Tie Domi and Darren Langdon were the 2 toughest players I have seen in a NYR sweater. Best fighters? Nope... Toughest, yep!
Best fighters were Kocur and Fotiu.
1) Joey Kocur
#26 is the best NY Rangers ever had from a tough or pugilistic standpoint. He was so good with the right hand that even the biggest penalty min leaders of the time would consistently duck him. He actually threw punches with such evil intentions that he literally cracked multiple players helmets. He fought 39 times in a Rangers sweater, and rarely lost a fight. Most of the times, the opposition would hang on and try not to get hit. Even Tony Twist wouldnt open up against him. The argument is there for Fotiu as well but he didn't have the fight card, nor the decisive wins that Kocur had. Kocur as a NYR fought Probert, Grimson, McSorley, Laus, May, Berube, Baumgartner, Vukota etc. Never ducked anyone. If you were to ask, 10 players from late 80's to the mid 90's, 3 players mor then anyone else would be mentioned. Bob Probert, Dave Brown and Joe Kocur. Orobabyl the only NYR players to crack the top 10 all time fighters list for the NHL.
2) Nick Fotiu
Nicky was right behind Kocur. More of a technical fighter, then Kocur was. Fotiu also didn't lose too many. Nicky claim to fame was that he bested Behn Wilson. Wilson went on to dominate the NHL in the fisticuff department for like a full decade. Nicky blasted him with a right hand that stunned him and the zebras came in. In addition to that Fotiu also had a heavy reputation. He played in an era where he needed to have that rep. I think at time however Fotiu's fight card was a little suspect. The great NYR/NYI matchups. Who were the two biggest enforcers in NYI Islanders history? Gillies and Nystrom. In Nicky's years as a NYR he fought the Gord Lane's of the world but wouldn't go with Gillies and Nystrom, while guys like Moloney and Duguay who were much lesser fighters were. With that said, Nicky faced off with Nystrom later when he was wearing a Whalers sweater. Nystrom got s decision on that one. With that said, Fotiu was one of the best fighters the game has ever seen. Top 20 all time guy throughout the league.
Donald Brashear was one of the best all time at this but as a NYR he was cooked already. He was barely here. Sandy McCarthy was one tough dude and one of the best in the mid 90's but also as a NYR he wasen't at his best. Same for Shane Churla, same Derek Boogard, and for Mary McSorley as well.