The Best Hockey Fighters of All Time
Contents
- The best hockey fighters of all time: a ranking
- The top 10 best hockey fighters of all time
- The best hockey fighters of all time: a retrospective
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the enforcers
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the agitators
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the legends
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the up-and-comers
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the underappreciated
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the underrated
- The best hockey fighters of all time: the forgotten
Here are the best hockey fighters of all time. These are the men who have fought the most, and who have won the most fights.
The best hockey fighters of all time: a ranking
Hockey is a sport with a long history of fighting. While some players are known more for their scoring abilities, others have made a name for themselves as tough, physical players who are willing to drop the gloves and fight when necessary.
So who are the best hockey fighters of all time? Here is a ranking of the top 10, based on their career accomplishments, fighting style, and reputation among other players and fans.
1. Bob Probert
2. Tie Domi
3. Gordie Howe
4. Marty McSorley
5. Chris Nilan
6. Donald Brashear
7. Joe Kocur
8. Stu Grimson
9. Dave Semenko
10. George Parros
The top 10 best hockey fighters of all time
There have been many Great Hockey fighters over the years. Here are the top 10 best of all time:
1. Bob Probert
2. Tie Domi
3. Maurice Richard
4. Chris Nilan
5. Dave Schultz
6. Tiger Williams
7. Bob Baun
8. Gordie Howe
9. John Ferguson
10. Marty McSorley
The best hockey fighters of all time: a retrospective
When it comes to hockey fights there are a few things that fans love to see. They want to see two evenly matched opponents going at it, they want to see some big hits, and they want to see a lot of action. And while there are many great hockey fighters out there, there are a few that stand out above the rest.
One of the best hockey fighters of all time is Bob Probert Probert was known for his fists, but also for his ability to drop the gloves with anyone, no matter how big they were. He was a force on the ice, and was always willing to stand up for his teammates.
Another great hockey fighter is Tie Domi Domi was known for his willingness to fight anyone, anytime, and he was also known for being one of the best at throwing punches. He was a fan favorite because of his willingness to mix it up, and he always gave fans something to cheer about.
Finally, you can’t discuss the best hockey fighters of all time without mentioning enforcer John Scott Scott was known for his size and his fists, and he was always willing to take on any opponent. He was a fearsome sight on the ice, and was one of the most intimidating players in the league.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the enforcers
Enforcers are the tough guys of the NHL, the players who stand up for their teammates and fight when necessary. They’re a valuable part of any team, and over the years, some enforcers have become legends in their own right. Here are some of the best hockey fighters of all time.
Bob Probert was one of the most feared enforcers in the NHL during his 16-year career. He racked up 3,300 Penalty minutes which is sixth all-time, and had 208 career fights. He was also a skilled player, scoring over 200 goals and 500 points during his career.
Tie Domi was another legendary enforcer, playing 16 seasons in the NHL and racking up 2,265 penalty minutes. He had 201 career fights and is best remembered for his feud with New York Rangers player Matthew Barnaby.
John Kordic was a fan favorite in Montreal during his six-year NHL career He was known for his fighting prowess, but he was also a talented player, scoring 47 goals and 102 points in just 201 games. Unfortunately, Kordic’s career was cut short by drug abuse and he died in 1992 at the age of 27.
Theo Fleury was one of the smallest players in the NHL during his 16-year career, but he was also one of the toughest. He didn’t shy away from physical play or fighting, and he even held his own against some of the league’s biggest enforcers. Fleury retired in 2003 with 1,088 points to his credit.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the agitators
In hockey, there are those who score the goals and those who prevent them. And then there are the enforcers, the guys who fight on behalf of their teammates and keep the peace on the ice.
Agitators are the ones who get under the skin of their opponents and get them to drop their gloves. They’re not necessarily the biggest or strongest guys on the ice, but they know how to get under someone’s skin.
Here are some of the best agitators in NHL history
Tie Domi: A fan favorite in Toronto, Domi was one of the most feared enforcers of his era. He was never afraid to drop his gloves, and he had a long list of opponents who can attest to that. Among his victims were Bob Probert Marty McSorley, and Stu Grimson.
Chris Nilan: Nilan was nicknamed “Knuckles” for good reason: he was one of the toughest fighters in NHL history He didn’t back down from anyone, and he held his own against some of the biggest names in the sport. He was also a skilled player, scoring 20 goals in a season on four different occasions.
Tony Twist: Twist was another agitator who knew how to push his opponents’ buttons. He didn’t shy away from a fight, and he even took on some of the biggest names in hockey. He holds the record for most career penalty minutes by an enforcer, with 2263.
Gordie Dwyer: Dwyer was known for his quick temper and willingness to fight anyone at any time. He once got into a fight with fellow enforcer Bob Probert after Probert had taken Dwyer’s stick away from him. He also fought Tie Domi on several occasions, even though Domi outweighed him by about 50 pounds.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the legends
There have been some great hockey fighters over the years. Some of them are legends in the sport. Here are some of the best hockey fighters of all time.
Bobby Orr: Orr is considered one of the greatest Hockey Players of all time. He was an exceptional defenseman and could also score goals He was also a good fighter. He was known for his scrappy play and was not afraid to drop the gloves when necessary.
Terry O’Reilly: O’Reilly was a tough customer on the ice. He played for the Boston Bruins and was known for his physical play. He was a good fighter and was not afraid to stand up for his teammates. He was also a skilled player and could score goals
Bob Probert: Probert was one of the toughest players in the NHL during his playing days. He played for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks He was known for his fists and was one of the best heavyweight fighters in NHL history Probert also had a scoring touch and could put up points when needed.
Tie Domi: Domi played for several teams during his NHL career including the Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets He was known as an enforcer and accumulated more than 3,500 penalty minutes during his career. Domi could also fight with the best of them and is considered one of the best hockey fighters of all time
The best hockey fighters of all time: the up-and-comers
There is no other sport that is as physical as hockey. And, within hockey, there is nothing more exciting than a good fight. Here are some of the best hockey fighters of all time.
Bob Probert was one of the most prolific fighters in NHL history He amassed 3,300 penalty minutes during his 16-year career. He was also a skilled player, scoring 163 goals andadding 222 assists for 385 points in 935 games.
Probert began his career with the Detroit Red Wings and quickly became known as one of the toughest players in the league. He wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves with anyone and was involved in some memorable fights with players like Tie Domi and Stu Grimson. Probert retired in 2002 after one season with the Chicago Blackhawks
Tie Domi also had a reputation as a tough player and was one of the premier fighters of his generation. In 2,265 career games, he racked up 3,515 penalty minutes. That’s the sixth most in NHL history
Domi was involved in some epic battles with Bob Probert over the years but may be best remembered for his fight with Ulf Samuelsson. That took place during a Playoff Game in 1992 and Samuelsson ended up getting knocked out by Domi’s punches.
Domi also had a bit of an offensive touch and scored 209 goals during his career. He added 222 assists for 431 points in 1,020 games. Domi retired in 2006 after spending one season with the Maple Leafs organization as a player development coach.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the underappreciated
The best hockey fighters of all time are not always the most popular players. In fact, some of the best fighters in NHL history are underappreciated. Here are five of the best hockey fighters of all time.
1. Bob Probert
Probert is one of the most legendary enforcers in NHL history He played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings during his 16-year career. In that time, he racked up 3,300 penalty minutes, which is the fourth most in NHL history He was also one of the most feared fighters in the league, and he had some epic battles with players like Tie Domi and Stu Grimson.
2. Dave Semenko
Semenko is best known for being Wayne Gretzky’s bodyguard during his time with the Edmonton Oilers He was a 6’3”, 230-pound behemoth who was not afraid to drop the gloves. He had a lengthy career with Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Hartford before retiring in 1992.
3. Marty McSorley
McSorley is another player who was known more for his fists than his skill with a hockey stick He played for six different teams during his 17-year career, including stints with both Los Angeles franchises (the Kings and Ducks). He retired in 2000 after being suspended for hitting Donald Brashear with his stick.
4.. Chris Nilan
Nilan is arguably the most controversial player on this list. He was known as much for his off-ice antics as he was for his fighting ability. He amassed 3,024 penalty minutes during his 13-year career, which puts him sixth on the NHL’s all-time list. Nilan also wrote a book about his life titled “Fighting Back: The Chris Nilan Story” which detailed his struggles with addiction and depression.
5.. Johan Garpenlov
Garpenlov is a somewhat surprising addition to this list because he was never really considered an enforcer during his playing days. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1984 and went on to have a successful 16-year career with Detroit, Tampa Bay Florida, and San Jose In 1,009 games played he tallied 774 points while racking up 1,426 penalty minutes.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the underrated
While there are many well-known names when it comes to the best hockey fighters of all time, there are also some underrated fighters who deserve recognition. Here are three of the best hockey fighters of all time that you may not know about.
1. Bob Probert
Probert is considered one of the best hockey fighters of all time, and for good reason. He was known for his ferociousness and had a record of winning almost 70 percent of his fights. In addition to his fighting prowess, Probert was also a skilled player, tallying 163 goals and 221 assists in his NHL career
2. George Parros
Parros is another excellent fighter who often flew under the radar. He tallied over 50 fights in his NHL career and won nearly 60 percent of them. Parros was also known for being a tough customer, as he was never afraid to drop the gloves with anyone on the ice.
3. Jared Boll
Boll is one of the more recent players on this list, but he definitely deserves inclusion among the best hockey fighters of all time. Boll racked up over 100 fights in his NHL career and won nearly 60 percent of them. He was also known for being a very tough player, as evidenced by his willingness to take on anyone on the ice.
The best hockey fighters of all time: the forgotten
With the NHL’s reputation as a tough, physical league, it’s no surprise that hockey fighting has been a part of the game since its inception. While the role of fighting has diminished in recent years there are still a few players who are willing to drop the gloves and trade punches.
Forgotten are the sacrificial Lamb’s like Stu Grimson, Bob Probert, and Tie Domi; players whose primary job was to protect their teammates by dishing out (and taking) a beating. These enforcers were often the most popular players on their team, revered for their toughness and willingness to stand up for their teammates.
Some of the best hockey fighters of all time were also some of the best players in the league. Players like Gordie Howe Mark Messier, and Chris Neil could not only score goals and set up plays, but also held their own when it came time to Drop The Gloves.
Whether they were beloved fan favorites or despised villains, these are some of the best hockey fighters of all time.