McSorley finished his career with 3,381 penalty minutes in 961 games played, good for fourth all-time in NHL history. I love to shoot the breeze on sports and appreciate any type of feedback (even you haters!). Sometimes enforcers can do their job by virtue of their reputation. 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. He finished his career with 300 points and a staggering 2,562 penalty minutes. While the NHLs restrictions have certainly curtailed fighting significantly, the role of the enforcer remains a valuable asset for teams to have. The fact of the matter is that they're serving a role on the ice as they're paid to defend their teammates. He had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive ability. In 958 career games, Gillies recorded 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1,023 penalty minutes. Not until the middle of the 2000s would the league start seeing a slow shift from that old style of playing and roster management. He also became known for his drug use, among other off-ice issues. None of that is true, but what a great song, right? The following are currently active NHL ice hockey enforcers and current minor league enforcers with NHL experience, listed alphabetically by their last name. Discussing Bobby Robins and Zac Rinaldo, Steve Lepore of Rolling Stone wrote the two are what's known throughout hockey as classic enforcers. As the rules evolve, hockey may be seen as "softer," he says. [4][5] He unexpectedly played a key role in his division's victory by scoring two goals, where fan response also led to him being named the most valuable player of the tournament. 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. He also managed to find the back of the net 21 times in the 1984-85 season. Probert finished his career with 239 total fights and many of them were epic brawls with fellow legendary enforcers like Wendel Clark, Tie Domi, and even Joey Kocur. 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. His most famous act of violence was a crushing hit on Irvine "Ace" Bailey, resulting in Bailey sustaining near life-ending head trauma. 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. Ray had 15 straight seasons of 90 or more penalty minutes, including back to back 350 penalty minute seasons from 1990-1992. Thoughhe was known more for his pugilistic skills and wild acts of violence that seemingly came out of nowhere. Only four NHL players accumulated more penalty minutes than Probert, who became one of the most feared enforcers in hockey history, with 3,300 PIMs and dozens of legendary fights on his resume. Berube is seventh all-time in career penalty minutes with 3,149 in 1,054 games played. Schultz was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Rosetown, Saskatchewan. He also owned a chain of bars named Twister's Iron Bar Saloon, with locations in St. Charles and Imperial Missouri. He had his teammates backs, no matter what. During the 1977-1978 season, he led the Bruins in points (90) and penalty minutes (211). 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. Ewen, who went by " The Animal " during his playing days, was involved in well over 100 fights during his career, according to HockeyFights.com. Since entering the league in 2001, hes logged nearly 2,300 penalty minutes against just over 233 points. Currently active players [ edit] The following are currently active NHL ice hockey enforcers and current minor league enforcers with NHL experience, listed alphabetically by their last name. The New Jersey Patriots are a youth ice hockey travel program based in Northern New Jersey. He would contribute goals to help the Red Wings win two Stanley Cups over a decade later in his second stint with the team and add another as a coach. OReilly fought five bouts against Dave Schultz, Torrie Robertson, and Tiger Williams, which proved he was capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the toughest players in hockey history. While no hockey player is officially listed as enforcer on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool and shootin' some bball outside of the school. But did you know he had 1685 penalty minutes over his 1767 game career? Team Physician. A Boston Bruins legend, Terry O'Reilly was one of the most famous enforcers in NHL history. His mother, Lorraine, said he had been battling depression. Nilans 1983-1984 and 1984-1985 campaigns are the stuff of penalty minute-accumulating legend: His tallies for those two years: 338 and 358 minutes, respectively. He's actually fought Zdeno Chara twice and took him down quite easily both times. Despite these newfound abilities, he continued to fight throughout his career racking up 173 fights in terms with the Flyers, Kings, Penguins, Bruins, Caps, and Coyotes. Domi was a formidable enforcer in the 1990s, amassing an incredible 347 minutes in the penalty box during the 1993-1994 season. What about John Scott? When TieDomi won their first fight, he did the symbol of the championship belt around his waist. After going undrafted, Berube broke into the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and quickly established himself as an enforcer by fighting Bob Probert three times. Some players combine aspects of the enforcer role with strong play in other areas of the game. In terms of his other abilities, O'Reilly also managed to rack up 606 points in 891 games, making him an incredibly serviceable player who could fight with the best of them. 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. Tahir "Tie" Domi (born November 1, 1969) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. The deaths of noted enforcers like Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak and Rick Rypien, among others, set off a chain reaction of events that have brought us to this point, where the role of the "fighter" has essentially disappeared from NHL rosters, give or take a few teams that still feel the need to keep some hired muscle on the end of their bench. In west Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days. Domi earned his stripes with the Winnipeg Jets, but it was with his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1995 that he became the most popular enforcer in the league and a beloved figure among Leafs fans. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. During his final full season of play, the Kings 1986-1987 campaign, Williams netted 16 goals and tallied 358 penalty minutes. 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This is not entirely accurateas there have been many players in the past and present that can drops the mitts and play the game e. The word "goon" is often tied in with the word "enforcer" in the NHL. 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. Still, hes never bested the 231 minutes he spent in the box in first year in the league. For his career, Probert averaged 3.53 penalty minutes per game, fifth all time, and his fights with other top enforcers are legendary. He's also been a stapleon Ottawa's third line for well over a decade and is the type of player that every team wants. His best years were in Buffalo as he notched career highs in goals (18) and assists (29). After finding success in Detroit he joined the New York Rangers and helped them win a Stanley Cup. I'm sure. He was involved in over 200 fights in his NHL career and continues to ply his trade in the Swedish Hockey League. He was found dead in his suburban Toronto home, and police quickly ruled out foul play. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. While his name conjures up images of the Michael J. Foxs Marty McFly character in Back to the Future, Marty McSorley was the furthest thing from the diminutive Californian who time-traveled in the DeLorean with Doc. Names like Fetisov, Sergei Federov, Igor Larionov, and Vladislav Tretiak were part of the machine that was Soviet ice hockey. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. The enforcer is an unofficial role in hockey in which a player acts as a team's fighter. 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 . Jr. Islanders (NCDC) P.A.L. [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. Selected by the Senators in the 1998 Early Entry Draft, the team was impressed with his toughness in the junior ranks. Ron Fogarty. [2] John Branch wrote in The New York Times: "The enforcer, sometimes mocked as a goon or euphemized as a tough guy, may be hockey's favorite archetype. Second, it is either a momentum stopper or a momentum starter. The word "goon" is often tied in with the word "enforcer" in the NHL. Goon (2011) R | 92 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport 6.8 Rate 64 Metascore He's widely considered to be one ofthe best fighters ever to play the game and what was so impressive about Probert's game was his durability. For much ofhis career, he was also an absolute madman, as his nickname wasn't "Charlie" for no reason. Philadelphia Flyers Top 5 Enforcers of All Time. Thugs, Goons, Enforcers. 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. 181 likes. Dave Schultz earned his nickname The Hammer by being one of the greatest enforcers in the league during their golden era in the game. Shanahan won three Stanley Cups in his career and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Most Likable Players In The NHL Today, The Best NHL Players with Their Numbers Retired. 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. In 729 career games, Grimson had 2,113 penalty minutes, and 39 career points. When such play occurs, the enforcer is expected to respond aggressively, by fighting or checking the offender. 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. 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. This incensed Probert and he beat the heck out ofDomi in their next tilt. 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. Tocchet then developed into one of the games premier power forwards, with five30 goal seasons. Following his NHL career, Barnaby has become a television personality and a co-owner of a construction business with former teammate, Rob Ray. You can call them what you wish, but these men play a critical and necessary role in the game of professional hockey. 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