In 958 career games, Gillies recorded 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1,023 penalty minutes. Matthew Barnaby 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. A player likeCorson coulddo it all as he was a consistent contributor on the second line for most of his career, while hecould fight with the best of them. Full Bio. He was so successful at his role and served as an enforcer for so longthat he had a target on his back as he was billed as "the champ." 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. Sometimes enforcers can do their job by virtue of their reputation. Enforcers are also referred to as goons or tough guys. For his career, Probert averaged 3.53 penalty minutes per game, fifth all time, and his fights with other top enforcers are legendary. Well-regarded during his time in pro hockeys top circuit, Williams could also tally points. As a matter of fact, he didn'teven wait for his first regular season game. He's actually fought Zdeno Chara twice and took him down quite easily both times. Anytime someone challenges Chara, it turns into him ragdolling the other player around the ice as if he were a toy. For much ofhis career, he was also an absolute madman, as his nickname wasn't "Charlie" for no reason. Men's Ice Hockey Coaching Staff. 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. OReilly wasnt a mere pugilist, however. Bob formed one half of the Bruise Brothers along with teammate Joey Kocur, and the pair were one of the most fearsome enforcer tandems in the NHL while playing for the Detroit Red Wings. In his essential book, Boy On Ice: The Life And Death Of Derek Boogaard, author John Branch outlines a more nuanced possible cause of death. Sports journalist and writer Roy Macgregor opines that in light of recent tragic events there should be more done about it, including eliminating the role altogether. With a decrease in fighting, teams are less inclined to keep a roster spot available for a one-dimensional fighter who is a liability as a scorer and defender. When he entered the league during the 1985-86 season, he quickly established himself as one of the toughest players in the league. 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. His most famous act of violence was a crushing hit on Irvine "Ace" Bailey, resulting in Bailey sustaining near life-ending head trauma. From Chris Neil to Chris Nilan. In west Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days. That set the tone for the rest of Neil's career. Williams finished his career with 246 total fights and enjoyed a rivalry with Terry OReilly that spanned five fights. Playing for the rough-and-tumble Philadelphia Flyers of the 1970s Schultz stood out as an enforcer on an already physical and aggressive squad. Like Beaver, McCarty thinks the NHL concussion numbers are due to heightened awareness and reporting. Skeptical? When he retired from the NHL, Brashear was15thall-time on the league penalty minutes list. Carbo and Gainey both won Selke trophies as the league's top defensive forwards, but Nilan was a huge part of their success. Thats a ratio any enforcer would be proud of. Philadelphia Flyers Top 5 Enforcers of All Time. You can call them what you wish, but these men play a critical and necessary role in the game of professional hockey. 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.. What some casual hockey fans may not understand is that hockey fights do indeed serve a purpose in the game and are not just a contest in machismo between two goons. Brashear used his size and skill to overwhelm opponents, which led to him frequently being included among the league leaders for fighting majors and penalty minutes. Mr. Hockey himself? Full Bio. After their first bout ended in an OReilly victory, Gillies recovered to wreck OReilly in the second bout, which sparked the Islanders to victory. He finished his career with 1,468 penalty minutes in 749 regular-season games. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about 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. It wasa costly penalty that shifted the momentum in the series. Williams spent more than 4,400 minutes in the penalty box during his 14-year career (regular season and playoffs combined). Talk about consistency! Berube had 16 seasons of 100 or more penalty minutes, including 15 straight seasons at one point in his career. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. The NHL is quickly phasing out players that are only there to fight, as teams simply do not want someone that will be a liability every timethey're on the ice. 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 depicted "old time hockey" at its finest. He died of heart failure and was later found, like Fleming, to have been living with CTE. Tommy Davis. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. Hockey is often considered one of the toughest sports to play, but these five players were a cut above in the toughness department. All three Sunday games are in the South Division and none of them will change the standings Bloody Terry accumulated more than 200 penalty minutes in five consecutive seasons. A Boston Bruins legend, Terry O'Reilly was one of the most famous enforcers in NHL history. While no hockey player is officially listed as enforcer on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Dave Schultz is the owner of two of the four campaigns in the record books. Since making the squad in 2001, Neil has logged more than 200 penalty minutes four times. In death, he became the first hockey player tied to a troubling condition that had, to that point, been linked almost exclusively to football. The enforcer is an unofficial role in hockey in which a player acts as a team's fighter. Known as the Hammer, Dave Schultz is yet another punisher from Saskatchewan on our list. We definitely have to walk a fine line when writingthis list, in terms of what exactly constitutes as an enforcer. Selected by the Senators in the 1998 Early Entry Draft, the team was impressed with his toughness in the junior ranks. While no hockey player is officially listed as "enforcer" on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Standing at 5'11", he was not the biggest guy but he had a crazy chin. He would actually walk out of restaurants if he saw an opponent sitting there, refusing to breathe the same air ashis foe. Karlie O'Reilly. Thus, hes accumulating nearly ten minutes in timeout for every point he tallies. Retired enforcer Georges Laraque has suggested that the National Hockey League Players' Association provide counselling to enforcers. While playing for the Boston Bruins, McSorely infamously hit Donald Brashear in the head with his stick, causing Brashear to hit the ice and suffer a serious concussion. I think people will look at themselves a little bit, too, about how we so readily prop these athletes up and consider them invincible, Branch said in an interview, and we dont really take a hard look at what theyre going through.. This incensed Probert and he beat the heck out ofDomi in their next tilt. As most fans know, the Blues have a rich history of tough guys and brawlers alike, but here is the cream of the fighter's crop. Free shipping for many products! Best known for playing with the Detroit Red Wings, Kocur was an intimidating figure with a devastating right hand that he used with great frequency. I love to shoot the breeze on sports and appreciate any type of feedback (even you haters!). Following his NHL career, Barnaby has become a television personality and a co-owner of a construction business with former teammate, Rob Ray. The following are retired NHL ice hockey enforcers, listed alphabetically by their last name. He remains the Flyers all-time leader in Gordie Howe hat tricks and holds the league record for them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You can imagine what his role was on the team. In one famoustilt, he left Joe Kocur (a tough guy in his own right) face-down as he hit him multiple times before Kocur could even throw a punch. He finished his career with 300 points and a staggering 2,562 penalty minutes. Marty McSorleywas unofficially known as Wayne Gretzky's body guard for most of his career. So, Jonathan dropped (and bloodied) Bouchard witha flurry of rights and left everyone in awe. Director: Jay Baruchel | Stars: Seann William Scott, Alison Pill, Marc-Andr Grondin, Liev Schreiber Votes: 14,115 2. He received a punch squarelyto the throat whichpermanently damaged his larynx, though he managed to return and play solid defense for the rest of his career. [11] The frequency has steadily declined over time, from 1.3 fights per game in the late 1980s to 0.5 in 2012. At present in the National Hockey League (NHL), teams generally do not carry more than one player whose primary role is that of an enforcer. The word "goon" is often tied in with the word "enforcer" in the NHL. He played for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League between 1974 and 1988. Williams was a capable contributor on the offensive end, but he excelled when it came to fighting and he racked up fighting majors at an alarming pace. His intensity matched that of Eddie Shore, except Ferguson wouldn't take as many senseless penalties as him. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto On January 24, 1987, Todd Ewen, a young right-winger for the St. Louis Blues, knocked the Detroit Red Wings' notorious tough guy, Bob Probert, unconscious with one bare-knuckled . Domi moved back to Toronto, where the most known part of his career took place. 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. Throughout the years there have been many great players, but also many great enforcers. Hunter was incredibly skilled with the puck and earned 1,020 points during his career. 181 likes. They must be dosing the water supply with testosterone in the province. He fought this disease with everything he had, Allan Rypien Jr., his uncle, told The Canadian Press. [9] This has led to a decrease in the number of players whose predominant role is enforcer. Referees are limited in their p. The sport of hockey may now be at odds with the ongoing role of the enforcer in the modern game, but throughout the games history fighting has played an integral role. Ray had 15 straight seasons of 90 or more penalty minutes, including back to back 350 penalty minute seasons from 1990-1992. And in his era, refs were just a tad more lenient in their penalty calling. Yet fights, both premeditated and spontaneous still break out routinely in hockey games, as players attempt to adhere to The Code that is kept among themselves. But did you know he had 1685 penalty minutes over his 1767 game career? He also managed to find the back of the net 21 times in the 1984-85 season. During his ten seasons, he fought 87 times and lifted the Stanley Cup twice. Enforcers are seen as working-class superheroesunderstated types with an alter ego willing to do the sport's most dangerous work to protect others. Their circumstances vary, but in the wake of Todd Ewens death, attention is again being focused on similarities found among NHL enforcers who have died in an era of increasing concern regarding repeated head trauma in sports. 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 is one of only nine players to pass the 3,000 penalty minute mark. 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