As an NHL fan, you've got to love penalties. They're the stuff power plays are made of. Also, the threat of being sent off the ice for two or five minutes keeps the game civil … sort of.
But for many NHL players, going to the penalty box is not to be feared. It's a chance to make NHL News. They spend so much time there that the box becomes a kind of a "home away from home."
For example, the late Bob Probert was one of the league's biggest brawlers during his 17 years in the NHL. He racked up 3,300 penalty minutes in 995 games with the Red Wings (1984-1994) and Blackhawks (1995-2002), averaging 3 penalty minutes per game and putting him at #5 all-time on the list for most minutes served.
Probert's biggest rival was Tie Domi, who played 1,020 career games with Toronto, the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. His #3-ranking 3,515 minutes collected in 1989-2006 included a memorable first bout with Probert on February 9, 1992 at the Garden. After claiming victory, Domi buckled an imaginary heavyweight belt around his waist to antagonize his foe.
The #4 spot belongs to Marty McSorley, who played for nine franchises in 961 games while amassing 359 points and 3,381 penalty minutes. And at #2 sits Dale Hunter, the only NHL player in history to score more than 1,000 points and rack up over 3,000 penalty minutes. During 1980-1999, Hunter starred in 1,407 games for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. He found the net 1,020 times and sat out 3,565 minutes in the process.
Hunter's greatest offense came at Nassau Coliseum on April 28, 1993. In a blindside attack, Hunter separated the shoulder of New York Islanders captain Pierre Turgeon, several seconds after Turgeon celebrated a goal. That warranted more that a visit to the penalty box. The league suspended Hunter for the first 21 games of 1994. Fines and lost salary cost him $150,000.
But of all the offenders, none can compare with Dave "Tiger" Williams. Between 1974 and 1988, he played in 962 games for the Maple Leafs, Canucks, Red Wings, Kings, and Whalers. His time in the box came to 3,966 minutes--over four minutes per match. By comparison, the most penalized active player today, Detroit's Chris Chelios, has only 2,891 minutes in 1,644 games--less than a two-minute minor per game.
But for many NHL players, going to the penalty box is not to be feared. It's a chance to make NHL News. They spend so much time there that the box becomes a kind of a "home away from home."
For example, the late Bob Probert was one of the league's biggest brawlers during his 17 years in the NHL. He racked up 3,300 penalty minutes in 995 games with the Red Wings (1984-1994) and Blackhawks (1995-2002), averaging 3 penalty minutes per game and putting him at #5 all-time on the list for most minutes served.
Probert's biggest rival was Tie Domi, who played 1,020 career games with Toronto, the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. His #3-ranking 3,515 minutes collected in 1989-2006 included a memorable first bout with Probert on February 9, 1992 at the Garden. After claiming victory, Domi buckled an imaginary heavyweight belt around his waist to antagonize his foe.
The #4 spot belongs to Marty McSorley, who played for nine franchises in 961 games while amassing 359 points and 3,381 penalty minutes. And at #2 sits Dale Hunter, the only NHL player in history to score more than 1,000 points and rack up over 3,000 penalty minutes. During 1980-1999, Hunter starred in 1,407 games for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. He found the net 1,020 times and sat out 3,565 minutes in the process.
Hunter's greatest offense came at Nassau Coliseum on April 28, 1993. In a blindside attack, Hunter separated the shoulder of New York Islanders captain Pierre Turgeon, several seconds after Turgeon celebrated a goal. That warranted more that a visit to the penalty box. The league suspended Hunter for the first 21 games of 1994. Fines and lost salary cost him $150,000.
But of all the offenders, none can compare with Dave "Tiger" Williams. Between 1974 and 1988, he played in 962 games for the Maple Leafs, Canucks, Red Wings, Kings, and Whalers. His time in the box came to 3,966 minutes--over four minutes per match. By comparison, the most penalized active player today, Detroit's Chris Chelios, has only 2,891 minutes in 1,644 games--less than a two-minute minor per game.