Working The Redline ep. 8

I've covered a lot of players from the 80s and 90s and even a line brawl from a few years ago. Today I wanna highlight a player from today's age who is likely the most similar to that of a player in the 80s and 90s.

Matthieu Olivier is a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, he is in his 7th NHL season. Olivier was undrafted and played 5 years of junior in the Quebec League. While he put up decent numbers throughout his junior career, fighting and playing a rough game was always his motto. Olivier was signed by the Nashville Predators out of junior and went straight to the Milwaukee Admirals, their AHL farm team. In his first year of pro he put up 12 points but it was the 91 penalty minutes that stood out.  He actually made his NHL debut the following season and played 8 games. It wasn't until he was traded to Columbus in 2022 where he would become a full time NHL player.

I was given the task to rank NHL enforcers in today's game, I think most would have Olivier at one. He is not the largest guy out there standing only 6’1, but boy does he pack a punch. Fights with guys like Reaves, Rempe, Lomberg and even Arber Xhekaj. I'm not entirely sure I have ever seen a fight which he loses. Some of them have actually gotten to a point where you feel bad for the opposition. 

Olivier is an interesting player, a few years ago he actually put up 32 points including 18 goals, a pretty good year for a guy who was overlooked during his junior years. He has 11 in 36 the year, and in a down year for Columbus I wonder if they will look to move him. He's under contract for another 5 years and a cap hit of only 3 million, a good bottom 6 defensive player who adds to a strong forechecking physical team. I understand they just extended him but what's the use of him playing on a bad team. 

Olivier is noted for his work ethic, which tends to be placed in the hands of his father. Simon, who played 6 years professionally in the IHL, CHL and the AHL was one of the top enforcers during his time playing professionally eclipsing 300 PIMs in 1997 with the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL. His father jumped around, playing in cities like Biloxi, Winnipeg and even Louisville. Now Mathieu understanding his path to the NHL made it very clear in the minor he was the guy who would hold the heavyweight belt. While he has some great NHL fights including turning Rempe into a punching bag last year and knocking out Reaves at centre ice this year, I still think the most telling fight of Olivier's career was with Kurtis Gabriel in the AHL. Of course in the American league fights are little more scripted and I'm sure they two knew they would have to fight whenever they saw each other on the schedule, it's a grueling fight that really shows the sheer ability of Olivier. He connects a few times that really makes you ‘ou’ and ‘aw’ at him. Overall Olivier easily wins this fight and goes on to really fire up the crowd. Give it a watch below. It's one of the best out there. 

Olivier and Gabriel

Olivier is a nice time capsule of a player to watch and really reminisce on what old time hockey is about, a player who is truly not to be tested with and one who is very noticeable when out there.