The Toughest Penguin Ever?

I was re-reading my latest post this morning, the part about Brooks Orpik in particular, when a light-bulb turned on. As is so often the case, one thought led to another and another, providing the genesis for this article.

The subject? Who was the toughest Penguin ever?

My answer might surprise you. He wasn’t the biggest or necessarily the strongest. He sure wasn’t the best fighter. In fact most of the time he absorbed a whuppin’ when the gloves came off. Which, oddly enough, contributed to his standing as my toughest player rather than detract from it.

Ready for the reveal?

Darius Kasparaitis.

The rock ‘em, sock ‘em Lithuanian defender was a spirited, relentless hitter over the course of his 14 NHL seasons, including parts of six with the black-and-gold. Unfortunately for “Kaspar the Unfriendly Ghost,” hits weren’t officially tracked by the NHL during this his playing days. Still, according to StatMuse, he averaged 3.24 hits per game. Which would’ve placed him in the 200-300 range for a full season.

Blessed with a compact 5’11”, 215-pound frame, powerful legs, excellent mobility and a low center of gravity, it was as if the hockey gods had created the perfect hitting machine.

The Bible states that God is no respecter of men. In other words, what He’ll do for one, He’ll do for all. Kasparaitis was a lot like that, only in reverse. The “Elektrenai Train Wrecker” (my nickname for him) absolutely didn’t care who you were and he absolutely, positively didn’t pick his spots. He’d run anyone if the opportunity presented itself.

Even superstars weren’t immune. Darius flattened Mario Lemieux, not once but twice, during a 1993 playoff game. This after sending Joey Mullen tumbling into a head-over-heels cartwheel with one of his patented, low-bridge hip checks.

Encouraged in no small part by Kaspar’s brash, fearless play, the upstart Islanders brought the Pens’ two-year reign as Cup champions to a grinding halt. In the process nipping a would-be dynasty in the bud.

Following the series, Rick Tocchet would rue not “straightening the kid out” when he had the opportunity. I recall the warrior winger challenging Kasparaitis to a go, to no avail. The Isles’ hit man simply wouldn’t be cowed, nor deterred from executing his search-and-destroy missions.

In that aspect, he was a lot like Patric Hörnqvist. Pound him. Beat on him. It didn’t matter. He absorbed the punishment and kept coming at you. The Terminator or Rocky Balboa on ice, take your pick.

Among his other high-profile victims? Wayne Gretzky, Jaromír Jágr and, most famously (or infamously), Eric Lindros. He and “The Next One” had engaged in a private war dating back to the 1996 World Cup.

On the night of March 7, 1998, Kaspar caught Lindros with his head down. The result?  An absolutely devastating shoulder check that floored the massive Flyer and left him woozy and dazed. A likely catalyst for future concussion woes that would, unfortunately, shorten Eric’s career.

The hardest check I ever witnessed was delivered by Kasparaitis during the 1998-99 season…against a former teammate to boot. Petr Nedved had held out the previous season, in essence forcing a trade to the Rangers. The former Pens playoff hero had just picked up a loose puck or received a pass along the sideboards. In the blink of an eye, Kasparaitis stepped up and flattened him. I mean, just crushed him. I’ve never seen a player hit the deck as hard or as fast as Nedved. It actually hurt just to watch it.

The irony? Kaspar played that season a torn ACL while refusing to comprise his physical style.

“When you start playing, you forget about pain,” he said.

Toughness personified.

In closing, a compilation of his greatest hits.