Top 10 toughest Buffalo Sabres players of all-time
Jim Schoenfeld
Paul Gaustad and Larry Playfair weren’t the only Sabres athletes to tangle with members of the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Jim Schoenfeld got into it against Bruins left winger Wayne Cashman during Schoenfeld’s first year in Buffalo, on Dec. 13, 1972. Cashman tried to prevent an icing in the corner of the Sabres’ zone where the zambonis came out and Schoenfeld checked him against the boards.
The only problem was doors to the runway weren’t locked properly and the two opponents went flying through the exit. Rather than call if off, Schoenfeld and Cashman continued to slug it out off the ice. Two linesmen tried to drag the dueling duo back onto the rink, but the two were too busy fighting to consider a change of scenery.
Schoenfeld would engage in many more scuffles with opponents during his long hockey career. However, his tussle versus Cashman became of one of the NHL’s most unusual and as a result, well-known.
Dylan Cozens
Most hockey observers don’t picture Sabres center Dylan Cozens when they think of tough guys. Despite this misconception, most Blue and Gold fans know better. Cozens is willing to fight anybody anytime and he’s had his share of dustups during four seasons competing for Buffalo. His PIM stats aren’t as high as Rob Ray or Andrew Peters’, but 154 minutes over four years is a lot of fighting.
Much like Gaustad, Cozens is always ready to defend fellow players from cheap shots and dirty hits. A prime example came on in matchup against the New York Rangers on Apr. 27, 2021. When Rangers center Kevin Rooney hit Sabres left winger Drake Caggiula in front of Buffalo’s bench, Cozens wasted no time responding. Cozens pummeled Rooney to the ice, not before getting in some good licks.
John Scott
Sabres left winger John Scott was one of the franchise’s feared enforcers. The 6’8” 260 lb. Scott wasn’t afraid to take on anyone who went after his teammates. He didn’t sit in the box as much as other Buffalo tough guys, yet, his PIM stats were still higher than most guys on the roster. Scott only played for two seasons in the Queen City, but he made the most of his short time with the Sabres.
There are plenty of John Scott fights to choose from. One notable incident was on Jan. 31, 2013. Once again, it was a contest versus the Boston Bruins (who else?). The Sabres brought in Scott that year as a response to Milan Lucic running Ryan Miller. Scott and Bruins’ enforcer Shawn Thornton had a history of bad blood, so it was no surprise to see those two drop the gloves.
Scott beat Thorton so badly with some overhanded right punches the Boston brute suffered a concussion and didn’t return to the game. Scott’s win was so one-sided he even expressed concern about Thornton’s condition, asking his team’s trainers if they knew how Thornton was faring after the beat-down.
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