03:50 AM ET  01.20 | There was only one scrap earlier this evening between Nashville's Wade Belak (#2 IS.com HW's) and New Jersey's Michael Rupp (#1 IS.com LH's).

There were no serious punches connected and it was more a ring around the rosie session then anything.

Now, the reason I am even mentioning this mediocre fight is because of who was spotted in the audience.

The cameraman did a superb job in producing a shot of Jim McKenzie enjoying the game.

You wanna talk underrated all-time fighter?

His career fight card is decorated with a who's who of all-time greats.

Probert, D. Brown, Grim Reaper, Brashear, Nilan, Domi and Langdon, just to name a few.

McKenzie is the epitome of underrated.

Dropping the gloves with McKenzie meant having to engage with an opponent who could switch hands in the blink of an eye, put you to sleep with either fist and frustrate you with tactical arm isolating strength and make you lose hope with his sturdy chin.

It was never easy with Big Jim.

McKenzie's career spanned 880 games and he suited up for 9 different teams.

9 teams may seem like a lot, McKenzie is tied with 11 other NHLer's for third all time (Mike Sillinger holds the record with 12), but it just shows that his expertise in the field of pugilism was in high demand.

Although McKenzie only earned double digits in points once in his career, he was far from a choppy skating, head hunting cement head.

He was reknowed for being such a nice guy and many cite that lack of an intense mean streak may have cost the heavyweight title.

I refuse to give him a bad mark for not gooning it up Sasha Lakovic style.

McKenzie knew what his job was and went to the office everyday ready to fulfil his duties.

He never exceeded over 202 penalty minutes in a season at any time in his career and his playing ability was so regarded that he earned shifts in 51 playoff games over his career, 13 with the 2003 New Jersey Devils, which culminated in him getting his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Respect due.

 

-MB

 

McKenzie vs. Crowe

 

McKenzie vs. Langdon

 

McKenzie vs. Twist