I played with Knuckles at Northeastern back in '76/'77. Some great memories. Didn't know about his addiction until viewing this. I'm glad to see him fight this and succeed.
Nothing but RESPECT for the man! He has been and always will be a fighter throughout his life in all he does and has done! We all need to remember thus, anyone can be on top of the world today, and something goes wrong the next day, and lose everything! From losing a job, getting scam, car accident, stroke, heart attack, divorce, losing a child! Take one day at a time and be thankful for it! There for the grace of God goes I!
I used to party with Chris on the cape. New the same people. We are both addicts who got sober at the same time. He has no idea who I am but have lost same of the same friends. He knows who. Glad to see he is doing so well.
Chris, worked with your dad at Draper Labs for 20 years. Met you once at the Sheraton when you guys were in Boston to play the Bruins mid 80's. I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties after the pros. Knowing your dad, I'm sure your family had a great deal to do with you making it back from those dark days. My Dad grew up in West Roxbury and also knew your Dad!! Keep the faith brother!! Good luck and God love ya!
I remember the name...now I will remember the story and the fight. GL to you. I hope you live a long, prosperous life in order to inspire and help others!
I didn't know that about Nilan! I am happy for him to come out of it alive! Nilan said , the 4, 50 mark of this video that he didn't think he could play but he was wrong there! Nilan vastly improved his playing ability in Montreal, in the years 84, 85 , 86 Nilan scored 16, 21 ,19 goals! Not bad for an "enforcer" type player!👍👏👏 Chris Nilan will always a hero in Montreal! 🦂🙏
I never was a Nilan when he played, but this was a very revealing segment and I really appreciated how honest and open he was in this little video clip. Best of look to the old guy!
Pretty. Deep interview, and the fact they are in the old "forum" makes it even more impactful. Glad he made it and although not a Habs fan, I would suggest any hockey fan should visit the development that is now the "forum". It's worth the trip.
Well said Chris. Your a dam tough guy to overcome your issues. In my eyes you were down and never gave up, same as a player bud. Take care and never stop the fight.
I had my darkest hour as well. I showed up to work the whole time, like Chris did, but it was, thankfully, not under the lights and on the ice, and not viewed by thousands. But if you live your darkest hour and have to 'show up', in life, it might almost be comparable, in some small measure. It's a struggle for everbody. Chris had a great adventure, and is an inspiration to all of us fractured people who try hard, live hard, and are humble enough to tell the tale afterwards. Great guy.
He's been through so much, he's doing amazing here in Montreal, he's got his own Radio show on TSN 690, he's actually really good I love listening to him he see's things with such clarity, keep it up Chris!
Hung out with this guy when he played with the Rangers.....never in my life would I think he was that weak or in that much pain.....sorry Chris.....hope you pull thru and survive the addiction
Much love, Chris. Tough as nails, I grew up watching you do your thing on TV. I wish you all the best in your recovery and I know the trauma that comes with being a tough guy and the stigmas, pain, etc... All the best.
Further to belw comment, my son had bought me his rookie card in a sports store and I took the card with me as I had a V. I. P. pass hoping to get it signed by Knuckles. He got injured in I believe 2nd period, and didn't come back onto the ice. At end of game, I asked security if I could go back and get my rookie card signed. Meant Sergio Memessio coming out of Canadiens looker room and asked if he would please take my card to Knuckles and ask him to sign it. He took the card in and came back with it signed. I now display Knuckles Nilan's card in my locked sports cabinet along with all my other Montreal memorabilia. Stay strong Knuckles, you and Jamie got this. 💪
I hadn't heard anything about this til now either. wow. Wathced a lot of Bs in the 80s and 90s and hated and loved him. I'll tell you this tho, I always respected him. Fn A man, GL, fight the fight. I served ya a slice one time, you were great. Be well
Addiction is a huge mountain to climb and I hope pulls through. I honestly never liked Nilan during his playing days, even when he came to the Rangers to play for us. Nilan will always be equated with brawls, which is too bad, because he could've been much more than he was. He scored 21 goals in 84-85 which showed that he had the skills to be a better player.
@@paulclancy789 if you are unfamiliar with the boston neighborhoods, they are very insular and very different. there are several heavy irish populations in southie, charlestown, dorchester, and west roxbury, but that doesn't mean they are friendly to each other. southie irish kids will stay out of charlestown, and vice versa. i was an irish kid from 8 miles away and i would be risking my health to go into southie. nilan's irish west roxbury is a million miles away from irish charlestown, etc. you would have to be from here to know these differences and fine distinctions.
Bruins fans hated Chris when he was with Montreal ,Not as a person, But a player, But when he put the black and Gold on...He became beloved in an instant. Proof positive he was never really hated but respected. Glad he became a Bruin.
you are entitled to your opinion. it is indicative of the dumbing down of boston hockey fans that nilan was accepted at all and it was a disgrace by harry sinden to acquire him. bruins style of play has been tough and hard working, not dirty and embarrassing like nilan. after what he did to rick middleton, he should be banned from the building. nothing to respect here, twiggy. real hockey players do not respect dirty players and don't want them on their team, despite whatever else they may bring.
@@Mike___Honcho I was only made aware of the Rick Middleton incident about a month ago. Obviously many decades after it happened, and as well, long after i wrote the comment of Nilan. The incident certainly alters my perception of Nilan, tilting quite negatively, So your "dumbing down" comment is off base, Particularly since we are speaking of Hockey from a fans perspective. Its not an intellectual endeavor.
@@twiggyb67 again i have to differ with you. my family had season tickets for the Bs from the mid 60s until '82. in the early years of that span, most of the garden crowd was blue collar and male, i imagine with a high percentage of that crowd having been players at some time. it was a very smart crowd and you could tell this by their reaction to subtle events during a game. there was an appreciation for good, clean, tough, and gritty hockey, and these fans knew that dirty buggers only hurt the team by taking selfish penalties. bobby orr was behind the explosion of interest in hockey in the 70s in boston, but by the late 70s, the smart hockey fans were replaced by 12 year old girls wearing " krushelnyski " jerseys ( mike krushelnyski was a teen heart throb player for the Bs, like donnie osmond on skates. ) all this was good for hockey, as it fueled expansion and more money many times over, but today's crowds are full of people who really don't know anything about the game or it's codes. you are right that from a fan's perspective -- who cares ? i am no better than the 12 year old girl, but if we're talking about how to evaluate nilan's career, it helps to know a little about what hockey players think about guys like him, and it helps to actually have exposure to the guy. i was born just a few months later than nilan so we were in the same year growing up. we both played in the catholic conference in HS ( MC vs. CM ) and i was friends with dave archambault, the NU captain, so i skated at the arena with them both many times. i also worked at the cask n' flagon on huntington ave so i got to see drunk nilan many times. he used to love to sucker punch people out of the blue or pick fights. i would just stand there and watch him walk around and look for a victim. he was a walking felony assault -- aaron hernandez without a gun. he was a sick puppy since before he could drive. he didn't give a damn about his team. i recall many times watching him just unravel and take call after call after call, just cuz he felt like it, and he couldn't hit the side of a barn with the puck. montreal picked him cuz he was crazy.
Chris I hated you as a player and I know the struggle I really love you now though I didn't know I wish you fair seas on your voyage God bless and good luck
My dad grew up with Chris in West Roxbury. Even my dad has said since day 1 that Chris overcame so much shit. He use to tell me stories about how scary Chris' dad was and how he was an ex green baret and use to go mental on Chris. My dad played Hockey growing up with him throughout high school. Ironically my dad said that in his younger years Chris use to be on the loosing end of most fights in the neighborhood however that changed after puberty.
My ex workout partner Steve was from WR, and knew Nilan, and was like 1 year younger, but went to CM. He would see Chris at get togethers and cool with him and he'd always remarked about Nilan's eyes and how they'd state right through you. He was also one to say "F-you" pretty quickly. If you even tried to get in his kitchen unless you were were in hi inner circle, which Steve B was. But he said Chris was a very good street fighter once he grew up. Hr certainly looks tough and hi ssf brain is pretty sharp. Bottom line, he had huge balls and CV would be CV k it up for a smaller heavyweight fighting guys way bigger - like Ben Wilson. Total. Boston Boy, now in Montreal. Great for him...sometimes abrasive but idiot's keep bugging people like Chris and act like they know you..so they can get their stupid selfie. He's a great guy now, honest as they come. Man his pops is one warrior I would give total respect to. Green Beret? HOLY $%&T !!
Never had a warm spot in my heart for Chris Nilan since his cheap shot on Rick Middleton with the butt end of his stick, even after he came to Boston for a short stint. Nifty was a clean almost gentleman player and there was never any call for it. That being said while a good player, Chris was a hired gun. That goes for all teams including the Bs most of all. I can now come to grips with given his struggle with his addiction. I understand now and hope Chris keeps up the good fight.
i can respect nilan for being tough as a hockey player and fighting for his team. he had the misfortune of becoming an addict and i hope he remains sober. i know it is not easy to overcome. but, i have zero respect for him as such a dirty hockey player and street thug. that was the one thing he had control over but he didn't care about hurting other people. i saw first hand and numerous times the damage he caused ambushing and sucker punching clueless people in bars. he was an out of control felony assault crime wave. he is aaron hernandez without the gun.
I don't have to justify anything to you it's the internet "bud" it's not like we could tie up and fight but we did I would knock your head off of your shoulders "bud"
We should retire his number...this guy gave everything to our team and kept the goons away from our talented players. I think I'll start an online petition!
I think Nilan got big headed and thought he was something he wasn't. He was a replaceable player but no doubt a team player. I'm not bad mouthing him but he should've appreciated being with the Habs and shut up.They put his name on the cup! Nobody was there to back him up because he was totally cocky and way out of line and he knows it. He hurt his family by not thinking things through and paid for it big time! He reminds me of Mike Tyson or pretty much any washed up boxer for that matter.
The hardest fight if his life! And he's winning it! That's the mark of a true champion!
I played with Knuckles at Northeastern back in '76/'77. Some great memories. Didn't know about his addiction until viewing this. I'm glad to see him fight this and succeed.
Hey Jim, we were roommates freshman year with Tommy McVie at 90 The Fenway. :). Long time eh. I hope you are doing well. - Mike
I had the pleasure meeting chris
I too am in recovery and i hope we both live clean and sober.
Thomas Young Keep it up man, stay strong.
Awesome marty uribe too! Proud of you man.
One day at a time. You got this, man.
Nothing but RESPECT for the man! He has been and always will be a fighter throughout his life in all he does and has done! We all need to remember thus, anyone can be on top of the world today, and something goes wrong the next day, and lose everything! From losing a job, getting scam, car accident, stroke, heart attack, divorce, losing a child! Take one day at a time and be thankful for it! There for the grace of God goes I!
My hero! Thanks for signing my Canadiens Nilan jersey. You really are a true warrior. Greetz from The Netherlands.
He is a Stanley Cup Champion and one of the Legendary blue collar players in Habs history.
So happy for 30 years been waiting for a team of players like him and we finally have a great team of players like him
Good for him fighting his addiction. I remember him. He was a tough horse.
I used to party with Chris on the cape. New the same people. We are both addicts who got sober at the same time. He has no idea who I am but have lost same of the same friends. He knows who. Glad to see he is doing so well.
Chris, worked with your dad at Draper Labs for 20 years. Met you once at the Sheraton when you guys were in Boston to play the Bruins mid 80's. I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties after the pros. Knowing your dad, I'm sure your family had a great deal to do with you making it back from those dark days. My Dad grew up in West Roxbury and also knew your Dad!! Keep the faith brother!!
Good luck and God love ya!
Very eye opening. Glad he's clean. Brought a tear to my eye. Proud at this new toughness and determination he's got !
I remember the name...now I will remember the story and the fight. GL to you. I hope you live a long, prosperous life in order to inspire and help others!
I didn't know that about Nilan! I am happy for him to come out of it alive!
Nilan said , the 4, 50 mark of this video that he didn't think he could play but he was wrong there! Nilan vastly improved his playing ability in Montreal, in the years 84, 85 , 86 Nilan scored 16, 21 ,19 goals! Not bad for an "enforcer" type player!👍👏👏
Chris Nilan will always a hero in Montreal!
🦂🙏
God Bless You Chris your a survivor, and a winner in the eyes of many who understand where your coming from.
A truly beloved Hab.....one of the greats.
On or off the ice you will always be my hero ... nothing can or will ever change that for me
All respekt Chris Nilan 💪💪💪from Danmark 🇩🇰
Much respect to Chris for talking so candidly about his addiction. A real man.
Good luck Chris. Stay the course. I had no idea things had gone this way for you. Hockey is my religion. You are still great.
Chris Nilan -Stanley Cup Champion 1986
I never was a Nilan when he played, but this was a very revealing segment and I really appreciated how honest and open he was in this little video clip. Best of look to the old guy!
Pretty. Deep interview, and the fact they are in the old "forum" makes it even more impactful. Glad he made it and although not a Habs fan, I would suggest any hockey fan should visit the development that is now the "forum". It's worth the trip.
Tie Domi and Chris Nilan are the epitome if what happens when being tough is litterally all you have to offer in life
Never heard this before good luck Chris !! Thanks for the memories old boy !!
Total respect! Mr Nilan .
Well said Chris. Your a dam tough guy to overcome your issues. In my eyes you were down and never gave up, same as a player bud. Take care and never stop the fight.
I had my darkest hour as well. I showed up to work the whole time, like Chris did, but it was, thankfully, not under the lights and on the ice, and not viewed by thousands. But if you live your darkest hour and have to 'show up', in life, it might almost be comparable, in some small measure. It's a struggle for everbody. Chris had a great adventure, and is an inspiration to all of us fractured people who try hard, live hard, and are humble enough to tell the tale afterwards. Great guy.
He's been through so much, he's doing amazing here in Montreal, he's got his own Radio show on TSN 690, he's actually really good I love listening to him he see's things with such clarity, keep it up Chris!
Hung out with this guy when he played with the Rangers.....never in my life would I think he was that weak or in that much pain.....sorry Chris.....hope you pull thru and survive the addiction
I remember him playing for the Ranger. It was good to have for a few years.
I will always remember him as that montreal bruiser and one of my favorite rookie cards
Much love, Chris. Tough as nails, I grew up watching you do your thing on TV. I wish you all the best in your recovery and I know the trauma that comes with being a tough guy and the stigmas, pain, etc... All the best.
It's amazing to see how addiction affects you. He looks 10-15 years older than his contemporaries.
All the best Chris. You can do it buddy.
Further to belw comment, my son had bought me his rookie card in a sports store and I took the card with me as I had a V. I. P. pass hoping to get it signed by Knuckles. He got injured in I believe 2nd period, and didn't come back onto the ice. At end of game, I asked security if I could go back
and get my rookie card signed. Meant Sergio Memessio coming out of Canadiens looker room and
asked if he would please take my card to Knuckles and ask him to sign it. He took the card in and came back with it signed. I now display Knuckles Nilan's card in my locked sports cabinet along with
all my other Montreal memorabilia. Stay strong Knuckles, you and Jamie got this. 💪
Wow real powerful stuff.
Hes a class act
Chris came to my school today
GOOD LUCK CHRIS!!
I hadn't heard anything about this til now either. wow. Wathced a lot of Bs in the 80s and 90s and hated and loved him. I'll tell you this tho, I always respected him. Fn A man, GL, fight the fight. I served ya a slice one time, you were great. Be well
Addiction is a huge mountain to climb and I hope pulls through.
I honestly never liked Nilan during his playing days, even when he came to the Rangers to play for us. Nilan will always be equated with brawls, which is too bad, because he could've been much more than he was. He scored 21 goals in 84-85 which showed that he had the skills to be a better player.
Everyone gets knocked down...the hardest part is getting back up. Good luck
God bless u Chris Nolan stay strong go Habs
Its fun to watch Canadians and Americans fight over who are best and still all of you come from Europe.
From Boston so loved this tough kid from southie but was always conflicted when he fought Bruins.
he wasn't from southie.
@@Mike___Honcho thought he was. My bad but certainly he was from Boston
@@paulclancy789 if you are unfamiliar with the boston neighborhoods, they are very insular and very different. there are several heavy irish populations in southie, charlestown, dorchester, and west roxbury, but that doesn't mean they are friendly to each other. southie irish kids will stay out of charlestown, and vice versa. i was an irish kid from 8 miles away and i would be risking my health to go into southie. nilan's irish west roxbury is a million miles away from irish charlestown, etc. you would have to be from here to know these differences and fine distinctions.
He beat his biggest opponent, and got his life back!!
He gave me a puck in msg when I was a kid... wish him the best
Chris is a warrior
amazing story! good luck Chris!
Respect to you Chris
Humble man.
Wow, never knew that about Chris Nilan. No more needles in your ahm Chris.
Bruins fans hated Chris when he was with Montreal ,Not as a person, But a player, But when he put the black and Gold on...He became beloved in an instant. Proof positive he was never really hated but respected. Glad he became a Bruin.
you are entitled to your opinion. it is indicative of the dumbing down of boston hockey fans that nilan was accepted at all and it was a disgrace by harry sinden to acquire him. bruins style of play has been tough and hard working, not dirty and embarrassing like nilan. after what he did to rick middleton, he should be banned from the building. nothing to respect here, twiggy. real hockey players do not respect dirty players and don't want them on their team, despite whatever else they may bring.
@@Mike___Honcho I was only made aware of the Rick Middleton incident about a month ago. Obviously many decades after it happened, and as well, long after i wrote the comment of Nilan. The incident certainly alters my perception of Nilan, tilting quite negatively, So your "dumbing down" comment is off base, Particularly since we are speaking of Hockey from a fans perspective. Its not an intellectual endeavor.
@@twiggyb67 again i have to differ with you. my family had season tickets for the Bs from the mid 60s until '82. in the early years of that span, most of the garden crowd was blue collar and male, i imagine with a high percentage of that crowd having been players at some time. it was a very smart crowd and you could tell this by their reaction to subtle events during a game. there was an appreciation for good, clean, tough, and gritty hockey, and these fans knew that dirty buggers only hurt the team by taking selfish penalties. bobby orr was behind the explosion of interest in hockey in the 70s in boston, but by the late 70s, the smart hockey fans were replaced by 12 year old girls wearing " krushelnyski " jerseys ( mike krushelnyski was a teen heart throb player for the Bs, like donnie osmond on skates. ) all this was good for hockey, as it fueled expansion and more money many times over, but today's crowds are full of people who really don't know anything about the game or it's codes. you are right that from a fan's perspective -- who cares ? i am no better than the 12 year old girl, but if we're talking about how to evaluate nilan's career, it helps to know a little about what hockey players think about guys like him, and it helps to actually have exposure to the guy. i was born just a few months later than nilan so we were in the same year growing up. we both played in the catholic conference in HS ( MC vs. CM ) and i was friends with dave archambault, the NU captain, so i skated at the arena with them both many times. i also worked at the cask n' flagon on huntington ave so i got to see drunk nilan many times. he used to love to sucker punch people out of the blue or pick fights. i would just stand there and watch him walk around and look for a victim. he was a walking felony assault -- aaron hernandez without a gun. he was a sick puppy since before he could drive. he didn't give a damn about his team. i recall many times watching him just unravel and take call after call after call, just cuz he felt like it, and he couldn't hit the side of a barn with the puck. montreal picked him cuz he was crazy.
I go to meetings with this guy. I had no clue it was him.
Well done for keeping it anonymous.
Chris I hated you as a player and I know the struggle I really love you now though I didn't know I wish you fair seas on your voyage God bless and good luck
My dad grew up with Chris in West Roxbury. Even my dad has said since day 1 that Chris overcame so much shit. He use to tell me stories about how scary Chris' dad was and how he was an ex green baret and use to go mental on Chris. My dad played Hockey growing up with him throughout high school. Ironically my dad said that in his younger years Chris use to be on the loosing end of most fights in the neighborhood however that changed after puberty.
I'm a CM grad too. My Dad grew up on Stratford.
My ex workout partner Steve was from WR, and knew Nilan, and was like 1 year younger, but went to CM. He would see Chris at get togethers and cool with him and he'd always remarked about Nilan's eyes and how they'd state right through you. He was also one to say "F-you" pretty quickly. If you even tried to get in his kitchen unless you were were in hi inner circle, which Steve B was. But he said Chris was a very good street fighter once he grew up. Hr certainly looks tough and hi ssf brain is pretty sharp. Bottom line, he had huge balls and CV would be CV k it up for a smaller heavyweight fighting guys way bigger - like Ben Wilson. Total. Boston Boy, now in Montreal. Great for him...sometimes abrasive but idiot's keep bugging people like Chris and act like they know you..so they can get their stupid selfie. He's a great guy now, honest as they come. Man his pops is one warrior I would give total respect to. Green Beret? HOLY $%&T !!
my fav ever
Meant Chris when he was playing with the Montreal Alumni in Belleville, Ontario. They were playing I believe the Toronto Alumni
a boss, you got it
GOD bless Knuckles
You can always tell the true NHL fighters by the scar tissue around their eyes
He used to get his hair cut in west Roxbury where i used to work
Chris answer to his if someone told him he would one day be a junkie is exactly to the word the same thing i thought when posed with that question
Never had a warm spot in my heart for Chris Nilan since his cheap shot on Rick Middleton with the butt end of his stick, even after he came to Boston for a short stint. Nifty was a clean almost gentleman player and there was never any call for it. That being said while a good player, Chris was a hired gun. That goes for all teams including the Bs most of all. I can now come to grips with given his struggle with his addiction. I understand now and hope Chris keeps up the good fight.
he looks 10 yrs older than his father
HAD TO DO IT TO MAKE THE THOUGHTS CALM
hey thats fine man, everyone has a good opinion.
I used to work dealing with recovering drug addicts, i can state 93% of them all said the same thing
Said what exactly
Thinkingjack.said what
Jebus - best of luck ODAT Chris. I remember you well
Dude, that information shouldn't leave the rooms.
isnt that what every adult with issues with addiction says?
Nilan's Toughest Oppenent ever -Addiction
WOW! Chris looks a little like Skeletor now
2 thumbs down, Mr Nilan
i can respect nilan for being tough as a hockey player and fighting for his team. he had the misfortune of becoming an addict and i hope he remains sober. i know it is not easy to overcome. but, i have zero respect for him as such a dirty hockey player and street thug. that was the one thing he had control over but he didn't care about hurting other people. i saw first hand and numerous times the damage he caused ambushing and sucker punching clueless people in bars. he was an out of control felony assault crime wave. he is aaron hernandez without the gun.
Did him and probert ever go at it?
They got in a fight on a cruise ship one time.
He came to m school and talk about bullying lol.
his dad use to beat him every time chris got into trouble in school
Never liked him. He was a hustling player, more than just a fighter, but I always hated him. Still, I hope he does alright and gets past this.
Hockey is the sport of men if your soft you shouldn't be playing hockey I was a hockey enforcer in high school and I loved it
I don't have to justify anything to you it's the internet "bud" it's not like we could tie up and fight but we did I would knock your head off of your shoulders "bud"
Yeah compare your high school hockey to the NHL. You are definitely HIGH
We should retire his number...this guy gave everything to our team and kept the goons away from our talented players. I think I'll start an online petition!
Chris Nilan was one hell of a tough guy. The guy asking the questions, Michael Farber = dumbest hockey guy ever.
@lex ora I stand corrected.
The darkest hour in Knuckle's life was was the day a Boston boy put on a Canadian's sweater.
He needs to get his shit together or he may wind up like Boogard, Rypien, Belak, Kordic or Probert
He's sober now, and was before this piece was done (more than 6 years ago).
No he is not..not that was said by Don Cherry and then he apologized for mis quoting him and two other players..
I think Nilan got big headed and thought he was something he wasn't. He was a replaceable player but no doubt a team player. I'm not bad mouthing him but he should've appreciated being with the Habs and shut up.They put his name on the cup! Nobody was there to back him up because he was totally cocky and way out of line and he knows it. He hurt his family by not thinking things through and paid for it big time! He reminds me of Mike Tyson or pretty much any washed up boxer for that matter.
Sounds like someone is jealous... That is a lot more fun to watch... HAHA!
Tell this interviewer to buzz off! He's not worth your time Chris. Go Huskies.
His girlfriend is beautiful
CHEAP SHOT !!!!!!
easy to kick a man when he is down . even easier when your hiding behind a computer . not good dude this man was a brave man
lol and all the europeans came from africa so what your point.
He looks like the walking dead. Don't do drugs.
Another lowlife Boston Junkie! I hope he stays clean
Happy gilmore