Now Playing: The Razor’s Edge – AD/DC

(Author’s Note: Please take a few moments to check out the links in this article.  Those people all do fantastic work, you will enjoy it.)

Just a few short hours after both Canada and the United States finished the weekend-long celebrations for their respective national holidays, the hockey world suffered an immeasurable loss as one of its own, Bob Probert, met his end at the young age of 45.  Widely regarded as the best “tough guy” to ever lace it up in the NHL, Probert played one of sport’s most difficult roles for an astounding 17 NHL seasons, first for the Detroit Red Wings, then for their division rival Chicago Blackhawks.

Probert’s career followed a path that was anything but conventional.  In his first season with the OHL‘s Brantford Alexanders, he played a scant 15 games, but in that time amassed 12 goals, 28 points, and 133 penalty minutes.

He certainly seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades kind of player. As time progressed, however, he found his niche as an “enforcer”, doing the dirty work and protecting his teams’ top scorers with his intimidating physical presence and ten pound hands.  There is even sports apparel bearing his post-scrap image with the tagline: “Give Blood. Fight Probie.”

Over the years, many of Probert’s on-ice bouts have become things of legend as he grappled with the likes of Jeff Odgers, Craig Coxe, Joey Kocur, and of course, 13 “trips to the boat races” with Tie Domi.  As tweeted by former NHL player and Domi teammate Nick Kypreos: “Tie told me he had 13 go’s with Probert. Asked him if that’s the most Probie’s had with one guy? Tie said ‘Can’t imagine anyone stupid enough to go for 14′.”  Adrian Dater from the Denver Post reported that veteran Ian Laperriere texted him describing Probert as the “scariest player to ever play against, for sure”.

Respect abounds throughout the league for the man affectionately known as “Probie”.  Former Blackhawks goaltender turned analyst and broadcaster Darren Pang tweeted: “There was nothing quite like knowing Bob Probert was heading to the front of your net. A big man with great hands. Sad day.”  Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch wrote a great piece on former Columbus Blue Jackets’ big man Jody Shelley‘s reaction to Probert’s passing where Shelley stated: “He’s what us other guys wanted to be. He played the game like a man.” (Read the full article here.)

Even in the role of on-ice policeman, Probert made the 1987-88 NHL All-Star team and finished the regular season third on the Red Wings in points.  He proceeded to lead the team in post-season points taking the Wings to the Campbell Conference Finals.  That year the great Steve Yzerman played only three playoff games due to injury, so Probert understood the need for a leader and stepped his game up accordingly.  Claude Lemieux, as quoted by The Hockey News on Twitter, said it best: “He was the ultimate team guy. … He really was a good player. More than a tough guy. Fans really connected with him, related to him. He’s going to be missed.”  More and more reasons why no matter how much players and fans hated seeing their team play against Probie, it was impossible not to respect the passion with which he played the game.

In keeping with the theme of an unorthodox storyline, Probert’s career was not without its stumbling blocks.  He had several run-ins with the law, and a well-documented penchant for the “rock star” lifestyle.  He indulged in alcohol and illicit drugs on and off throughout his career and even afterwards, including multiple stints in rehab clinics.  This tried the patience of the Red Wings management and was ultimately what led to his departure from the organization, and, to a certain extent, from the Blackhawks years later.

Probert’s on-ice ferocity and nastiness might lead many to think that he carried himself in a similar manner away from the rink.  In Probert’s case however, nothing could be further from the truth.  As a former long-time teammate and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Yzerman told Tampa Tribune’s Erik Erlendsson: “Despite being a rugged hockey player, he was really a kind-hearted guy.  He was always upbeat and always had something nice to say.”  Lest anyone think that Yzerman was biased because Probert fought for him all those years, in a quote to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, rival Doug Gilmour praised Probert as well: “Loved the guy. He was a gentle giant. A sweetheart guy off the ice. A fierce competitior on it.”

A personal favorite memory was the one brief time I met Bob Probert.  It was just a few seconds in the concourse of the United Center when he was doing broadcasting work for the Blackhawks.  I rounded the corner and almost literally ran into him.  He said “Oh, pardon me”, and I almost kept walking without looking up.  Luckily I did look up, and once I realized who it was, I shook his frying-pan hand, said a quick word about how much I appreciated his play, and tried to let him get on his way.  It was to no avail, as autograph seekers saw who it was and engaged their tractor beams immediately.  He obliged every single one with a huge smile and a “Thank you”.  Until that day I didn’t think I could like him any more than I already did, and this is a guy who played for the Detroit Red Wings!  (Quite a big deal for many Hawks fans, as we chanted “Probert Sucks!” almost as often as “Detroit Sucks!” in the late Chicago Stadium.)

One last quote from the guy with whom he had arguably his most epic battle, Marty McSorley: “The guys around the game always cheered for him and wanted well for him.  We knew he had troubles but we wanted best for him” (thanks again to Steve Simmons).  The demons he battled were no secret to anyone, and everyone truly wanted him to come out the other side as successful as he was on the ice.

Bob Probert wasn’t a goon, a meathead, a thug, or “dirty”.  He was a hockey player in the truest sense of the word.  If you didn’t believe that before now, the words from some of his greatest adversaries should illustrate the reverence and admiration he earned from players and fans of hockey everywhere.  Probie embraced his role by defending himself, his teammates, his sweater, and the rabid fans for whom he bled with the utmost fervor, and he will be remembered as one of hockey’s favorite sons.  In an era where speed dominates the game, not only may Bob Probert have been the last truly complete ”enforcer”, but he also definitely makes the team photo for the greatest to ever play the role.  To Bob’s family: Hockey fans worldwide will keep his legacy alive, he was a great player and human.  To Bob: Your contributions to our favorite game will never be forgotten, but you will be forever missed.  Thank you.

A few of the fondest memories we have of Probert:

Bob Probert vs Marty McSorley:

Bob Probert vs Joey Kocur:

Bob Probert vs Tie Domi:

Bob Probert: Last goal ever scored at Maple Leafs Gardens:

RIP Bob Probert (1965-2010)

Ryan Hackett
NHLHS Blackhawks Correspondant
rhackett@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @hawknut