Best wishes going out to Phoenix tough guy, Brian McGrattan today. Brian entered the league’s substance abuse program willingly yesterday for an undisclosed reason. Hopefully he’ll be able to get the help he needs and get his career back on track. I had the chance to speak with him a few years ago when he was in Lowell with the Binghamton Senators. While I admit I was terrified of the man due to his sheer massiveness, I found him to be a pretty cool guy to talk to. I really shouldn’t be surprised. Most of the guys that do the work he does are the nicest guys on earth. For your viewing pleasure, I have posted a fight between Brian McGrattan and Shawn Thornton. I believe this is the first time these two guys have ever fought in their careers. Simply amazing considering how much time they both spent in the AHL. Anyway, get well soon Brian. Hopefully we see you back on a NHL roster soon.
Get well soon Brian
If you've spent any time on Reddit or hockey Twitter lately, you've probably seen the question pop up: are enforcers still a thing in hockey? It's usually asked by someone who just watched Matt Rempe try to dismantle a human being, or maybe someone who tuned out around 2011 and is just getting back into the sport. The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, but they don't look like Bob Probert anymore.
The game has changed, the rules have tightened, and the days of the three-minute-per...
2026-05-17When the mic cut out during O Canada at Game 5, the Buffalo crowd stepped up and sang every word. As a Canadian, I can tell you exactly how that felt to watch.
2026-04-29
This post is a tribute to the Boston Bruins fourth line legacy, specifically the Merlot Line - the trio of Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton, and Daniel Paille who defined gritty, grinding hockey at TD Garden from 2010 to 2014. Written from the perspective of a lifelong Bruins fan who spotted a Gregory Campbell Bruins sweater in the crowd during the 2025-26 season, it covers the Merlot Line Boston Bruins history, the heavyweight fight record of Shawn Thornton Bruins fans still talk about, and th...
2026-04-27
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, ma...
2025-06-29Remembering the greatest hockey enforcer of all time: Bob Probert.
2024-03-25
I always find it a bit inspiring when someone voluntarily puts themselves in a rehab program without all the hollywood fanfare. I have to say though, I think that Sean Avery “voluntarily” checking himself into an anger management facility is a farce. I hope he never sees the ice in an NHL game again, and if he does, I’ll be cheering when someone drops him like Domi dropped Ulf.