It may not seem like it in recent seasons, but in recent memory, the St. Louis Blues have had a number of enforcers one would go to war with on any given day. When one of those guys [Tony Twist] admits he fought the best man in his wedding three times in his career, you know you have something here, and what you have is a group of guys that fought for the logo on their chest more so than worry about their own personal gains. After all, guys like Twist and Kelly Chase were busy protecting Brett Hull, Pavol Demitra, Pierre Turgeon. Nothing more needs to be said. Some of the guys on this list and in the honorable mentions have fought each other. So without further ado, here's the top fighters in Blues history, with honorable mention names that arguably could fit the list also:
1. Tony Twist
294 GP, 688 PIMS, 64 fights (with the Blues)
In my time watching Blues history, it's hard to fathom a harder-hitting, continuous pounding of a human that Tony Twist. He'll line you up and batter his opponent on most occasions to a pulp, then smile at you on the way to the penalty box and be your best bud/drinking buddy after a game. A ferocious hitter, there weren't many, if any, fights where Twist didn't leave his opponent bloody and battered. Between the Blues and Quebec Nordiques, Twist fought on average once every four games (104 fights) and why wouldn't be when he was built for it (6-foot-1, 220 pounds).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMCCrzT0ZU[/embed]
2. Ryan Reaves
419 GP, 695 PIMS, 56 fights (with the Blues)
When the Blues drafted Ryan Reaves (6-2, 225) in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Draft, they knew immediately they had their gate keeper. Reaves was and is one of the most feared, intimidating fighters in the game today with his body built like a tank. This was and is a heavy hitter and the Blues benefitted from not only his ability to stick up for skill guys like Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, David Backes, T.J, Oshie, Paul Stastny, Alex Pietrangelo and so forth, but having the ability to punch (no pun intended) offense in himself. Reaves is still considered the top fighter of today's game.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf9GWbeVfcw[/embed]
3. Reed Low
250 GP, 694 PIMS, 78 fights (with the Blues)
He may not have won every fight, but Low (6-4, 235) was one tough hombre. Low was a true heavyweight in every sense of the word, towering over his opponents and having no mercy when he fought his opponents. Some of Low's top opponents were Georges Laraque, Brad May, Darren Langdon, Darren McCarty. Low twice accumulated over 50 penalty minutes in a single game (57 vs. Calgary Flames, February 28, 2002; 53 vs. Detroit Red Wings, December 31, 2002) and would not balk at putting himself on the line multiple times throughout his short career in the NHL.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiXCafrhSnQ[/embed]
4. Cam Janssen
165 GP, 470 PIMS, 57 fights (with the Blues)
In an era when fighters were aplenty, Cam Janssen wouldn't shy away from any of them: Brian McGrattan, Brandon Prust, Arron Asham, Wade Belak, Krys Barch, Colton Orr, Jared Boll, Jody Shelley ... Janssen fought them all and punch for punch, was a monster. He hit hard and often and was a motor in doing so. The Eureka, Mo. native (6-0, 215) couldn't have been more pleased than to deliver his goods for his hometown team playing four of his nine seasons in St. Louis; he spent parts of five seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyUPgwB30MI[/embed]
5. Kelly Chase
345 GP, 1,497 PIMS, 123 fights (with the Blues)
There's a slogan around the Blues and their players, describing those that leave it all on the line, is 'Bleeding Blue.' Kelly Chase arguably is the epitome of this. There wasn't a game he played wearing a Blues jersey in which he didn't make it known who the sheriff on the ice was. Anyone that's willing to step up and fight Bob Probert without thinking twice, you know you've got yourself a keeper. If someone stepped out of line trying to take the Blues' best players out of the way or off their game, No. 39 would draw the line despite being smaller in stature (5-11, 201).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uituUis_lSA[/embed]
Honorable mention: Todd Ewen (heavily considered for Top 5), Darin Kimble (heavily considered for Top 5), Herb Raglan, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Stevens, Brian Sutter, Bob Plager, Garth Butcher, Steve Durbano, Bob Gassoff, Noel Picard.