Dallas Stars’ Top Three Fighters
By Josh Clark
The dropping of gloves is always a joyous sight at a Dallas Stars game, and there are plenty of players who are almost always willing to do it. But who are the Stars’ best fist-slingers?
Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.” Though it was part of a comedy bit, he’s not lying.
One of the biggest factors that separates professional hockey from other professional sports and makes it entirely unique in its own way is the fact that fighting is perfectly legal. In no other professional sport can you clock someone in the jaw, sit in a box for five minutes, then get out with no further penalty.
It not only livens games up, but is also responsible for a lot of hockey followers and addicts. A friend of mine once told me that “80 percent of the people at hockey games are there for the sole purpose of seeing a fight.”
Fighting has been a consistent part of NHL hockey for a long, long time and typically occurs at the most opportune times. If your team is getting blown out or vice versa, you can be assured that someone on the ice will be looking to drop the gloves. It’s how momentum is shifted, and sometimes can help win games.
Of course, that’s only if your team has players willing to throw some haymakers whenever the situation calls for them. Luckily, the Dallas Stars are one of the teams blessed with members ready to throw down.
The Stars can always look to certain players to provide an emotional boost in an intense game, which further gives them an edge in certain contests. The best part about these players is that none of them fall under the “goon” classification because all of them contribute in their area on the ice.
But who are the Dallas Stars’ best fighters? In other words, which players can always be relied on to stand in at the right time and bloody a nose or two? Let’s take a look.
3. Jamie Oleksiak
The Big Rig, as he is also known, is quite the intimidation factor simply in terms of size. The thing is, Jamie Oleksiak‘s fighting skills compliment his towering size quite perfectly.
The 6-7, 260 lb. defenseman was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2011 NHL entry draft. He has bounced around the Stars’ system over the last five years, going up and down from the NHL to the AHL and back again. Though his defensive skills are not fully grown yet, he is still one of the Stars’ most valuable assets when they are going up against a bulky opponent.
Oleksiak will compete for a starting spot on the Stars’ blue line this season, and he has a chance. Dallas has plenty of youth battling for positions on defense, and Oleksiak has a few games of NHL experience over the past few years in his back pocket.
Perhaps his most triumphant and downright awesome NHL moment to date is from his fighting career. While Oleksiak has only thrown down two or three times in his career in Dallas, his fight against Nicolas Deslauriers will forever go down as a shining moment of his term. In a game against the Buffalo Sabres this past season, Oleksiak left his mark in Deslauriers’ skull that could last forever.
The Big Rig knows how to leave a bruise, in other words. If Oleksiak does end up starting at a consistent pace with the Dallas Stars this year, expect some more of this when the intensity is high. It’s hard for anyone to stand toe-to-toe with a 6-7 mammoth.
2. Antoine Roussel
While he is not a big bruiser like Oleksiak and does not leave imprints in craniums, Antoine Roussel is notorious for being one of the Stars’ most active fighters. While he suffers his fair share of losses, Roussel is committed to helping the Stars in any way possible and will go up against any competitor.
Roussel has been with the Dallas Stars since the beginning of the lockout season in 2013, and quickly gained the reputation around the NHL of being the player that can easily find his way under the skin of the opposition. While he sometimes fights for fun, the majority of the feisty Frenchman’s bouts have a purpose behind them.
When Rouss isn’t swinging for jaws, he is producing a consistent effort in the Stars’ offensive unit. Roussel helps lead the bottom six forward group and can score some emphatic and emotional goals. That is, of course, when he isn’t in the penalty box.
But, as I’ve already said, Roussel is always looking to give the team an emotional boost, no matter what it costs. Even if he has to go up against former Nashville Predators’ captain Shea Weber, who has four inches and 35+ pounds on him, he’ll do it for the betterment of the team. That’s the kind of fighter every team dreams of.
1. Jamie Benn
Yes, the captain takes the number one spot. While some people would argue that Antoine Roussel deserves the top spot because of his consistency in the fighting industry, Jamie Benn does it on a pretty regular basis and for all the right reasons.
Benn has worn the C on his shoulder since the beginning of the 2013-14 year, and has proven that he is the rightful captain. His offensive output is incredible, and when you combine the rest of his hockey skills, you have the complete package of a hockey player. Benn could very well be considered the most well-rounded player in the NHL.
must read: Ben Bishop To Dallas? Quit Holding Your Breath
His fighting skills are just another piece to the elaborate puzzle. The early part of Benn’s NHL career were littered with fights as he strove to prove his place in the league and show his strength. Now, Benn will drop the mitts not only as a way to provide a spark for his team, but also to protect his teammates.
That’s what a captain is supposed to do. Stand up and stand in whenever necessary. Not to mention that Benn can lay a pounding out when he needs to (do we need to pull up the Robyn Regehr fight again? Or should we find another David Backes exhibit?).
Overall, the Dallas Stars have a good number of players who have loose gloves. Every successful NHL team needs a handful of players that are like this. The fact that the Stars have three players that contribute in more ways than just fist-swinging is a beautiful thing.
Next: Jamie Benn's Eight Greatest Moments As A Star
Cherish it, and look forward to next season. The more fighting, the more fun. Oh, and scoring. That’s always nice too.