A Chat with Ex-NHL Bad Boy Arron Asham

Editor’s note: Arron Asham is notorious for the brutal crosscheck he laid upon Brayden Schenn’s upper body (Chest? Throat? Replays are inconclusive.) in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup between Asham’s Penguins and Schenn’s Flyers — but to chalk the Manitoba native’s entire career up to one cheap shot would be disingenuous.

Over the course of his 15 year NHL career, Asham notched nearly 100 goals and over 200 points (pretty good for a guy who many NHL fans — casual or otherwise — viewed as a goon). A prolific scorer during his junior hockey days — he scored 292 points in 131 games for the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels — Asham became known in the NHL as a guy who didn’t mind mixing it up, and as someone who’d go to battle for his teammates, no questions asked.

Now in his late thirties and playing for the Gander Flyers of the Central West Senior A Hockey League in Newfoundland, Asham is back to his goal scoring ways and happy to have left the fighting behind. We caught up with him to chat about the expectations that come with being drafted by the Canadiens, sitting in a room with Brendan Shanahan during a discipline hearing, and his thoughts on Bruins fans. This interview, which originally ran on Bender on February 17, 2016, has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Terrence Doyle: I wanted to talk about your days with Red Deer. You were a pretty prolific scorer, but still a dude who liked to mix it up. But in your last year with them, you took significantly fewer penalties: Was there some sort of directive from on high to clean your game up?

Arron Asham: I think Montreal just wanted me on the ice more. You know, they didn’t want me fighting as much. It definitely was a part of my game, but you know, in juniors I was known as more of a scorer than a fighter.

TD: So you were already Montreal’s property at that point then?

AA: Yea, I signed when I was 19 during my last year with Red Deer.

TD: Given your prolific scoring record in juniors, there must have been a lot of expectation on you to produce points when you got to the NHL — that didn’t end up being your game, so I’m wondering if there was any pressure when you were playing for the Habs to produce more, or were they satisfied with the role you settled into, which was as a dude who would mix it up, go out there and kill penalties and play a strong defensive game?

AA: Yea, I was basically going in wanting to make the team, wanting to stay in the lineup. I was willing to do whatever it took, whether it was to go out and fight or to go out there and hammer guys or, you know, put the odd puck in the net.

TD: Any good stories from those days in Montreal? Those were pretty lean years for the Canadiens, and especially with a fanbase with such high expectations, it must have been intense playing up there.

AA: It was like being a movie star in Hollywood. They love their hockey in Montreal, so they treated us first class. The fans, the organization, they’re top notch. You know, I played with some pretty good guys. I played with Doug Gilmour for a year, Shayne Corson, Vinny Damphousse. I played with a lot of hall of famers, you know, I had a great time. It was short, but I enjoyed myself.

TD: I forgot you crossed paths with Damphousse. What was he like as a guy?

AA: He was great. I think I only played, you know, ten games with him, but he was quite the player. Just watching him in practice — I was just a young guy — he was one of the veterans you tried to model your game after.

TD: I’m a Boston guy. I grew up playing here, watching the Bruins, and you played for a few franchises Boston fans don’t like too much — Montreal, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York. And I think you were one of these guys who Boston fans loved to hate. But I think that if you were a Bruin, you would have been an absolute folk hero because you’re the kind of player that we love down here. What was it like playing in front of our hostile crowds?

AA: Oh, I loved it down there. I faced them a few times in the playoffs. Once with Montreal — remember that McLaren hit on Zednik? — and then with the Flyers, when we were down 3–0 and came back. You know, great battles. The fans there are passionate. I love Boston, I went to a few ballgames down there. It’s a great city with great people, and whenever I’m there I enjoy myself immensely.

TD: Yea, that 2010 series — that was fucking heartbreaking for us down here.

AA: Yea, that was quite the series. Definitely one I’ll never forget. It was a great series.

TD: You’re known as a guy who played on the edge — you’d mix it up. You’d pretty much fight anyone. You went toe to toe with some dudes who had three or four inches and 20 or 30 pounds on you, and I think a lot of people always respected that. But I think you got a pretty bum deal after the hit on Brayden Schenn, despite it being the only time you were ever suspended in your career. What was the fallout like after that?

AA: I don’t think I should have gotten four games. Supposedly I got him in the neck, but I knew I got him in the chest, and that’s why I punched him in the back of the head because he was flopping around like he was shot. I had a meeting with Shanny [former Senior Vice President of the NHL Brendan Shanahan] about it, and he thought I deserved four games. There was nothing much I could do about it — I plead my case, and they got back to me and said four. So basically they gave me eight because we were in the playoffs and every playoff game is considered two regular season games. Would I do it again? Yes I would. He ran over my guy, and I’m gonna crosscheck him. I knew he wasn’t gonna fight, so I gave him a little shot. He played it up, and he got me out of the series, so…

TD: What are those meetings with Shanahan like?

AA: You know, he talks about the hit and what my intentions were. That was basically it. I plead my case. “He ran over my guy, I came in with a crosscheck, it rode up, I did not get the neck or the face.” “Well why did you punch him in the head?” “Because I knew I didn’t get him with a great crosscheck, so I gave him a shot.” And that was that. I was thinking I was only gonna get one or two games, but they gave me four. So that was it for that series.

TD: They tossed the book at you.

AA: Yea, it was brutal. Especially for a first time offense, I thought it was pretty harsh. But what are you gonna do?

TD: What was it like playing with Crosby and Malkin?

AA: Oh, it was great. Those two are among the top five players in the world. Watching how hard they work in practice. Especially in Pittsburgh, those guys can’t go too far without being mobbed — for being so famous, they’re down to earth guys. Two really different but good guys.

TD: Good teammates?

AA: Very good teammates.

TD: Think Sid is still the best player in the world?

AA: Yea, I think so. Little slump, starting to heat up now. I think if he puts a little push in, he can be in the top ten in scoring.

TD: Who were your guys growing up? Who did you try to emulate?

AA: Oh, you know, I was a big Gretzky and Lemieux fan. I’d say more Mario — I liked the way he was big, he could skate. He was definitely right up there with Wayne. I was a Winnipeg Jets fan growing up, so I liked Dale Hawerchuk, Zhamnov when he was there, Selanne. The Jets were definitely up there with my favorite teams growing up. What’s not to love about Dale Hawerchuk?

TD: Hawerchuk was amazing. And Selanne is probably my favorite player of all time. He and Jagr.

AA: Yea, Jagr. He’s amazing.

TD: What about that guy? 44 years old, still doing what he’s doing.

AA: Big and strong. Stays healthy. Looks after himself. It’s amazing.

TD: So what’s going on up in Newfoundland? How do you like playing up there?

AA: I’m actually surprised, it’s a decent league. There’s only four teams, but there are a lot of good players who played pro but decided to come home and play up here. It’s been a great time. I’m having a lot of fun.

TD: That’s cool! You know any of the guys up there?

AA: Yea, actually Terry Ryan — I played with him in Montreal for a little bit, in the minors. He called me and asked me if I wanted to play last year, and I was like, “Hey, why not?” I still have that competitive edge to me, so it’s nice to be up here doing something.

TD: You’ve been scoring some goals up there. Must feel good lighting the lamp again?

AA: Yea, it’s always nice when you’re scoring. Never gonna complain about that. It’s nice being able to go out there and not have to worry about fighting a 6’4”, 250-pound guy you know? Play some hockey, have some fun.

TD: Speaking of which, who’s the toughest guy you ever fought in the NHL?

AA: Jeez. [Colton] Orr was pretty tough. Louie DeBrusk was pretty tough. George Parros was pretty tough. Erskine, we had a good tilt. He threw hard. He threw really hard.

TD: Was there ever a moment where you were like, “Man, I made a big mistake fighting this guy,” or were you always like, “Fuck it, lets go”?

AA: Usually all of them I went in there thinking, “What am I doing?” But that makes you go in there and fight for your life. You go in there and try not to get knocked out and try to knock the other guy out, basically.

TD: What was it like playing with Lundqvist?

AA: Hank’s good. Hank’s very good. Super competitive, constantly working on his game. And his hair. He’s definitely one of the best I played with, next to Brodeur.

TD: What do you make of the league today and the way the game is played?

AA: It’s so hard to play in the league now. The game is so fast, every line can play…It’s no longer the case with your fourth line, like back in the day, where everyone tried to run around and kill each other. Now it’s a totally different game. Fast paced, big, strong guys. A totally different game from when I broke in in ’98–99. Everyone is so much bigger, so much faster. Everyone can skate. Everyone’s in shape.

TD: What did you think about the John Scott stuff?

AA: Oh, it’s the league’s fault. They let the fans vote on it. I’m sure he’s gonna go to the game and have a great time. [Editor’s note: He did!] I’ve heard he’s a really nice guy. All the guys seem to like him. Seems like a big goofy fella.

TD: Cool man, well I’ll let you go. Thanks for talking with me!

AA: Of course. Take care.

TD: You too.