But, man, could he agitate, draw penalties and drop the gloves.

He made the Broadstreet Bullies look talented.

Weirdly I believe in his very first NHL game he scored a goal. It was all downhill from there.

Ray served his purpose but he wasn't even the best fighter on that team when we had Brad May. It's weird that him, May, and Barnaby were all out there together sometimes and May and Barnaby could have actually been consistent 40 point players if they wanted to. Ray was miles behind them in terms of skill and I think it frustrated him.

 

[VanIslander]

F that.

Barnaby 18 TIMES had more goals or assists than Ray.

Barnaby was a legit NHL starter.

Rob Ray was NOTHING more than a goon.

You insult Barnaby by inserting him in THIS discussion.

 

[GMR]

F that.

Barnaby 18 TIMES had more goals or assists than Ray.

Barnaby was a legit NHL starter.

Rob Ray was NOTHING more than a goon.

You insult Barnaby by inserting him in THIS discussion.

Yet you're insulting enforcers. Some of my favorite players. Nothing more was expected of Ray than to be a goon. Nowadays, enforcers have been replaced with fourth line plugs that rarely fight. Players like Ray and Grimson made the game more interesting; unfortunately at the expense of their health and well-being. I understand why fighting is going away in hockey, but I respect the individuals who played that role.

FYI, Barnaby was a headcase. I'd rather have Ray than Barnaby on my team.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

John Scott was a pylon, but he was a big pylon.