Top 10 toughest Buffalo Sabres players of all-time
Paul Gaustad
Paul Gaustad, a 6’5’’ 227 lb. forward, was not the most famous Sabre to go toe-to-toe with adversaries but wasn’t afraid to stand up for his teammates. Nicknamed “Goose”, Gaustad was skilled at winning face-offs and also good at fights. Gaustad’s PIM numbers were a career total 778, with the majority of that time, 585 minutes, as a Sabre.
On Nov. 23, 2011, Gaustad dropped the gloves with notorious Boston Bruins thug Milan Lucic after Lucic ran Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. While Lucic got his punches, so did Gaustad and No. 28 showed he wouldn’t let any hockey bully push the Sabres around.
Cody McCormick
Right winger Cody McCormick only spent four seasons in Buffalo but made use of his fists, especially during 2010-11, when he recorded 142 PIM. He also enjoyed a decent eight goals, 12 assists and 20 total points.
But back to the brawling. McCormick’s finest effort took place almost a year before Gaustad fought Lucic. On Dec. 3, 2010, the Sabres hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. McCormick faced off against Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore. McCormick dominated the fight from start to finish, pummeling Commodore to the ice before the refs broke it up and escorted both players to their respective penalty boxes.
Patrick Kaleta
Fan favorite Patrick Kaleta spent all seven of his NHL seasons in Buffalo. Not a high-scorer, he was more skilled at throwing punches than getting pucks in the net. His willingness to dance with his fists endeared him to supporters in the stands.
Ironically, Kaleta got into fisticuffs with Columbus right winger Derek Dorsett at the same game Gaustad and Lucic clashed, Dec. 3, 2010. The two started brawling in front of the Jackets’ bench midway through the third period. Kaleta controlled the fight from start to finish, getting most of the hits until a pair of zebras wrestled both opponents to the ice.
Larry Playfair
Defenseman Larry Playfair played for 14 seasons in the NHL, an impressive record for a guy who liked to mix it up with opposing players. The D-man was a Sabre from 1978 until 1986, when he joined the L.A. Kings. Playfair came back to the Queen City in 1988 and skated for two more years in Buffalo.
Playfair fought many players during his career, but one memorable moment came against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 9, 1983 in Boston. Playfair put up his dukes with Bruins forward Terry O’Reilly. The Sabres defenseman got the better of O’Reilly, landing more punches than deflecting them and even dragging O’Reilly over to the Sabres’ net.