Scrappiest/Toughest Goalie of All-Time?

Question

I'd go with Patrick Roy or Eddie Belfour, both tremendous goalies with a tougher side, but does anybody else come to mind?

Answer 1

For my money I say Hextall and Smith.

Who was Scrappiest of the two. Billy Smith was probably more consistently scrappy, always swinging the stick to clear the crease. Hextall was tougher/scrappier when something someone got to him. Who can forget him going after Chris Chelios.

Among current guys Emery comes to mind for his fighting ability, in terms of the toughness to endure playing 70 plus games a year Brodeur gets a mention- not really the same definition of tough but.......

Answer 2

From the goalies I've seen, Roy had the worst temper. I like to see that in a goalie, he has flare, he can kick @ss. You look at Budaj or Theodore; they're pu$$ies, they get run into by a player and skate away to the corner. Roy would get up and yell at the guy, or just slash him next time he was near the net. And people wonder why the Avs goalies suck.

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I never said Roy was the toughest Bob, I said he had the worst temper.

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Well Bob I can drive, but I'm not the best driver in the world. Roy could kick @ss but he wasn't the toughest. Either way he could kick more @ss than Theodore and Budaj combined.

Answer 3

The scrappiest goalie I have ever seen was Ron Hextall of the Philidelphia Flyers. He was a capable goalie who didn't mind giving you a good slash if you came into his crease and he would drop the gloves and fight as well. I will never forget the time he charged out of his net and fought Chris Chelios (I think) of the Montreal Canadiens in a spirited battle. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Never before had I seen a goalie go after a player like that.

Answer 4

1. Billy Smith
1a. Ron Hextall

Both were far scrappier than either Roy or Belfour. (Come on now, Roy lost a fight to Mike Vernon. I could handle Mike Vernon.)

Billy Smith defined scrappy goaltending. To top it off he was one of the all-time clutch goaltenders ever. You were well advised to turn your shin pads around prior to standing in front of his net. In the late 70's Billy Smith fought Bob Kelly during a brawl and not only won but tuned him up. Here is the clip of that game, it's a good old school donneybrook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhcomfug3ZE

Hextall (despite getting tuned by Potvin) was as nasty as anyone. Ask Chris Chelios, Kent Nillson, Mark Recchi and Rob Pearson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8_wrJpRDaU

Answer 5

Ron Hextall. Ron Hextall Ron Hextall. How could you not go with Ron Hextall? He holds the record for most penalty minutes by a goalie in one season, he got in numeous fights and he used his stick like it was a sword. Belfour and Roy were both inspired by Hextall's actions in terms of their toughness.

Answer 6

Billy Smith of the New York Islanders,you never saw a crowded crease when Billy was between the posts,not only tough but with Stanley Cup rings to back it up!

Answer 7

I know he is knew to the league, but I am taking Ray Emery. Not only has he kicked the bag out of other goalies, but he has taken on some of the regular skater tough guys too! Any guy that wears a boxer on his mask is tough!
OH, and let's not forget Dan Cloutier! He can't stop a beach ball, but he can throw some haymakers!
Watch an old Emery fight :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZzyOBhk5Uw

Watch some other fights here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYfv5jIYNbw

Answer 8

Toughest Johnny Bower...scrappiest..Billy Smith..

Answer 9

Eddie the Eagle

Answer 10

Bob, you stole my heroes/answers! LOL

Jacque Plante comes to mind. Glenn Hall. John Davidson. Tony Esposito. Curtis Joseph got into a few fights.