Top 15 Tough Guys in Red Wing History

| April 8, 2012 | 10:02 am | 1 Comment


Photo of Darren McCarty celebrating Stanley Cup

With the unfortunate passing of Bob Probert yesterday, IASID has dropped its gloves and thrown down the top 15 tough guys in Red Wings history.  You wouldn’t catch me mouthing off to any of these maniacs in a dark alley behind Joe Louis Arena.

15.  Dennis Polonich – 1974-1983 – You won’t convince that that nose hasn’t been broken a half dozen times.  In those days, he’d probably miss a half a period getting it snapped back into place.  In these days, his nose probably feels like jelly.
14.  Brendan Shanahan – 1996-2006 – Shanny scored a messload of goals (656), but he had no qualms about dropping the gloves if the need arised…or even if it didn’t.

13.  Sean Avery – 2001-2003 – This was Sean Avery pre-Elisha Cuthbert and pre-internship at Vogue magazine.  I guess fashion isn’t only for the girly men.

12. Kris King – 1987-1989 – King didn’t do much else besides fight.  But he’d fight til the cows came home…and then he would fight the cows.

11. Harold Snepsts – 1985-1988 – Snepsts wasn’t the fighter that some others on this list were. But he was still a toughass. You didn’t mess with this mustache.

10. Ted Lindsay – 1944-1965 – I only know a few things about Ted Lindsay. He was talented. He was tough and he played with a part in his hair.

9.  Vladimir Konstantinov – 1991-1997 – Vlady was meant to be Yzerman and Fedorov’s body guard for many more than six years.  He would have been had he not been in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

8. Brad May – 2009-2010 – If Brad May is only #8 on this this than the Wings had some really tough dudes. Well, the Wings had some really tough dudes.

7. Basil McRae – 1985-1987 – McRae spent a lot of time fighting Red Wings, but he eventually joined them. He spent a lot of time getting dressed in the penalty box.

6. Gordie Howe – 1946-1971 – Mr. Hockey could mix it up in the corners with the best of them.

5. Stu Grimson – 1994-1997 – Little known fact about Stu Grimson – he worked in a deli. His specialty – the knuckle sandwich.

4. Chris Chelios – 1998-2009 – You don’t play in the league for 65 years without being tough. He was even tough in video games.

3. Darren McCarty – 1993-2009 – McCarty would be the top man on many teams’ lists. Claude Lemieux was so scared of him, he thought his best move would be to take cover. Probably smart.

2. Joey Kocur – 1984-1999 – From September to June, this guy played with bloody knuckles. He had a right hand of steel.

 

1. Bob Probert – 1985-1994 – Stevie Y’s personal protector. This guy made sure other teams stayed away from the captain. You can’t say enough for the way he stuck up for teammates. Hopefully people will be able to put his shortcomings to the side when they remember him.

Comments (1)

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  1. Donnie G. says:
    July 6, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    A few memories of these guys:

    I once bought Bob Probert dinner at the Roma Cafe in Detroit; he was a class act that night and was drinking orange juice (not a screwdriver).

    I saw Darren McCarty "sing" for the band Grinder at Arts, Beats & Eats; they were a decent band.

    I talked with #9 at Athens High School in Troy, MI for about 45 minutes. He is the epitome of class and friendliness; he also seemed very humble.

    I've talked to Ted Lindsay in various automotive lobbies, what a great guy and like Gordy, very humble and friendly.

    While playing golf with Harold Snepsts, he kept my bro-in-law and I laughing the whole time. Harold is even tough while riding in a golf cart- he almost rolled it while I was riding with him at Horseshoe Valley in Ontario.

    I was at the game in Olympia when Wilf Paiement hit Dennis Polonich square across the face using his hockey stick like a baseball bat…it was one of the most cowardly, classless moves that I have seen in sports.

    Reply

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Tim is the founder and author of It’s Always Sunny In Detroit. Born and raised north of "The D", he was hands down the fastest kid on the playground. In his glory days as a Big Ten baseballer, Tim often thought about dating Jennifer Love Hewitt. After he hung ‘em up and got real, he graduated from law school and came back to Detroit. He has been keeping it sunny ever since.
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