Rick Foley

Rick Foley was an intriguing - and intimidating - blend of physicality and offense.

The defenseman was a giant of his day. At 6'4" and 225lbs he was likely the biggest man on the ice in most games he played in during his vagabond career in the late 1960s and the 1970s.

He liked to use his size to his advantage, too. His penalty minute totals were mindboggling. Well over 2000 minutes sitting in the penalty box in his professional career. The wild haired Foley totally fit that 1970s "Slap Shot" image of pro hockey.

But Foley could play, too. He had strong offensive numbers everywhere he played. He had 95 and 80 points in his 2nd and 3rd pro seasons - impressive even if it came in the lowly EHL. But he posted strong numbers the WHL and AHL as well, topping the 70 point mark in each league. Those are great numbers for a defenseman. And those numbers would have been even better had he not been sitting in the penalty box so much.

In 1971 the Philadelphia Flyers gave the 5th year pro his first real shot at the NHL. He would play 58 games for the Flyers that season, posting good numbers again with 11 goals, 36 points and 168 points. Mid-season he was suspended and demoted to the minor leagues because his weight was out of control. The Flyers, according to the Montreal Gazette, had a clause in Foley's contract calling for him to keep his weight below 218lbs. Clearly the Flyers felt Foley's weight hurt his play more than it helped.

The Flyers dismissed Foley after that one season. He briefly played for Detroit in the 1973-74 season and otherwise continued to roam the minor leagues.