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Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks.

The Best 2024-2025 NHL Fights

by The Ref on June 29, 2025
in Goons, 2025 Playoffs

From blue-line brawls to full-blown melees, this season was a gritty masterclass in one of the sport of hockey’s greatest differentiators: dropping the gloves.

The 2024–25 NHL season didn’t just deliver highlight-reel goals and breakout rookies. It delivered pugilistic carnage. And for fans who remember the golden era of enforcers, the message was clear- the fight game is far from dead.

Fists, Fury and a Full 82

There were 297 regular-season fights and two more in the playoffs, marking a noticeable uptick from recent years. This wasn’t just nostalgia, or heat-of-the-moment scraps. These were meaningful fights with momentum swings, revenge arcs, and playoff implications.

The increase in intensity was felt league-wide, but especially among the usual suspects:

Nashville led the way with 37 tilts, followed closely by Boston and Utah at 30 each.

Compare that to the 2020–21 season, where pandemic-era protocols and a rising focus on speed and skill, saw fight totals dip below 200. Or rewind to 2007–08, when there were 664 total fights—more than double what we saw this year.

The shift is obvious: while fighting may no longer be the nightly norm, it’s become something more strategic, more deliberate, and arguably more impactful.

But let’s be clear: fewer fights doesn’t mean half-hearted donnys. When players did drop the gloves this past season, it was tied to storylines, history, or momentum swings that demanded a physical answer. It’s not fighting for the sake of fighting—it’s fighting to shift a game’s narrative.

Rookie Brawlers Make Their Mark

Matt Rempe vs. Dylan McIlrath

On October 29, Rangers forward Matt Rempe returned from the AHL and wasted no time reasserting himself. Facing off against Washington’s Dylan McIlrath, Rempe reignited an old rivalry from their AHL days.

The bout lasted nearly three minutes, with both players dishing out bombs in a gritty center-ice slugfest. Rempe was eventually taken down, but not before proving he could handle himself against one of the NHL’s most seasoned enforcers. He finished the season with 67 penalty minutes in just 42 games.

Rempe vs. Arber Xhekaj

January 19, Bell Centre. Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj met Rempe in a heavyweight clash that shook the rafters. The Rempe vs. Xhekaj scrap featured early punches from Rempe, followed by a relentless barrage from Xhekaj that brought the crowd to its feet.

Xhekaj’s technical edge and takedown sealed the moment as one of the best heavyweight battles of the season.

Veteran Brawlers Reassert Their Presence

Josh Anderson vs. Jacob Trouba

Canadiens forward Josh Anderson took issue with a hit from Rangers captain Jacob Trouba. The result? A punishing sequence that saw Anderson deliver a beatdown in front of a stunned Madison Square Garden. The bout earned a 7.85 fan rating.

Josh Anderson vs. Tom Wilson

One day later, Anderson followed up by dismantling Capitals bruiser Tom Wilson on Halloween night. The Canadiens winger walked away with a dominant 94% fan vote win.

These back-to-back showcases by Anderson signaled to the league: Montreal wasn’t backing down from anyone.

Heavyweight Classics That Shook the League

Olivier vs. Reaves

On January 22, fans were gifted the ultimate enforcer battle: Mathieu Olivier vs. Ryan Reaves. The fight saw Olivier gain an early advantage, knocking Reaves off balance before the Maple Leafs veteran rallied with counter-punches. The 7.83 rating said it all—this was a masterclass in big-man brawling.

Olivier vs. Xhekaj

November 16 featured another Olivier bout, this time with Xhekaj at the Bell Centre. Olivier won the fan vote, but Xhekaj’s grit and control marked him as a top-tier enforcer.

Rivalries and Retaliation

This season wasn’t just about one-off fights—it was about bad blood boiling over.

Flames vs. Oilers

The Battle of Alberta didn’t disappoint. On multiple occasions, line brawls and aggressive checking sparked skirmishes, with Brett Ritchie and Evander Kane squaring off in what fans called the most heated moment of the rivalry.

Bruins vs. Leafs

Toronto’s Ryan Reaves tangled with Bruins enforcer Trent Frederic on two separate occasions, both earning over 6.0 fight ratings. The Atlantic Division rivalry gained an edge that felt like vintage playoff hockey.

Panthers vs. Lightning

Florida and Tampa Bay continued their playoff-fueled feud with multiple dustups during regular-season matchups, culminating in a fight between Radko Gudas and Tanner Jeannot that drew comparisons to their 2022–23 playoff clashes.

Top Enforcers of the Season

Mathieu Olivier

Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Fights: 10
PIM: 97
Signature Win: vs. Reaves

Arber Xhekaj

Team: Montreal Canadiens
Fights: 6
PIM: 81
Notable: Dominated multiple heavyweights

Josh Anderson

Team: Montreal Canadiens
Fights: 5
Notable Victories: Trouba, Wilson

Matt Rempe

Team: New York Rangers
Fights: 7
Penalty Minutes: 67

Ryan Reaves

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Fights: 6
Notable Bout: vs. Olivier

The State of Fighting in the NHL

Fighting in the NHL continues to evolve.

Rule changes have adjusted the dynamics—players who drop the gloves with helmets off face extra penalties, and referees are quicker to break up staged fights. Yet that hasn’t stopped fighters from stepping up when needed.

There’s also been cultural change. Enforcers now often double as useful bottom-six forwards. Many top fighters—like Duhaime and Xhekaj—aren’t just muscle; they’re versatile role players who can kill penalties or pressure the puck.

Analytics may dominate roster construction today, but there’s still room in the game for the guys who make sure your stars don’t get pushed around.

Fan Culture & Reactions

This season saw a massive wave of fan support for hockey fights. Social media lit up after the Rempe–Xhekaj bout. Memes, slow-mo edits, and breakdowns flooded TikTok and Instagram.

YouTube channels like Steve Dangle and Spittin’ Chiclets gave extra attention to the art of fighting, breaking down positioning and momentum.

Crowd reactions were just as wild. Bell Centre, Scotiabank Arena, and Bridgestone Arena fans regularly erupted for fights. One viral clip captured fans throwing hats for a fight win, not a hat trick.

Playoff Pandemonium

Panthers vs. Oilers – Game 3

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final was pure mayhem. Five separate fights broke out. The biggest came from Nurse vs. Gadjovich, a back-and-forth war fans are still talking about.

Game footage showed everything—from Sam Bennett breaking Trent Frederic’s stick with a cross-check to a 9-year-old fan’s now-famous quote: “I really liked how they punched each other. A lot.”

Looking Ahead: 2025–26

If the 2024–25 season taught us anything, it’s that fighting is far from dead—it’s just smarter, sharper, and more contextual than ever.

Young blood is rising. Leonard, Rempe, Duhaime—they’re setting the tone for a new class of enforcers. Teams have learned that grit still wins in April and May, and management is responding accordingly.

Will we see 300+ fights again next season? Maybe. But it’s not the volume that matters—it’s the purpose, the meaning, and the electricity each one delivers. And in that sense, the tradition is alive and well.

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Oh Captain, My Captain – Winter Classic 2025

by Chris on January 3, 2025
in Nick Foligno, Brayden Schenn

First and fore-(check)-most – Happy New Year, Goons and Goonettes.

In the year of our Lord, 2025 – I resolve to be more timely in talking about hockey fights.

I have been trying to post this for two days (off to a great start!) but the people at my job have been all like, literally, like: you’re here to work. Not post about rink rumbles or Winter Classic confrontations.

Winter Classic Blackhawk Blues

Having said that, there was a pretty good goddamn scrap at the Winter Classic this year. But you’ve probably already heard about that via word of mouth marketing, Tumbler and MySpace.

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues took it outside at Wrigley Field on the 31^st of December, which is a change from the usual date of January 1^st. The date change saw me more confused (Bud Lite) than usual, but I still managed to catch the first and third periods of the game.

Certain Goons who will remain nameless, however, would really like to see an event like this in Burlington, Vermont though.

Now, if I were a Blackhawk, I would start declining invites to play in this tradition full stop – in favor of whacking myself in the schnutz with a Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2.

They are now 1-6 in outdoor contests, and were absolutely embarrassed in front of their own crowd Tuesday afternoon. The only bright spot for the fans may have been the beating Hawks Captain, Nick Foligno, doled out to St. Louis Captain, Brayden Schenn.

Brayden and Jayden: Monikers Once Forsaken

No disrespect to the children or parents who named them in the last 18 years, but this is what happens. When instead of Bob, Matt, or “Tie” – you start making up modern (?) names for your kid. It’s only a matter of time before there’s an NHL netminder with the first name Daenerys.

Brayden, Hayden, Jayden, Grayden, Caden, Drayden, Tayden, Payden, Kaden and yes… even Wayden. It’s probably why the aforementioned Enforcer Lord of 2025 granted me two girls. No offense, eh? Just give me a solid “Gord” once in a while.

Foligno vs. Schenn: Likely Never Again

It all started after the Blues took a 4-1 lead in the second period. After the goal, Schenn and Foligno lined up beside one another, and can been seen talking before the puck drops. When the biscuit hits the ice, the mitts come off, and the fight is on.

Uncle Nick proceeds to give Schenn 6-7 right hands right out of the gate. I don’t want to say Schenn was begging for a left, but he may just have been tired of eating rights.

Schenn ties it up to stop the onslaught, and gets a bunch of jersey shots in on Foligno. After Nick eats a couple of those, he regains control of the bout with a few more hard rights, gets Schenn bent over, and they go to the ice.

It was a clear win for Foligno, a.k.a “Fayden”? Anyone?

Seriously, half my friends have kids named “…ayden”, and I’m going to catch a lot of shit for this.

Noteworthy is that Foligno and Schenn were previously seen talking about having a handshake after the game – during warmups. Who knew what was in store? Also, it was Schenn that asked Foligno for the fight, so they would have a nice memory of the Winter Classic!

It’s not often the guy with the 3-goal lead asks for the fight. 99.9% it is the guy whose team is getting smoked and looking to turn the tide by getting into a donny.

Schenn had this to say about the fight. “I asked him. You look back on these moments in your career and why not, eh? You’re squaring off at Wrigley Field at center ice against a tough customer. You never know if you’re going to play in another Winter Classic, so get in a fight while you’re at it. You want the memory.”

I love the mentality. Foligno was throwing punches with such anger, too. This now makes sense.

He was almost like, OK, you’re killing us on the scoreboard, and you asked me for a fight for a nice memory? How ’bout I beat the brakes off your snot box… for a memory?

This type of stuff is what makes hockey so unique. In no other sport does this ridiculous shit happen. That’s why we’re all here.

Not a sound from the pavement. Or the rink. Thanks for the 2025 Winter Classic memories, boys!

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Fighting Spirit: Kastelic Shines Amid Bruins’ Struggle

by The Ref on December 31, 2024
in Mathieu Olivier, Jeffery Viel, Mark Kastelic, Nathan Bastain, Ryan Lomberg, Trent Frederic

The Ref summarized our absence earlier, so I won’t belabor the point that we have gone missing as of late.

My only excuse is the Bruins terrible start has left me in a weird state of mind. They suck… so hockey sucks (in my world, currently). Thus, I haven’t been paying attention like I usually do.

Having accepted their fate this season, I am back with a few random thoughts.

Kudos for Kastelic

Mighty Mark Kastelic is my new favorite Bruin by far, and it isn’t even close. I thought he was a nice throw-in for a crappy deal that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, but he’s been the crown jewel of the shitty deal so far. The non-shit end of the stick.

Mark Kastelic - Boston Bruins Enforcer - Boston.com — **Another Kastelic comeuppance** – *Image courtesy of Boston.com*

He’s produced offensively, and he plays in the classic, the prototypical Bruin style. He’s also been willing to drop the mitts on a consistent basis. His fight against current NHL Heavyweight Champion, Mathieu Olivier, Saturday night was typical of his play thus far. Boston got blown out Friday by the Bluejackets, and after Boston went up early 1-0 at home the following night, Olivier and Kastelic tangled.

The fight was decent, and I score it a draw. Maybe Kastelic with a slight advantage because he did seem to land a couple of more shots that Olivier. I will say, Mathieu missed with an uppercut that – had it connected – they’d still be trying to Mark Kastelic off the ice, and maybe out of the rafters.

I love to see guys fighting in these situations. After a blowout loss, and going up at home early, it was time for a fight, and Mark Kastelic was there to answer the bell.

Speaking of Mathieu Olivier, he is the NHL fight leader with 8 bouts thus far. In Jim Montgomery’s last game as coach of the Bruins before he was fired, they called up Jeffery Viel in an attempt to spark something. Viel did his job by fighting Olivier, and it did not give the team the spark they thought it would.

Jeffery got smoked, the Bruins got smoked, and Montgomery was out of a job. Good on Viel for trying to take Olivier down a peg or two. Fighting for a spot with grit and brass… bells.

Calgary’s Ryan Lomberg has been involved in a couple of entertaining bouts this season. He went absolutely apeshit against Nathan Bastain of the New Jersey Devils in November and fought, you guessed it, Mathieu Olivier a couple of weeks later, and didn’t fare too terribly.

The second half of the year is shaping up to be a hockey fight filled affair. We’re starting to get to a time of the year when games start to really matter, and with that comes an uptick in emotion and tempers.

I’m interested to see what happens with guys like Trent Frederic. I don’t believe he is in Boston’s plans moving forward. Does he want to showcase his talent for another team, or will he be more willing to drop his gloves in the second half to show he can play AND fight.

Also, as guys that are coming up on expiring contracts are going to want to show teams around the league what they can do in the fisticuffs department.

Irregardless (not a word), GoonBlog will be here for what is hopefully going to be a fight filled spring!

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GoonBlog.com: Benched, Traded or Just Lacing Back Up?

by The Ref on December 29, 2024
in Milan Lucic, Hockey Movies, Matt Rempe, Site News

The history of our website, Goonblog.com, is a long and sordid yarn.

Also “storied“, possibly “alcohol-fueled“. And I have to assume a lot of material hasn’t “aged well“.

(Laughing as I write this because I just imagined Bennett Brauer reading those first sentences).

Admittedly… it’s been inconsistent.

So – let’s address the fact we’ve obviously lost some posting momentum this season.

And run through our history. And nobody has a gun to your head if you’d rather be watching Slapshot.

A History of Hostility

Back in the site’s 2009-2011 heyday, we were hammered with (relevant/transactional) traffic on a daily basis. Major publications linked to us regularly. Google adored us, and we even got to the point where there was a trickle of advertising, t-shirt and affiliate revenue. Almost enough for a cup of coffee every month. Top of the world, ma.

We were doing a hockey podcast, remote hockey podcasts form Boston Garden, getting into fights at Boston Garden during remote hockey podcasts, interviewing NHL enforcers in person due to a growing perception of “rink cred” – and everything was ticking along nicely. But then, something happened.

Some of us had children, some of us moved away from North Station. And after the Bruins’ Stanley Cup win in 2011, that article about the rioting in Vancouver which was picked up by a dozen big outlets, the delightful smiting of the Sedin Sisters, and that torrid tale of Tim Thomas – some of us may have even thought, “Our work is done here“.

There was never a decision, it was never discussed, but we definitely did not pick things back up in 2012.

For the next 13 years, while we did keep renewing the domain name in hopes of a “someday” kinda comeback, the site was left unattended, un-updated, and was even significantly hacked by some little prick in Malaysia.

Now, I’ve been to Malaysia. They’re good people, Kota Kinabalu is beautiful beyond words, and Beef Rendang is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. But he made the mistake of sending me an email once, asking for money to release the site from his clutches, and I got his IP address out of the header. So, yeah, a confirmed little Malaysian prick.

Said little prick kept the site up, but anyone who came through via a Google search was first served an advertising popup window, for fucking raincoats or something, and eventually Google caught on and banished Goonblog from their results, entirely.

In that sense, the slimy little beef rendang-eating bastard shot himself in the foot, which was fun to watch. But once we decided to reboot the site, it became our (almost) insurmountable problem.

A Return to Glory? Not Quite

After finally recovering control ahead of the 2023 season (at great effort and greater expense), we were reinvigorated. Back to form in terms of strategy and content creation. If you ever have to unfuck your site, I’ve got a guy.

Again – just a labor of love we all simultaneously realized we wanted back in our lives. Now that life’s dust had settled. A bit. There is always dust.

Out of the gate there was no shortage of things to discuss. While we lost our initial excitement about Milan’s return to Beantown, we gained the ridiculous rookie season of the Rempire State Building. Then year-over-year fight frequency was on the upswing, and I even finished my best hockey movies post which had been in various stages of production since 2008.

Throughout the 2023 and 2024 season, we published nearly 40 new posts. And they were good. Relevant, original, and sticking to our collective GoonBlog credo of: write what we’d want to read. But, despite our best efforts, we stayed working in a “vacuum”, and that tends to take the piss, Schlitz and vinegar out of anyone.

Get Over It, Google

More about the vacuum: Google couldn’t get past the fact we’d once been hacked (granted, for nearly a decade). As a result, to call our organic traffic a “trickle” after 24 months and so many gleaming posts on the new and improved, unhacked, site… would be an insult to trickles, everywhere.

We have Goonbloggers who have been involved in digital marketing, SEO, and getting traffic to sites for 40 years combined. The competency was enviable in that respect. But nothing we did made a difference. And it’s reasonable to say that stubborn vacuum led to this year’s lapse in enthusiasm and output.

It was a diabolical Dyson of a disadvantage (see what I did there?).

But then, one day in early December, after none of us had touched the site in 3 months, there was what can only be described as an algorithmic search engine sea change. We got an email from the hosting company telling us our monthly bandwidth limit had been exceeded.

It was like an angel singing “Return of the Mack” in our ear.

As said, GoonBlog has always been a labor of love. For a rotating cast of 2-4 high school friends, from the mean streets of Concord, Massachusetts. And we do love it. Still.

But a month previous there had been texts around whether to keep ‘er going – or throw in the towel for good. Google finally deciding to stop being a dickhole has been a blazing North Star in terms of the future of the site.

Let’s Go With “Lacing Back Up”

The recent realization that traffic levels are suddenly back up to (and some days exceeding) our 2011 heyday is looking like the kick in a pair of discouraged pants we desperately needed.

Considering all the first time visitors now coming through the doors, a status update after a few months off was needed. The proof will be in the pudding, but Goonblog is back (again), baby.

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2025 Pre-Season NHL Fight Recap

by Chris on September 27, 2024
in Brennan Othmann, Connor Mackey, Mark Kastelic, Matt Rempe, Parker Wotherspoon

The NHL Preseason is off and running, and the beloved Boston Bruins have played three games so far.

They’ve locked horns with the New York Rangers twice, and the Washington Capitals once. So far, they’ve lost to the Rangers twice and beaten the Capitals. There’s been two fights, both against the Rangers, and neither featuring New York’s heavyweight heir apparent, Matt Rempe.

Before we get to the fights, allowing me to put on my hockey operations/GM/scout hat for a moment.

Bowled Over By Prune Juice

I didn’t see the game against Washington, as it was Tuesday, and I was bowling. The old timers wanted to watch the final breath of the Red Sox season, and since I’m the youngest person there by decades, I defer to them. Can’t have them pouring their prune juice over my head. I heard Fabian Lysell was much better than he was in his first outing against the Rangers. I heard everyone was better, in general, and that’s good.

carview.php?tsp= — *“The pins are in the other direction, Sir”*

The bottom line with this club in the two games I’ve watched, is they need to sign Jeremy Swayman. Boston needs Marty McFly to show up with a time machine, take us back to the summer, sign Swayman, and THEN trade Linus Ullmark. I assumed when they dealt Ullmark, there was a plan in place to sign Swayman, and a deal was imminent. Evidently, that was wrong.

Fabian Lysell needs to be playing like he actually wants to make this team. There is a wing position available, and it should have his name all over it. He’s been their top prospect since Jesus was in shirt pants, and it really is time for him to make the big club or get dealt. Who cares about winning at the AHL level? They need him to make a leap.

Also, newly signed Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov can take off his Hal Gill costume anytime. I get it’s one preseason game, but good lord, at least try and pretend like you want to be there.

Onto the 2025 Pre-Season Fight Recap

On Sunday, September 22. Boston hosted the Rangers at home. It was kind of a chippy affair, especially for the first preseason game of the year. Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon got run over, in kind of a dirty way by the Rangers’ Brennan Othmann. Wotherspoon left the ice but returned for the second period.

The Rangers were targeting him for some reason, and eventually, Wotherspoon reached his breaking point and dealt with the antagonist Brennan Othmann. It’s not much of a scrap, but I’ll score it a Wotherspoonwin. Good for him sticking up for himself.

The Bruins and Rangers played again on the 26^th of September. I was bummed not to see Matt Rempe in the lineup, especially since he didn’t play against the Bruins last week either.

The Bruins weren’t very good, with the exception of the play of one of their newest players, Mark Kastelic. He came over on the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, and it looks like he’s trying to make a case to stay.

After Kastelic scored a goal that made it close at the time, he put the body on Rangers defenseman Connor Mackey. Mac, as I assume he’s called, took exception, and asked Kastelic to fight. Kastelic obliged, and they grappled one another for a minute before they both fell down. I score it a win for Kastelic, because I think he’s the only one that actually threw a punch.

The Bruins are back at it tomorrow against the Flyers. I for one, would like to see some guys play with a little emotion. Make it look like they want to make themselves into a noteworthy team. The Flyers will be ready as coach John Tortorella runs camp like it’s a constant bag skate. I’m hoping Trent Frederic makes an appearance and is looking to stir the pot.

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Top 5 NHL Enforcers – 2025 Preview

by Chris on September 9, 2024
in Matt Rempe, Georges Laraque, Nicolas Deslauriers, San Jose Sharks

We’re less than 30 days away. The imminent return of NHL hockey.

We all know how Matt Rempe spent his summer. In short, not at the lake.

Instead of the Big Rideau, he attended the Georges Laraque Fight Camp, and big Georges has commented on the fact Matt is now more dangerous than ever. I don’t hate this information.

The Flyers showed the highly touted Russian prospect, Matvei Michkov, uncomfortable videos of Nicholas Deslauriers, and told him Nick was the guy that would be protecting him. I’m sure Deslauriers, the NHL leader in fights last year with 11, hasn’t been just sitting around doing nothing in the offseason. If this was the 60’s, he probably would have been working on a farm, and might be just getting around to finding his skates within the next couple of weeks. Those days are long gone.

Goonblog hopes everyone is enjoying themselves this summer, and with the new NHL season right around the corner, we thought it was a good time to revisit our 2024 Top 5 Fighters in the NHL post from February to see where we wound up.

In February the top 5 NHL enforcers looked like this:

Andreas Englund – Los Angeles – 8 Fights
Liam O’Brien – Arizona – 8 Fights
Nicholas Deslauriers – Philadelphia – 7 Fights
Brady Thachuk – Ottawa – 6 Fights
Jonah Gadjovich – Florida – 6 Fights

The NHL as a whole finished with 311 fights. The top 5 teams in fights were:

Arizona Coyotes – 38 Fights
Minnesota Wild – 38 Fights
Nashville Predators – 35 Fights
Tampa Bay Lightning – 34 Fights
Anaheim Ducks – 30 Fights

The End of 23-24 Season Top 5 Fighters

It finished similarly to how it started, except Brady Tkachuk fell off the top 5, and was replaced by San Jose’s Luke Kunin.

Nicholas Deslauriers – Philadelphia – 11 Fights
Andreas Englund – Los Angeles – 11 Fights (He also had one in the playoffs) for 12 total
Liam O’Brien – Arizona (Now Utah) – 11 Fights
Jonah Gadjovich – Florida – 10 Fights
Luke Kunin – San Jose Sharks – 9 Fights

11 is the magic number for amount of fights. It’s worth noting, Matt Rempe has 12 fights last year. 7 in the AHL, and 5 in the NHL. It’s worth further noting, his fights in the National were against guys I would consider to be the top heavies in the game today, and I think his scrap against Deslauriers was the fight of the year.

2025 Top NHL Enforcers?

So, what does the upcoming season hold for us fight fans? Well, if you’re on the East Coast, you’re going to have to keep your eyes on Matt Rempe.

The Rempire State building learning to fight could be a huge problem for guys like Nick Deslauriers, Arber Xhekaj, Kurtis MacDermid and Ryan Reaves. If he really hurts one of those guys, will others be willing to drop the mitts with him, or will they turn the second year pro down and skate back to the bench in the interest of violence avoidance? Yeah, we’ll go with that new coined term.

Out West, Luke Kunin will be busy protecting first overall pick Macklin Celebrini for San Jose. I’m sure there will be some guys wanting to welcome the young phenom to the NHL with a whistle, and Kunin may be called on to answer the bell night in and night out. But we’re getting down a rabbithole now, and have to make some solid predictions. Here we go:

NHL 2025 Top Enforcers Preview (and Predictions)

In an era where analytics reign, violence is actually discouraged, and every shift is scrutinized while the best of the best worry about holding onto their jobs – a few fellas stand out. Here are our predictions for the 2025-2026 season based on previous performance, new opponents and plain old drunken stubbornness. This is mostly subjective, and we were told there would be no math.

1. Ryan Reaves – Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan Reaves will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. Known for his powerful right hand and intimidating presence, Reaves has averaged 0.15 fights per game over the past three seasons, accumulating 187 penalty minutes. His Corsi For percentage of 48.2% shows he’s not just a one-dimensional player. Reaves’ former coach with the Rangers, Gerard Gallant, praised his impact: “Ryan brings energy every shift. He’s a leader in the room and keeps opponents honest on the ice.”

2. Nicolas Deslauriers – Philadelphia Flyers

Deslauriers has established himself as one of the league’s premier enforcers and was the winner of our pick for the top fight of 2024-25. His grappling ability and relentless style led to 0.18 fights per game and 213 penalty minutes in the last three seasons. Flyers’ captain Sean Couturier commented, “Nic’s presence allows our skilled players to play with more confidence. He’s always there to have our backs.” That’s one way to put it. Deslauriers is a confident killer.

3. Matt Rempe – New York Rangers

You’re right – we obviously love the Rempire State Building around here. But cooler heads have to prevail when balancing his surprising first big show run last year against being an unproven long term commodity of violence. While he’s still developing his all-around game, his willingness to drop the gloves (0.22 fights per game) has earned him respect around the league. As mentioned previously, Georges Laraque called Rempe “a great fighter,” and can be considered an authority.

4. Kurtis MacDermid – Colorado Avalanche

MacDermid brings a blend of old-school toughness and modern defensive ability to the Avalanche. With 0.17 fights per game he’s proven to be more than just a guaranteed goon. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar noted, “Kurtis gives us that physical edge we need, especially in tough playoff series. He’s a deterrent for teams thinking about taking liberties with our stars.” We’d go step further and predict he’ll be on top of this list by 2026.

5. Zack MacEwen – Ottawa Senators

While he’s no Matt Carkner, MacEwen rounds out our top 5 with his energetic style and willingness to throw a chin-biscuit for teammates and at opponents. He’s averaged 0.14 fights per game while contributing positively to puck possession with a 49.1% Corsi For percentage. Senators’ GM, Pierre Dorion, praised MacEwen’s impact: “Zack brings that sandpaper element we’ve been missing. He’s not afraid to mix it up, but he can also chip in offensively.” If there’s anything Canadians need in general, it’s some post Trudeau grit. So buddy made the list.

We’re at the time of year when one might need a sweatshirt at night (although not lately. This global warming is killing me too, Greta). And I’m starting to get that glint in my eye. Like Ralphie’s old man gets nutty about turkey in a Christmas Story, it’s almost hockey season. I can’t wait for these guys to get after it.

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Matt Rempe & Georges Laraque – Fight School

by The Ref on July 11, 2024
in Georges Laraque, Matt Rempe

The Tweet:

“If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the NHL, wait ’til you see him this coming season….”

That, my friends, could be the greatest tweet ever. We should leave it at that. Because I considered titling this post “Remping Up with Laraque”. And Goonblog is better than that. Pour l’instant, profitons simplement de cette photo.

Back to the tweet. Or the “X” – Who dropped this bombshell? None other than the legendary Georges Laraque. It seems Matt Rempe took the feedback, about needing some help fighting seriously, as he’s training with Georgie this summer to sharpen his pugilistic skills. Perhaps only because Ivan Drago, Indiana Jones and Mike Tyson were unavailable.

The Year of Rempe: A Rowdy Rookie Rollercoaster

Last year was indeed the year of Matt Rempe. The hype and the kid behind it. The kid exploded onto the scene, earning a slew of nicknames while turning heads left and right. The hype helped break down his early legacy as reality settled in, exposing his chin.

He fought all comers with mixed results, but the knock on him was clear: without proper technique, he was bound to get seriously hurt by the league’s heavyweights. As we pointed out more than a couple of times.

Thankfully, Rempe is taking the initiative to avoid becoming a human punching bag. Training with Laraque, one of the most feared enforcers in NHL history, is a surefire way to up his game and stay out of the infirmary.

More Than Just Fists: Rempe’s Hockey Skills

Let’s not forget, Rempe isn’t just a pair of fists on skates. The kid can play.

He held his own in the playoffs and didn’t hurt the team when he was on the ice. If he improves his fighting skills at camp this summer, he’s going to be even more dangerous as a player. Peter Laviolette is going to hear it from the Blueshirt faithful if Rempe isn’t in the lineup next year.

The Panthers’ Silent Victory

On another note, did anyone else find it odd that not one team congratulated the Florida Panthers for winning the Cup at the Draft this year?

Maybe they were all tripping out being at the Sphere. Having been there in person for Dead and Company in June, I can see why. But still, it was odd.

So, congratulations, Florida Panthers. They are a gritty bunch built for playoff hockey. Well-coached by Paul Maurice, and they play a relentless style that fits their grinding identity perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZdwMkJTrJM

Summer Vibes and October Frig-Off Dreams

Here’s hoping everyone is enjoying their summer. The ice awaits in October, and with guys like Rempe gearing up for a breakout season, it’s bound to be a wild ride.

I think we all got just a little bit ahead of ourselves last season. As a proponent of old time hockey, keeping the threat of a donnybrook in place in the name of fair play – we are enthusiastic about Matt Rempe’s scholastic endeavors. Fuckin’ give ‘er, buddy.

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2-Star Pasta in the North End

by Chris on May 9, 2024
in David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk

Anyone who had “David Pastrnak gets in a scrap” on their Bruins Playoff Bingo Card, come on down!

Pasta didn’t do very well, and admits he’s not a good fighter, but good on him for trying. I love how he asks Monty if it’s even an option.

Listen, Bruins fans, it’s a long series.

As Johnny Pierson used to say, “pucks and bodies towards the net will keep you in good stead.” Well, that wasn’t the game last night. It got way out of hand, hence all the misconducts – and the aforementioned fight.

When the Bruins team from game 1, against the feckin’ Paanthaas, shows up, they’ll win the Stanley Cup. If it’s those kids who dillydallied around for the last 38 or so minutes last night, they’re the worst in the league. If you’re currently “Bruins nervous”, you’re not alone, kid.

Not enough shots, and Jeremy Swayman looked like a frozen sheet (like, in Maaarch in the North End circa 1940) he was so hung out wet-to-dry.

2-star review at best, brother. Every Bruin on the roster owes Swayman a heartfelt apology.

We’re on to game 3.

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Bruins vs. Leafs 2024 – NHL Playoff Summary

by Chris on May 8, 2024
in 2024 Playoffs, Patrick Maroon, Ryan Reaves, Trent Frederic

To summarize the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs first round matchup in the 2024 NHL playoffs, I can only think of the following:

We Laughed. We cried. We hurled.

That was a bit of an emotional roller coaster, wasn’t it? Eh? So indulge me while I summarize…

Game 1: Who’s playing goal in Boston? More specifically, the main storyline was – who is getting the start in Boston? Will it be Jeremy Swayman? Will it be Linus Ullmark? Will they do the tandem thing like they did all year, or will they ride one goalie until they lose? Will I ever see my feet again? Sorry. Wrong group. I just know Jenny Craig is a fan.

It was Jeremy Swayman who ultimately got the start, and he was outstanding. Game 1 was a faaakin’ bloodletting, kid. Boston won 5-1, and it wasn’t even close. Patrick Maroon was proving why the Bruins went and traded for a 35 year old with a bad back. Trent Frederic got an ENG, so all the Goonblog favorites were involved. Hell, even Toronto’s Ryan Reaves got a regular shift. Things were testy, and it looked like Maroon and Reavo might have to slug it out in game 2 to calm things down.

Game 2: Second verse, same as the first. Who is playing goal for Boston? Will they keep with the tandem? Swayman was excellent. Will they ride the hot hand?

Linus Ullmark got the start in goal, and it was clear Bruins coach, Jim Montgomery, didn’t want to repeat last year’s epic collapse. Or at least, face the same criticisms he did for last year’s epic collapse. By sticking with the tandem that got them here, at least he wouldn’t have to hear the old, “why did you get away from the tandem that got you here” line all season. More on epic collapses to follow. And this is the hurl part.

Ullmark was good in the 3-2 loss. Everyone expected to get the Leafs best game, and that’s exactly what they got. Boston got it going early, and the Leafs just kept in it. It was 2-1 Boston after two, but the Leafs got goals in the second and third and it was the difference.

Game 3: Guess what the storyline is? If you guessed “who is playing goal in Boston?”, you’d be correct. As the series shifted north, tied at a game apiece, both teams had to have some confidence. Boston was outstanding and dominated again. Toronto gave Boston their best game and came home with a split.

Well, it was Swayman in goal and after a fairly evenly matched first two periods, the Bruins exploded for 3 goals in the third. Freddy Fisticuffs had a goal, and Brad Marchand had 2 for the Bruins to lead the way. Jake DeBrusk added the fourth goal, and it looked like the Bruins were taking control of the series.

Game 4: It’s Swayman in goal for Boston, and they dominated. Toronto couldn’t go down 3-1 in the series to Boston, and they didn’t play well enough to avoid that very fate. Brad Marchand became the Bruins’ all time leading goal scorer in the playoffs, and Boston chased Toronto starting goalie Ilya Samsonov. Joseph Woll took over in net and stopped the 5 shots he faced. Boston won 3-1, handily.

Game 5: Maybe now the Bruins will rest Swayman and put Linus Ullmark back in goal? Coming home feeling incredible after the dominating performance north of the border, the Bruins were looking to close out the Toronto Maple Leafs on home ice.

All kinds of articles were being written about the fate of the Leafs when they lose, and a lot of people in the media were pretty resigned to the fact the Leafs were losing game 5. Maybe some home cooking is what the Leafs needed to get an advantage in the series. A little white vinegar in the tank at least. Whatever it was…

This is where we start hurling. And not because we prefer cider vinegar – we fuckin’ don’t.

If any team can give up a 3-1 series lead, it’s Boston. They did it last year in the first round, and I for one was not comfortable with everyone writing off the Leafs.

So, Boston is looking to close out a series, and Auston Matthews isn’t playing due to a serious case of the trots. Normal teams capitalize on this and bury their opponent. Not our beloved Bruins. They play what can only be described as a steaming pile of trots. If Toronto was any good, they would have won 56-1. Thankfully Jeremy Swayman is awesome and kept Boston in the fray. Sadly, the Bruins lost 2-1 in OT.

Game 6: Are the Bruins going back to Ullmark after Swayman has lost? Also, remember last year when the Bruins lost the series to Florida? Remember how they lost in OT in game 5? Hurl. Hurl everywhere.

Swayman starts. Surely the Bruins can’t play as bad as they did in game 5? Game 6 Bruins: Hold my beer.The first period may have been the worst period of hockey I have ever seen Boston play. They managed 1 shot in the first 20 minutes, and that’s only because a Jake DeBrusk dump in happened to hit Joseph Woll.

Woll was a wall for Toronto again. He was superb on game 5 and was becoming the new storyline for the series. Again, if Toronto was any good, it would have been a way more lopsided score.

Game 7: Surely the Bruins are going to start Linus Ullmark. While Swayman has been excellent, he has lost 2 in a row, and the Bruins are facing elimination. The Bruins can’t possibly give up a 3-1 series lead in eerie fashion two years in a row.

Apparently, Joseph Woll hurt himself in the last second of game 6 trying to preserve a shutout and won’t play. Auston Matthew is back from the trot-sharts, and an apparent undisclosed injury, and will play. There were a million storylines coming into this game 7.

Jeremy Swayman got the start and was outstanding. The game was 0-0 through 2 and a half periods. When William Nylander scored late in the third, collectively, I think every Bruins fan hurled, and then said, FUCK! Not again.

Enter nefarious Bruins defenseman, Hampus Lindholm. He had been invisible this series – and sounds like an Arthur Conan Doyle villain. Along with Pavel Zacha, and Charlie Coyle for the Bruins, they were all on milk cartons. “The game was not afoot”, Sir!

Lindholm’s wrist shot banked in off of Ilya Samsonov’s arm and in, and there was new life in Boston! They were still alive.

Game 7 was headed to overtime. It’s a good thing I quit drinking a while back, because there wouldn’t have been enough Jameson in the world to calm my nerves. I didn’t like the next goal wins feeling, and it was exactly how last year went. Hurl.

David Pastrnak had been called out by Bruins coach Jim Montgomery after game 6. Monty was right to call him out, as Pasta was so bad, I was questioning his sobriety. He was like Bambi on ice. Falling everywhere. Being more of a turnover machine than usual. He needed to do something.

So, at 1:54 of OT when he took a puck off the end boards that Hampus Lindholm (exceeding even Moriarty) had dumped perfectly, collected it on his backhand, took a step and lifted it over the sprawling Samsonov to win the game – I’d say he answered the call.

So, the Bruins are off to round 2 against the Florida Panthers. The Leafs suffer yet another heartbreaking loss in the first round, and have a ton of questions to answer about their group as a whole.

It was a hell of a series that the Bruins made way harder on themselves. If they want to advance any further than the second round, they have some things to work on. Film at eleven.

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