Brett Hull prevented one of the top tough guys from coming to Montreal
Every time tempers flare in the NHL today, Arber Xhekaj shows us how important it is to have a player who enforces the rules.
Indeed, the rugged defenseman never hesitates to drop the gloves and isn't afraid of anyone. But today, it takes more than that. Arber is also a very good, robust hockey player with a formidable shot.
In the past, there were players who were paid just to fight. Their hockey skills were less important than they are today.
Such was the case with Kelly Chase, a former teammate of Brett Hull with the Blues. We're talking about a right winger who accumulated a modest 53 points in 458 NHL games, with 2,017 penalty minutes. You read that right.
He had five seasons with over 200 penalty minutes in his career. That means he fought almost every game, or every other game.
Anyway, Chase recently shared an anecdote about when he was traded to the Canadiens at the trade deadline. That day, he was golfing with Brett Hull and received the call announcing his trade during the round.
That's when Brett took matters into his own hands.
The two men were very close and great friends. Of course, Chase eventually had to go see his general manager, and that's when he saw the weight Hull could have on his organization.
You're lucky because I'm friends with Serge Savard, and we canceled the trade. You're lucky because your friend saved you, because we can't let him go!" � Kelly Chase
There are two ways to look at this. Brett Hull prevented a solid tough guy from coming to Montreal, or Brett Hull almost came to Montreal. Imagine if the Canadiens had been able to get him!
Credit: La Poche Bleue
Brett Hull a empêché un échange entre les Blues et le Canadien
| POLL | ||
With Brett Hull in Montreal in the 1990s, do you think the Canadiens would have won another Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes | 135 | 68.5 % |
| No | 62 | 31.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
