A Goodbye to Derek Boogaard and Look at Minnesota Wild Team Toughness

I vividly remember the first hockey fight I ever saw in person.

Johnson didn't stay in the NHL after the 2004-2005 lockout season, but he was with the Wild from the team's start. He had 61 regular season fights over four seasons with the Wild, according to hockeyfights.com. He was also a leader on the team, serving as captain in 2002 under Jacques Lemaire's rotating captaincy system. While Johnson isn't a storied name in the history of NHL brawlers, he held his own and played his role well for the Wild. His career in Minnesota carved out the enforcer role for the team, leaving it in the rather large fists of a player fans know well, Derek Boogaard.

Everything about Boogaard fits the two-folded enforcer/fan favorite role. He's big: listed at 6'8'' and 257 pounds. His fists: see Todd Fedoruk's face. His name: the Boogeyman fits the ominous role he plays while fans love to chant "Booooogaard." His personality: he dominates opponents, but off the ice Boogaard's friendliness a teddy bear-like demeanor had fans warming up to him immediately.

He made the team in the 2005-2006 season, playing 65 games, scoring two goals and racking up 158 penalty minutes. In his rookie season, he had 16 fights, according to hockeyfights.com. Boogaard soon became a premiere NHL heavyweight, proving that he could exchange punches with the best.

But as he became more well known, he also became more feared on the ice. Fewer players wanted to fight him and Boogaard's presence became more of an intimidation factor than anything. The 65 games he played with the Wild in 2005-2006 were the most he would ever play with the team in one season. Same with goals, points and penalty minutes. Boogaard hasn't scored a goal since that season. With no players wanting to fight him, a lack of point production and some injuries, Boogaard's playing time continued to shrink. Todd Richards' faster, more energetic system highlighted a need for quick skaters and point production from the lower lines. Boogaard just didn't fit in anymore.

While the Wild are now without a heavyweight enforcer, they'll be okay. They have a few guys who can drop the gloves, and a player who can put some points on the board will be more valuable in the new Wild system than someone who is either sitting on the bench most of the game of in the press box.