5 BEST FIGHTERS IN OILERS HISTORY

Caleb Kerney

Aug 8, 2023, 17:30

Caleb Kerney

Aug 8, 2023, 17:30

It's enforcers week at The Hockey News, so here is the top 5 fighters ever for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers have had some major heavyweights play for the organization. In recent years Milan Lucic, Zack Kassian and Pat Maroon have donned the Oilers crest as the muscle to the high-end skill of Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

1. Dave Semenko

575 GP 1175 PIM 44 Fights (With the Oilers)

If you ask anyone who was watching hockey in the 1980's, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't mention Dave Semenko in the same breathe as Wayne Gretzky. It's rare to find an enforcer on the top line of a dynasty such as the Oilers in the '80's - but that's where you would find Semenko most nights. Many speculate that the Oilers wouldn't have won their first two Stanley Cups in 1984 & 1985 if it wasn't for the muscle of Semenko. Every other enforcer on this list engaged in more fights, but few matched the heart and grit that defined him as a player.

2. Georges Laraque

695 GP 1126 PIM 97 Fights (With the Oilers)

Georges Laraque is my generation's Oilers' enforcer. I grew up watching him engage in entertaining scraps with the other heavyweights in the league. He was never malicious, despite what you might think about a player with over 100 career fights. He was a heart and soul player for the Oilers - and contributed to the scrappy identity of the team. As the second all-time leader in fights for the Oilers he wasn't afraid to drop the gloves.

3. Kelly Buchberger

1182 GP 2297 PIM 134 Fights (With the Oilers)

Kelly Buchberger was a fierce and tenacious competitor. He played at least twice as many games over his career than Semenko and Laraque. His 134 fights make him the most experienced fighter to ever play for the Oilers.

4. Kevin McClelland

588 GP 1670 PIM 91 Fights (With the Oilers)

Kevin McClelland played for the Oilers for seven seasons between 1983-1990. In those seasons he fought 91 times, third most among all Oilers. He won four Stanley Cups with the organization and played an important depth role. He had at least 200 penalty minutes in four straight seasons while with the Oilers.

5. Louie Debrusk

401 GP 1161 PIM 72 Fights (With the Oilers)

Before he was an announcer for NHL broadcasts, he played in the league for many years. He spent six seasons with the Oilers and left his mark on the team in the form of penalty minutes and fights. Debrusk played 228 games for the Oilers and fought 72 times - about one fight per four games played. He never played a full season throughout his entire career. If he would have been able to stay healthy more, he could have worked his way higher on this list.