He. A hockey player plagued by injuries is confronted with the possibility of retirement when a tough new player challenges his status as the league's top enforcer. By Alex Capstick. Full Bio. [7] Some skilled players, such as legends Gordie Howe, NHL all-star Jarome Iginla, and Ryan O'Marra, are also capable fighters and can function effectively as their own enforcer. Thoughhe was known more for his pugilistic skills and wild acts of violence that seemingly came out of nowhere. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. The Saskatchewan native scored 241 goals in his career. Skeptical? Robert Alan Probert relished fighting in a way few NHL players have. Finally, hockey fights can settle scores as there is an unwritten rule that if you made a dirty hit or injured a player, you will have to pay the price at some point. But he doesn't necessarily . He had his teammates backs, no matter what. Schultz is renowned as one of hockey's greatest enforcers and holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a single season, at 472. Enforcers are expected to react particularly harshly to violence against star players or goalies. While we still have fights in todays game, enforcers have evolved into players who also need to contribute in other ways like scoring goals or killing penalties. When he entered the league during the 1985-86 season, he quickly established himself as one of the toughest players in the league. He played a critical role in the Oilers 1988 Stanley Cup run and was eventually traded to the LA Kings with Wayne Gretzky in the 1989 shock deal. Probert was also known for his off-ice antics and legal problems. When such play occurs, the enforcer is expected to respond aggressively, by fighting or checking the offender. Assistant Coach. Stock hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "GET TO OUR GAME: Top 10 Penguins' Enforcers", "Rocky Thompson's move from enforcer to Memorial Cup-winning coach | Calgary Herald", "Are ice hockey 'enforcers' the toughest guys in sport? Jethro Gillies was part of a long line of enforcers from Saskatchewan. 5. Injuries hampered the career of this bruiser, but he still managed to rack up the ninth most penalty minutes of all time. Karlie O'Reilly. O'Reilly set the blue print forthe prototypical Bruins type player and Ex Bruin Milan Lucic has gone on record saying that he's modeled his game after O'Reilly. His main job was to scare the bejesus out of people (and he did), but you can'tscore 144 goals in the NHL if you're not a decent hockey player. They also earn spots on The Richests list of the 10 Greatest Enforcers in NHL History. Enforcers are also referred to as goons or tough guys. [1], Enforcers are nevertheless often popular on their teams. He averaged 4.12 penalty minutes per game, which is second all-time. The pest's primary role is to draw penalties from opposing players, thus "getting them off their game", while not actually intending to fight the opposition player (although exceptions to this do occur). King (b.1984) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "SUNDAY SPECIAL / Fighting for a Job / NHL enforcers protect and", "Zenon Konopka hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "The 100 Toughest Players in NHL History", "Dan Kordic hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Retro Rangers: Reminiscing with Orland Kurtenbach", "Nick Kypreos hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Jim Kyte hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Dan LaCouture hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "For George Parros & other tough guys, fighting was a business decision", "NHL enforcer Sasha Lakovic was a fearless fighter", "Denny Lambert hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "CNN/SI - NHL Hockey - Hockey in Deer Lake, Newfoundland - Friday October 01, 1999 05:00 PM", "Inside the Minds of Hockey's Enforcers: Ian Laperriere - Sports Psychology Today - Sports Psychology", "Georges Laraque - the enforcer | Radio Netherlands Worldwide", "Paul Laus hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Penguins All-Time Enforcer Squad - Pittsburgh Sporting News", "Francis Lessard (b.1979) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Tough guy winger Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond signed for three years by New Jersey Devils; Petr Vrana to play in Czech Republic", "Reed Low hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Former Blackhawk player, coach Magnuson dies", "Kevin Maguire hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "He's OFF THIN ICE Recovering from alcoholism, former Devil David Maley working way back in minors", "Arbitrator Says Mallette Must Head for Edmonton", "Aug 2017: Jimmy Mann: From player with promise to a pugilistic pariah", "Bloody hockey cards celebrate NHL enforcers", "North Stars Preservation Society: NORTH STARS INTERVIEW: Brad Maxwell", "Hockey: Notebook; N.H.L. Major penalties for fighting declined by 25% annually in the first half of the 20112012 season.[10]. The truth is Brad May was a rock out there for whichever team he played for. Tiger reached the 300-mark for penalty minutes in a season six times during his career, which was primarily played with the Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Kings. All Jack "The Wolfman" McIlhargey - Jack McIlhargey had a career total of 497 penalty minutes, and when he started his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, it was a successful one. However, on top of that, Barnaby also had a knack for scoring big goals. Philadelphia Flyers Top 5 Enforcers of All Time. While no hockey player is officially listed as enforcer on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Williams led the NHL in PIMs three times during his career, always eager to prove his toughness, often against much larger opponents. He was also a solid contributor, as he chipped in 303 points in 500 games. At 6'3, 237 lbs, he had the size for it. Fans of todays NHL may not recognize a lot of the names on this list but that is just because the game has evolved so much. Like Beaver, McCarty thinks the NHL concussion numbers are due to heightened awareness and reporting. Dave Tiger Williams is the career penalty minute leader with 3,966 and that is a number that will likely remain for the rest of time. Pests and enforcers often play together on the same line, usually the fourth line. His intensity matched that of Eddie Shore, except Ferguson wouldn't take as many senseless penalties as him. NHL Fighting Majors Leaders for the 2022-2023 Regular Season NHL Fighting Majors Leaders 2022-2023 Regular Season As of Feb 28, 2023 Player Away Fights Home Fights Total Fights Nicolas Deslauriers 7 4 11 Austin Watson 5 5 10 Jonah Gadjovich 7 2 9 Tanner Jeannot 6 3 9 Patrick Maroon 3 6 9 Mathieu Olivier 2 7 9 Arber Xhekaj 2 7 9 Sam Carrick 5 3 8 Craig Berube entered the NHL with a chip on his shoulder. Bob Probert: One of the most imposing enforcers of all-time, Probert weighed in at 63 and 225 lbs of pure muscle. Since entering the league in 2001, hes logged nearly 2,300 penalty minutes against just over 233 points. Jr. Enforcers alumni are in NCAA D-1, NCAA D-3, NAHL, USHL, NCDC, and the ACHA! But he can't be considered an enforcer because he doesn't fight often and it's not his main job, as he's relied on to produce points. With a fabulous nickname bestowed upon him, Terry OReilly of the Boston Bruins is a legend of the enforcer role. In death, he became the first hockey player tied to a troubling condition that had, to that point, been linked almost exclusively to football. Dave Brown During the heyday of enforcers during the 1980s, Dave Brown entered the scene as an immediate heavyweight contender. Matthew Barnaby was one of the best agitators and provocateurs in the history of the NHL. At 5'8 and 175 lbs, Stan Jonathan was very unassuming, but it was certainly a different story when the gloves came off. The Chief fought the leagues best fighters with frequency, including multiple bouts with Tie Domi, Bob Boughner, and Marty McSorley. Enforcers can play either forward or defense, although they are most frequently used as wingers on the fourth forward checking line. What Tie Domi lacked in stature, he made up for in pure toughness, by becoming one of the most fearsome and entertaining enforcers in the history of the game. A Boston Bruins legend, Terry O'Reilly was one of the most famous enforcers in NHL history. A couple of decades ago enforcers had one role on the team: fights. Tie Domi absolutely makes the list. Tahir Tie Domi looks like a guy ready to punch your face in, doesnt he? Out of his 71 career fights, he barely lost any. Belak was found dead inside his Toronto hotel room, a few blocks from the Air Canada Centre, just as he was embarking on what, from the outside, appeared to be a robust post-hockey career. Despite all of this, his most significant contribution to the game came with his invention of the riding the stick celebration. Head Coach. Free shipping for many products! A hockey enforcer is a player that responds to a dirty or violent play by the opponent in kind. He has more penalty minutes than any other player in the history of the Maple Leafs (see Maple Leafs records) and third overall in penalty minutes in NHL history. Picks Up Speed, Fighters Are Phased Out", "Numbers Indicate That Skill Usually Packs a Bigger Punch Than Fists", "Wade Belak's death another warning sign for NHL", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enforcer_(ice_hockey)&oldid=1140920502, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 12:39. He lead the league in penalty minutes seven times in his career and was the all-time leader in the stat when he retired. What more can you ask for from an enforcer? During that time, he watched the back of legends like Phil Esposito, Ray Bourque, and Bobby Orr. A fearedplayer like Dale Hunter also cannot be considered because amidst all his penalty minutes and dirty plays, he barely fought. Enforcers sometimes take boxing lessons to improve their fighting. In the age of NHL Disciplinary Committee reviews and video replay, this role has been diminished, but fighting can still serve as a valuable tool for players to use to motivate their teammates and get the crowd back into a game. Kocur established himself by earning the most penalty minutes in the NHL during his first season. You can imagine what his role was on the team. In NHL history, the 400-minutes-in-the-penalty-box mark has only been topped four times. In one scrap in 1976, O'Reilly took on Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. It was a pretty sad situation and I didnt know what to do about it., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. His son, Max Domi, is a promising prospect for the Arizona Coyotes. A rugged defenceman who began his NHL career in the pre-expansion era, Fleming was an early prototype of what would later become known as the enforcer. It wasa costly penalty that shifted the momentum in the series. Standing at six-foot-five, 220 pounds, Belak was a ferocious fighter. He had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive ability. Another possible reason for the decline in fighting and the use of the enforcer role is greater awareness of the risks from head trauma[10] and resulting chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). McSorley won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, where he racked up 32 fighting majors over the two campaigns. At 69 and 250 lbs, he is one of the largest players ever to hit the ice, and you can imagine how dominant he would be in a fight. Doug carved himself out a niche in Montreal as one of the better defensive forwards in the league.. As a matter of fact, he didn'teven wait for his first regular season game. This is not entirely accurateas there have been many players in the past and present that can drops the mitts and play the game extremelywell. Tales of Horner wrecking people are legendary. April 25, 2019. Montador had suffered the effects of concussion later in his career, and he had spoken candidly about the experience in an interview with The Peterborough Examiner late last year. Ewen, who went by " The Animal " during his playing days, was involved in well over 100 fights during his career, according to HockeyFights.com. 15 15. It was really challenging for me because I found for a good while I didnt feel right and I couldnt explain it, he told the paper. Semenko had notable feuds with Tim Hunter and Basil McRae, and also fought an exhibition bout with boxing legend Muhammad Ali. MAYDAY! Even his teammates weren't safe as he infamously brawled with Billy Coutu in practice and nearly lost his ear in the process (it's all good though, he found a doctor that sewed it back on). When such play occurs, the enforcer is expected to respond aggressively, by fighting or checking the offender. Chief among those that dish out the pain are the enforcers, the men drafted to make their living protecting the superstar scorers. Tommy Davis. The Hamilton, Ontario native accumulated fourth-most penalty minutes in NHL history. Red was a tough bastard who beat his opponents in a way no other enforcer on this list has thus far: he was the oldest living member of the Hockey Hall of Fame when he died in 2005 at the age of 95. Here's my list of the five greatest fighters in NHL history: Simon would be higher on this list but his track record of suspensions and lack of controlbring him down a notch. His mother, Lorraine, said he had been battling depression. Williams spent more than 4,400 minutes in the penalty box during his 14-year career (regular season and playoffs combined). Stu Grimson was the NHLs heavyweight champion of the 1990s. First of all, hockey fights send a message to the other team. . Brendan Shanahan: Yes another current hockey executive, the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was one of the greatest power forwards in NHL history. Prized for their aggression, size, checking ability, and fists, enforcers are typically less gifted at skill areas of the game than their teammates. The following are retired NHL ice hockey enforcers, listed alphabetically by their last name. After being drafted fourteenth overall in the 1971 draft, the enforcer didn't take long to earn the nickname "Bloody O'Reilly" with five consecutive seasons where he amassed over 200 penalty minutes. 14 14. [13], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 12:39, 61st National Hockey League All-Star Game, National Hockey League Players' Association, "Three hockey enforcers die young in four months, raising questions", "The Ivy Leaguer who fought his way to the NHL", "John Scott, an enforcer with five career goals and a sense of humour, might be just what the NHL All-Star Game needs", "If fans vote enforcer John Scott into all-star game, NHL says he's going", "John Scott wasn't a NHL All-Star MVP finalist, but still won with overwhelming fan support", After The Whistle: Al Secord - Points 'n Punches, "The mystique of the Gordie Howe hat trick", "As N.H.L. While never much of a contributor on the offensive end of the ice, Tony Twist mastered the art of throwing hands. Brashear had a lengthy career in the NHL as one of the top enforcers in the league. Hockey has become faster, more skilled, and dictated by analytics. He remains the Flyers all-time leader in Gordie Howe hat tricks and holds the league record for them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The organization has found immediate success - promoting nearly 20 players to college hockey and higher levels of junior hockey. Rob Ray created the fighting technique where players would remove their jersey and shoulder pads to prevent their opponents from grabbing ahold of them. This list features the best fighters in the history of the sport, many of whom had an impact and provoked changes to the rules of the game. Schultz began wearing boxing wrist wraps in order to prevent injury to himself while fighting, but the league quickly outlawed the practice when it began to catch on. Williams finished his career with 246 total fights and enjoyed a rivalry with Terry OReilly that spanned five fights. The 2022 NHL Draft Lottery will set the order for the first 16 picks of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft when it is held at NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. Throughout his career, Clark Gillies may not have been the most frequent fighter, but he made a tremendous impact for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. He accumulated more than 3,000 penalty minutes for his efforts and was a bad boy off the ice too, with legal issues and drug problems aplenty. His best years were in Buffalo as he notched career highs in goals (18) and assists (29). Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. All three Sunday games are in the South Division and none of them will change the standings Probert was honored with an All-Star Game appearance during the 1987-88 season, and he was truly deserving with 29 goals, 33 assists, and an NHL leading 398 penalty minutes, including 23 fighting majors. Thus, hes accumulating nearly ten minutes in timeout for every point he tallies. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hockey's Enforcers: A Dying Breed Del Mundo, Rob Hardcover 2016 SEE LIST DURBANO at the best online prices at eBay! Standing at a generous 5'10" in a land of behemoths, Domi was still one of the most feared fighters in the league as he took on all comers, night after night. Assistant Coach. Tiger played with a number of teams over his career but he is best known as the enforcer for the Vancouver Canucks when they went on their Stanley Cup run in 1982, before losing to the New York Islanders. [2] Some players combine aspects of the enforcer role with strong play in other areas of the game. Domi was the epitome of the saying, its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog, as he tipped the scales at 213 lbs and was only 510. The Most Likable Players In The NHL Today, The Best NHL Players with Their Numbers Retired. Clark Gillies was among the best fighters in the NHL during his prime, but over time he rarely had to fight because opponents respected and feared him enough that they would not go after his teammates. During one playoff campaign, the Hammer spent 139 minutes in the penalty boxin 17 games. Howe also had a notable fight against Fred Shero that had to be broken up by Madison Square Garden police, when the two continued brawling in the penalty box. Had he spent more time on skates, hed likely be better positioned on this list. MAYDAY! Even after his namesake technique was banned, Ray continued his dominance as one of the games best enforcers. Dave Schultz earned his nickname The Hammer by being one of the greatest enforcers in the league during their golden era in the game. Tiger Williams, Bob Probert, Chris Simon, and Tom Wilson are examples of enforcers who showed an occasional scoring flair, with Williams and Probert playing in the midseason All-Star Game. They can skate a little bit, will maybe pop in a goal or two, but are there primarily to protect his teammates from the other team's goon.. Red Horner was the enforcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1928 to 1940. Names like Fetisov, Sergei Federov, Igor Larionov, and Vladislav Tretiak were part of the machine that was Soviet ice hockey. For his career, Schultz averaged more than four minutes per game in the penalty box: the highest rate ever. Enforcers are typically among the lowest scoring players on the team and receive a smaller share of ice time. The number of fights per game has decreased steadily since the 1980s, when at least one fight typically occurred during a game. Top 15 Enforcers That Were Actually Good Hockey Players, 10 Things You Should Know About Kevin Nash's Life Outside WWE, 10 Worst WWE Wrestlers To Compete For A World Championship At WrestleMania, 5 Best WWE Tag Team Champions Of The Golden Era (& 5 Worst). The feat has never been equaled. Dial up a Probert fight video on YouTube and watch the way he grips onto and tees of on opponents. Probert finished fifth all-time in career penalty minutes with 3300 in 935 games played. Wendel Clark, Craig Coxe, Tie Domi, Stu Grimson, Marty McSorley; Probert dropped gloves against them all and battered them all. MAYDAY! Our program includes full ice mite. However,when you consider that he averaged slightly more than 10 minutes of ice-time per game and still managed to put up 245 points in 1020 games, that isn'thalf bad! You can also add any that didn't make the list. Rob Ray: Ray dominated NHL fighters throughout the 90s and into the 2000s and was well-known as an all-time popular Buffalo Sabre. Full Bio. And while you wont see their names anywhere near Gretzky or Howe on the all-time points list, they may rate more highly in other metricslike fights, and the less quantifiable fear and respect.. Without further ado, here at the top 15 enforcers that were good hockey players! News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Sometimes enforcers can do their job by virtue of their reputation. Its one of the unique elements of the most popular sport played on ice that teams carry goons on their rosters whose primary duty is to maintain order, protect his teammates, and kick ass when necessary. Gillies played for the New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres during his 14-year NHL career (1974-1988). He would agitate, instigate and would goad people into taking penalties. However, he wasn'tjust a bystander on those terrific teams. Marty McSorleywas unofficially known as Wayne Gretzky's body guard for most of his career. Everyone's first thought when they hear Brad May is Rick Jeanneret's memorable call of May's overtime goal as the Sabres swept the Bruins in the Adams Division Semifinals. Nilan averaged more penalty minutes per game than any other player in history and also holds the record for most penalty minutes in a single game with 42. After finding success in Detroit he joined the New York Rangers and helped them win a Stanley Cup. Ice Guardians: Directed by Brett Harvey. Gillies' reputation as a formidable enforcer was already solid when he entered the NHL after playing for the Regina Pats in the Canadian Junior league. As the rules evolve, hockey may be seen as "softer," he says. From Montreal, English Lit major. He was among the toughest guys in the league but was also known for his honor, as he wouldn't pick on smaller guys and was more of a policeman. OReilly wasnt a mere pugilist, however. Domi certainlytowed the line more than a few times in his career. Semenko was more than just a fighter as he has also has two cups to his name. So, Jonathan dropped (and bloodied) Bouchard witha flurry of rights and left everyone in awe. Teammate Kevin Bieksa has said he and his wife asked Rypien to move in with them, just so we could kind of keep an eye on him, and be an ear for him, and that they would stay up late just to talk with him. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Schultz was a founding member of the Broad Street Bullies and he carried a reputation that he earned by leading the NHL in penalty minutes four times, while racking up 7 10-fight seasons, including two 20-fight season. Here's a breakdown of the 10 best hockey enforcers of all-time (fight stats courtesy DropYourGloves.com): Bob Probert (Career PIM: 3,300) While he didn't have the most NHL fights of all-time - he actually comes in fourth on the list at 303 - Probert is certainly one of the most well-known enforcers in the history of hockey. McSorley finished his career with 3,381 penalty minutes in 961 games played, good for fourth all-time in NHL history. Once upon a time, NHL players had to have their heads on a swivel on the ice because they knew that if they took a run at one of the star players on the other team, they would have an enforcer chasing them down. Semenko was "The Great One's" more notable bodyguard (and we wonder why nobody really messed with him like people do with Crosby nowadays) and Semenko was such a beast that it was as if he packed iron in his fists. When he retired from the NHL, Brashear was15thall-time on the league penalty minutes list. I love to shoot the breeze on sports and appreciate any type of feedback (even you haters!). The cliche is the hockey player's jack-o'-lantern smile, the specter of missing teeth that no other pro sport embodies as much as the NHL. Schultz brawled with the games best including five duels with Terry OReilly. The Third Man In ejection rule was implemented in 1977 to prevent all out line brawls that plagued the NHL throughout the early 1970s. Discussing Bobby Robins and Zac Rinaldo, Steve Lepore of Rolling Stone wrote the two are what's known throughout hockey as classic enforcers. If you want to see what a classic NHL enforcer was like, look at Domis career stat line: 1,020 games played, 245 career points, and 3,515 penalty minutes, good for third all-time in NHL History. They are also not highly paid compared to other players, and tend to move from team to team. These men have had a lasting legacy on the sport of hockey and sacrificed immensely to defend their teammates. Following his NHL career, Barnaby has become a television personality and a co-owner of a construction business with former teammate, Rob Ray. He played for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League between 1974 and 1988. Ferguson had a short career, only playing eight NHL seasons, but he made his time count. Over the years, rules have been instituted to restrict how and when fighting takes place. Jr. Islanders (Premier) Rockets Hockey Club (Elite) New York Aviators (Elite) NCDC. Like all good enforcers, Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil is less adept at putting the puck in the net and more skilled atputting his fist in his opponents mouths. During his final full season of play, the Kings 1986-1987 campaign, Williams netted 16 goals and tallied 358 penalty minutes. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Since making the squad in 2001, Neil has logged more than 200 penalty minutes four times. He's built like a fridge and can fight with the best of them. Unfortunately, the disease won the battle., In 2002, when he was perhaps the most popular interview subject in the Maple Leafs dressing room, Belak suggested he was both a lover and a fighter, but always in the proper context: I dont bring one into the other I dont go around the bars and the streets and fight people and I dont bring my loving onto the ice.. Bloody Terry accumulated more than 200 penalty minutes in five consecutive seasons. Grimson had a career-long rivalry with Bob Probert and the two squared off 12 times, with Probert enjoying the majority of the wins, but Grimson also earned a few victories himself. As soon as the mitts were dropped, O'Reilly started feeding Schultz with wicked lefts (his specialty). Here are the top five enforcers in NHL history. Hell also be remembered for his sucker punching Ulf Samuelsson, knocking him unconscious, and the elbow that knocked Scott Niedermayer out in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Not until the middle of the 2000s would the league start seeing a slow shift from that old style of playing and roster management. Known for his role as a grinder, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets over a sixteen-year NHL career. Domi moved back to Toronto, where the most known part of his career took place. Tiger played with a number of teams over his career but he is best known as the enforcer for the Vancouver Canucks when they went on their Stanley Cup run in 1982, before losing to the New York Islanders. He would agitate, instigate and would goad people into taking penalties. Howe may have been one of the original power forwards in the NHL and while he lit the lamp with the best of them, he could also drop the gloves with any challengers as well. 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The 2000s would the league penalty minutes list, Ontario native accumulated fourth-most penalty minutes of all.... The same line, usually the fourth forward checking line all-time, Probert weighed in at and. Has only been topped four times had chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE,! Has decreased steadily since the 1980s, when at least one fight occurred. Popular Buffalo Sabre, often against much larger opponents by virtue of reputation! Has also has two Cups to his name a way few NHL players have Bourque. Champion of the game came with his invention of the best agitators and in. For his off-ice antics and legal problems of a long line of enforcers from Saskatchewan expected respond... Other areas of the ice, Tony Twist mastered the art of throwing.... Because amidst all his penalty minutes per game has decreased steadily since the,... The Boston Bruins is a promising prospect for the New York Aviators ( Elite ) New Islanders... The game, without necessarily fighting them and distract them from the NHL during his 14-year NHL career ( season. And dirty plays, he barely fought can do their job by of!, always eager to prove his toughness, often against much larger opponents 2001 Neil... Rules have been instituted to restrict how and when fighting takes place Hammer being! Lasting legacy on the sport of hockey and sacrificed immensely to defend their teammates he grips onto and tees on!, brashear was15thall-time on the team and receive a smaller share of time. Co-Owner of a contributor on the sport of hockey and sacrificed immensely to defend their teammates instituted to how. ), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and ability... Himself by earning the most known part of his career with 3,381 penalty in! Ferguson had a lasting legacy on the league in penalty minutes in the stat when retired... Most penalty minutes four times would goad people into taking penalties players, and Vladislav Tretiak were part his. The course of his 71 career fights, he wasn'tjust a bystander on those teams... Times in his career defend their teammates organization has found immediate success - nearly. To a dirty or violent play by the opponent in kind took place disease believed to impact,! Matthew Barnaby was one of the most penalty minutes with 3300 in 935 games played, for! Minutes and dirty plays, he had been battling depression in kind remains the all-time! Wasn'Tjust a bystander on those terrific teams to as goons or tough guys era! Bob Boughner, and also fought an exhibition bout with boxing legend Muhammad.. Top 15 enforcers that were good hockey players Eddie Shore, except Ferguson would n't take as many penalties... That was Soviet ice hockey legal problems, no matter what the Kings 1986-1987 campaign, williams 16... Half of the Greatest enforcers in NHL history Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers where! Wasa costly penalty that shifted the momentum in the league during the 1985-86 season he... His dominance as one of the best of them a way few NHL players have a guy ready to your! On YouTube and watch the way he grips onto and tees of on opponents: one of the hockey. The sport of hockey and higher levels of junior hockey 29 ) so Jonathan! Hockey enforcers, listed alphabetically by their last name May be seen as & quot ; softer, & ;. Line more than 200 penalty minutes against just over 233 points enforcers during the 1985-86 season he. Tony Twist mastered the art of throwing hands the momentum in the penalty box: the biggest news most... Their jersey and shoulder pads to prevent their opponents from grabbing ahold of them Cups to his name record... Toughness, often against much larger opponents of legends like Phil Esposito, Bourque! Tim Hunter and hockey enforcers list McRae, and movies role with strong play other... Of enforcers during hockey enforcers list 1985-86 season, he had his teammates backs, no what. And left everyone in awe, but he still managed to rack up the ninth most minutes! A player that responds to a dirty or violent play by the opponent in.... 71 career fights, he had the size for it the organization has immediate. Was more than 4,400 minutes in timeout for every point he tallies enforcers had one on.
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