Who is/was the most vicious goaltender in the NHL?

Question

My vote would be for Hextall or Roy...

Answer 1

Definitely Billy Smith he would hack a guy for nothing if the ref's back was turned.

Answer 2

Well I didn't see most so can't really say anything. Didn't start watching until about the early 90's and that was still only the Penguins. To be fair I'm not that old anyway so still paying attention most of my life. Anyway though if I remember Barrasso used to like joining in fights if they were near him. I think he was one of the smartest goalies I've seen in a fight because I think he was teh one that went over with all the pads on and helmet and all. Hey come on the goalie can basically beat someone up and hardly feel anything. Anyway I never saw Roy as vicious and don't think I could say Hextall was the most. Although if I had to pick between them seems Hextall would be a clear cut winner. Maybe it's just because Roy's normal style and reputation but seems like if he was going to take a swat at someone it would only be because they were blocking his view. He just doesn't have the reputation as someone who would have hit someone skating by as I remember him. To be vicious you'd have to be willing to just hit people for coming by your net and I don't think we see that anymore. The most vicious ever would have proably been before I was watching as they proably were more aggressive in goal back then.

Answer 3

Definitely Billy Smith but I bet if we asked some old-timers they'd have some stories about the Goalies from back in the day. Hextall was always a favorite but that reminds me of Felix Potvin , who kicked Ron's butt. Potvin had a rep for liking to chuck some knuckles before the NHL , a family trait apparently.

Answer 4

Roy? Other than the two fights with Osgood and Vernon, I just thought Roy was a jerk but not really a hack artist.

Hextall was bad and entertaining as his flipouts were high comedy, but Billy Smith is the AXE MASTER (coming soon to a theater near you!).

Answer 5

The three I remember being the worst of the worst are Ron Hextall (long family line of NHL goons), Billy Smith ("stay out of my crease if you know what's good for you") and - an oldie but a goodie - Dan Bouchard of the Atlanta Flames, who I once saw give the finger to a referee during a telecast, earning him a ten-minute misconduct.

Answer 6

I think it was Billy Smith of the Islanders. Hextall used to swing a mean stick though.

Answer 7

billy smith was the most penalized goalie. always getting into fights

but hextall slashed a guy in the back of the neck when he was in junior, so that gets good marks for viciousness. and let's not forget what he did to Chelios!

barrasso was feisty too. but i'll vote for hextall, even though felix potvin destroyed him that night!

Answer 8

Ron Hextall gets my vote.

Answer 9

I'd go with Billy Smith, who really set the bar for mean and vicious goalies, and who I think still holds the record for most penalty minutes by a goaltender.

Smith was the first to use his stick on opponents who dared to come near his crease, and he used with abandon. He was also a master at flopping when anyone did the same to him, and he drew a lot of powerplays for those Islanders teams. I also like the fact that Smith refused to shake hands when his team lost a playoff series because he felt bad enough without having to congratulate the team that beat him.

Hextall is a good choice, too, but I think Smith was worse, and I look at him as the guy to beat.

Answer 10

My choice would be Ron Hextall. My most vivid memory of him is when he gave the old two-handed goal stick chop to Craig Simpson's ankles in front of the net. I think that was it for Simpson during that game. What a goon!

Answer 11

I will throw in my vote for Billy Smith too.

I agree about Belfour and Hextall though...