The 25 greatest NHL enforcers of all time

Affectionately known as "The Hammer." Schultz didn't enjoy as long an NHL career as most everyone else on this list, but he certainly made the most of his opportunity. Schultz, who played the first five of his nine NHL seasons with Philadelphia (where he won a pair of Stanley Cups), amassed 2,292 penalty minutes in 535 games. In the 1974-75 season with the Flyers, Schultz set a league record with 472 of those penalty minutes. One of the game's great fighters, too, Schultz also totaled 200 career points and enjoyed a 20-goal season in 1973-74.

A Niagara Falls, Ontario native, O'Reilly remains one of the most popular players in the history of the Boston Bruins, for whom he spent his entire 14-year NFL career. A daunting enforcer who could intimidate with the best of them, O'Reilly also displayed plenty of skill. He notched 606 career points, and had four seasons with the last 22 goals. O'Reilly was a two-time All-Star and played in three Stanley Cup Finals. His No. 24 sweater was retired by the Bruins.

The only member of the Hockey Hall of Fame to grace our list. Perhaps "enforcer" isn't the right term for Gillies, who was the longtime captain and four-time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Islanders. Gillies recorded 697 points in 958 career games, but he also racked up 1,025 penalty minutes and was long considered one of the most physical offensive forwards to play the game. He was the muscle on the Islanders' famed line with fellow NHL legends Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, and never afraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the toughest players of the time. 

A tough guy who was also a fan favorite -- for the most part. Williams is the NHL's all-time leader with 3,971 penalty minutes, and second with 1,172 total penalties, during a career that featured stints with five teams, most notably Toronto and Vancouver. His 4,426 regular-season and playoff penalty minutes are also an NHL record. Though Williams rarely missed a chance to drop the gloves or stand up for a teammate, he also totaled 513 career points and was an All-Star during the 1980-81 season. 

A perfect combination of strength and skill. Second was an enforcer who fought when needed, but also had a knack for the net. In addition to recording more than 2,000 career penalty minutes during a stellar career, notably for Boston and Chicago, Secord posted 273 goals with 223 assists. Dependable as they come, Secord has long been considered one of the greats in Blackhawks history.

The original "protector" of "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, was in Edmonton during the first half of the 1980s. The rugged Semenko played all but 121 of his 575 regular-season games over 10 seasons with the Oilers, where he was part of two Stanley Cup-champion teams. During his career, Semenko registered 1,175 penalty minutes and even fought the legendary Muhammad Ali  in an exhibition boxing match in 183. 

The man known as "Knuckles." When it comes to NHL enforcers, current younger fans of the league might not know much about this underrated tough guy. However, Nilan, who spent his entire NHL career with three Original Six franchises in Montreal, the New York Rangers, and Boston, recorded 3,043 penalty minutes -- the most by an American-born player. In addition, Nilan's 4.25 average penalty minutes ranks second all-time. Oh yeah, Nilan also posted 110 goals, 115 assists, won a Stanley Cup with the Canadians in 1986, and was an All-Star in 1991.

Legend has it that Hunter was a stoic, respected, and cordial teammate in the dressing room. Unlike this persona on the ice, where the well-known enforcer totaled an NHL record 1,355 penalties and seemed consistently ready to scrap with an opponent. That said, Hunter has long been lauded as the ideal teammate while starring for Quebec, Washington, and Colorado. Hunter, whose 3,365 penalty minutes rank second all-time, registered 323 goals and 697 assists for his career.

For a good chunk of his career, McSorley served as somewhat of a personal enforcer for Wayne Gretzky -- whether with Edmonton or Los Angeles. He ranks fourth in NHL history with 3,381 penalty minutes and tallied 221 major penalties. Though McSorley also totaled 359 points and won two Stanley Cups with the Oilers (1987, '88), his NHL career essentially came to an end on Feb. 21, 2000, while playing for Boston. McSorley swung and hit Vancouver's Donald Brashear in the head, which then landed on the ice , leaving him unconscious. McSorley was suspended, charged, and convicted of assault, which drew 18 months of probation.

One half of the famed "Bruise Brothers," with Detroit teammate Bob Probert (we'll get to him). Kocur stood only 6-foot, but a meaty 220-plus pounds, and packed a wallop when needed. One of the game's great fighters, Kocus was known for a powerful right-handed punch, which even broke a helmet on occasion. While Kocur ranks among the NHL career leaders with 2,519 penalty minutes, he also scored 80 goals and won three Stanley Cups -- with the New York Rangers (1994), two with the Red Wings (1997, '98).

The other half of the aforementioned "Bruise Brothers," with Joey Kocur, Probert was one of the great characters in the game -- for better or worse. Probert ranks fifth all-time in penalty minutes (3,300), ninth in total penalties (965), and sixth in major penalties (238). While protecting Red Wings star Steve Yzerman or Chicago's Tony Amonte, Probert developed individual rivalries and recorded memorable fights with Wendel Clark, Stu Grimson, Tie Domi, and Donald Brashear. He even fought his buddy Kocur after they were no longer teammates. However, Probert's career and life were also marred by off-ice controversy that involved legal troubles with drugs and guns. He died after suffering a heart attack in 2010, at age 45.

A rare enforcer who played defense. Beukeboom set the stage for his lengthy and successful NFL career by helping clear the crease in Edmonton, where he was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams (1987, '88, '90). From there, he spent years paired with Hall-of-Fame Brian Leetch on the New York Rangers' top defensive line. At 6-5, 230 pounds, Beukeboom was a massive, physical presence who made a living intimidating opponents while totaling 1,890 career penalty minutes. He also totaled 159 points and won his fourth Cup with the Rangers in 1994.

Berube, a fine player and coach, ranks seventh in NHL history with 3,149 career penalty minutes -- spanning 1,054 games and 17 seasons. Berube played for five NHL teams. Scrappy, intense, and the ultimate agitator, it didn't matter that Berube recorded just 159 career points. Following his playing career, Berube earned success as a coach, notably guiding the St. Louis Blues to their first Stanley Cup triumph in 2019.

The "Grim Reaper" played for seven teams during parts of 14 NHL seasons, but is likely best known for his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. A potent enforcer and fighter, Grimson was always ready to stand up for teammates and totaled 2,113 penalty minutes. However, Grimson was forced out of the game due to post-concussion syndrome, which reportedly stemmed from a fight during the 2001-02 season while playing for Nashville.

Twist's NHL career lasted 10 seasons and 445 games. A fan favorite with the St. Louis Blues, Twist was always ready to tussle or grapple as one of the game's toughest players of all time. An energy guy who riled up the opposition, while good at getting the home crowd on its feet when a spark was needed. Twist managed just 28 career points, but he recorded 1,121 penalty minutes. 

"Rayzor" is the Buffalo Sabres' all-time leader with 3,207 penalty minutes, and remains among the most popular players in franchise history. Gritty and intense, Ray was a scrappy forward who totaled just 91 career points in 900 games. Of course, Ray was all about firing his teammates up with his strength and role as an agitator. He also ranks fifth in league history with 241 major penalties and tried to gain an advantage during fights by shedding his jersey and shoulder pads -- which led to the implementation of the "Rob Ray Rule" to prevent it. In addition, Ray remains one of the great humanitarians of the game and won the King Clancy Trophy in 1999.

When it comes to dropping the gloves, Domi might be the king. His 333 fighting major penalties are the most in league history, while his 3,515 penalty minutes rank third among all NHL players. Of course, Domi was known to cross the line with his toughness on several occasions. Like sucker-punching the New York Rangers' Ulf Samuelsson, fighting with a heckling fan who fell into the penalty box versus Philadelphia, or delivering a questionable elbow to New Jersey's   Scott Niedermayer during the 2001 playoffs. Domi, the Toronto Maple Leafs' all-time leader in penalty minutes, managed some offense during his lengthy career, totaling 245 points. 

Though Barnaby played for seven different franchises during an NHL career that spanned parts of 14 seasons, he spent the first six-plus as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.  he became a fan favorite for his agitating nature on the ice. Barnaby, who totaled more than 2,500 penalty minutes in 834 career games, had a true knack for getting under an opponent's skin. But, he also posted 300 career points.

In 782 games, spanning more than 15 seasons, the venerable Simon recorded 1,824 penalty minutes. He was also suspended eight times (for a reported total of 65 games) and was often chided for his questionable, controversial play and antics. Like in 1997, when he reportedly directed a racial slur at Mike Grier, an African-American player. The incident tarnished Simon's reputation for some time, though he later apologized to Grier in person. While Simon is likely best known for his time with Washington, he was a member of Colorado's 1996 Stanley Cup-winning team.

We noted Brashear's history with the aforementioned Marty McSorley, but he, too, was one of the NHL's great all-time tough guys. Brashear could be an agitator, but at 6-2, 235 pounds, he was a pure enforcer who wasn't afraid to scrap with anyone. Brashear, who played for Montreal, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Washington, and the New York Rangers, ranks 15th all-time with 2,634 penalty minutes. He's also an outspoken champion for his fellow enforcers and their overall, often negative, perception in the eyes of the NHL.

One of the NHL's greatest tough guys is also one of the nicest. Active in charities and a popular sports radio host in Canada. On the ice, notably with Edmonton and Montreal, the physical and gritty Laraque compiled more than 1,100 penalty minutes and was never afraid to drop the gloves when needed. And why night, Laraque checked in at 6-3, roughly 250 pounds during his playing days, mostly spent with Edmonton, that produced 53 goals and 100 assists.

An agitator in every sense of the word. Avery might be the most disliked player in the history of the NHL, depending on which team he played for -- and there were four of them. He accumulated more than 1,500 penalty minutes during his career, twice leading the league in that category, and also totaled more than 240 points. However, Avery was more than an on-ice tough guy. He was also known for controversial moments, such as mocking other players about their dating habits, bullying teammates, displaying some questionable on-ice tactics and feuding with New York Rangers coach John Tortorella.

The first Inuk player to skate in the NHL, Tootoo spent the first eight of his 13 seasons with Nashville. A genuine agitator, Tootoo compiled 1,010 career penalty minutes, opposite 161 points, in 723 games. Usually willing to fight, Tootoo was often branded a "dirty" player. Whether that be related to a questionable hit, a controversial fighting tactic, or a sucker punch. Still, Tootoo provided plenty of greasy value to his team.

"The Boogeyman's" time in the NHL was not long, but it played a part in his untimely death from a reported accidental overdose involving prescription drugs and alcohol in May 2011, at age 2028. It was later reported that Boogaard was suffering from an advanced case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy  (CTE), which other similar types of NHL players, like Bob Probert, endured. On the ice, Boogaard, who consistently dealt with injuries from playing with such reckless abandon, was a menace, notably with Minnesota and the New York Rangers. He totaled 589 penalty minutes in 277 games. Boogaard was also known as a brutal fighter who broke the cheekbone of Anaheim's Todd Fedoruk with a punch. 

An elite enforcer who is still skating in the NHL. Reaves, who is on his seventh NHL club, is best known for his time with St. Louis and Vegas. He's racked up more than 1,100 penalty minutes in over 900 NHL games and is the epitome of the enforcer. Of course, like just about every other player on this list, Reaves blurs the boundaries of dirty play at times. Like when he was suspended during the 2021 playoffs for kneeling on the neck of Colorado's Ryan Graves and pulling some of his hair out.