Number 4 – Nicolas Deslauriers
Like Georges Laraque, Nicolas Deslauriers is a former Habs enforcer and happens to be one of two guys who got the better of Xhekaj during a fight, the other being defenseman Vincent Desharnais of the Edmonton Oilers. Deslauriers loves to go toe-to-toe with his opponents, and just tee off, almost like he is trying to punch through them, and he bull rushes at times also. Deslauriers is respected around the league, and thankfully for the Atlantic Division, Deslauriers will play for Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division.
The Broadstreet Bullies will have one of the league’s top enforcers, just the way it should be, and there’s no doubt that Deslauriers will be atop the list for fighting majors at the end of the ’24 campaign. There aren’t many guys that are true tough guys anymore, but he is firmly at fourth, and a look at his reel of fights from the ’22-’23 season.
Number Five – Kurtis MacDermid
Many fans of the Habs might not be completely familiar with Kurtis MacDermid, because he plays in the Rocky Mountains, with the Colorado Avalanche, who only play against Montreal once or twice a season. He doesn’t go under the radar though, at 6’5″ and 234 lbs he is a mammoth, who has no problem dropping the gloves. MacDermid is no stranger to Lucic since the two saw quite a bit of each other when Looch was in Los Angeles, and to some degree while in Edmonton and Calgary, during the late-night Western Conference matchups.
I will be surprised if he doesn’t fight, at minimum, two of the five guys on the list, but likely more, and multiple times, if given the opportunity. The hulking defender will be occupied bruising up the Central Division, should anybody try to test the Avalanche’s stars. But he should garner a ton of interest when the Canadiens face the Avalanche, and you guessed, he will probably mix it up with Wifi.
The toughened division is obvious, considering that three of the five toughest guys, arguably, in the league are in the Atlantic Division, and Deslauriers isn’t far. So, expect there to be some classic scraps ahead. The Leafs and Canadiens are set to square off, for three straight contests during the preseason, before a tilt on the opening night of the ’24 season.
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