NHL Top 10 Enforcers Post-Cap Era: Halloween Edition
By Ryan Ritchie
Oct 17, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Joe Vitale (14) and Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) fight during the second period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Top 10 Enforcers: Honorable Mentions
Dec 4, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust (8) engages in a fight against New Jersey Devils right wing Cam Janssen (25) during the first period at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Janssen
This heavyweight split time between New Jersey and St.Louis during his short career.
2005-present:
336 games played – 774 penalty minutes (77 minor, 96 major, 11 misconducts, 3 game misconducts)
Georges Laraque
One of the best enforcers in the late 90s to early 2000s. Just a few years early from being a shoe-in to our NHL top 10 enforcers.
2005-present:
277 games played – 373 penalty minutes (58 minor, 45 major, 1 misconducts, 2 game misconducts)
Oct 22, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Chris Neil (25) fights with New Jersey Devils right wing Jordin Tootoo (22) in the third period at Canadian Tire Centre. The Devils defeated the Senators 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Jordin Tootoo
Difficult to keep a player with his type of track record for physical play off our list, but he’s still a beast on the ice.
2005-present:
546 games played – 759 penalty minutes (167 minor, 67 major, 7 misconducts, 2 game misconducts) – 890 hits
Zack Stortini
Best known for his years serving as Oilers enforcer. Was most recently with Ottawa during their 2015-16 training camp.
2005-present:
257 games played – 725 penalty minutes (85 minor, 81 major, 14 misconducts, 1 game misconduct)
September 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) fights against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the second period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Milan Lucic
Another guy tough to keep off the list given his physical track-record. He is one massive human being, even by NHL standards (of course he’s no Zdeno Chara).
2005-present:
575 games played – 786 penalty minutes (160 minor, 56 major, 2 match, 12 misconducts, 4 game misconducts) – 1617 hits
Arron Asham
Another modern-day heavyweight. If you want to see what can happen when a heavyweight takes on a middleweight, check out Asham vs. Jay Beagle down below (warning, ugly ending to this fight).
2005-present:
511 games played – 717 penalty minutes (146 minor, 69 major, 7 misconducts, 1 game misconduct) – 876 hits
Zenon Konopka
This heavyweight bounced around to different teams, but regularly dropped the gloves, whoever he played for.
2005-present:
346 games played – 1082 penalty minutes (110 minor, 114 major, 25 misconducts, 4 game misconducts)
Ian Laperriere
Spent eight years as Los Angeles’ enforcer before the 2005-06 season. Not enough years with Colorado to be properly considered for our rankings. Retired a few years ago.
2005-present:
389 games played – 714 penalty minutes (92 minor, 92 major, 4 misconducts, 3 game misconducts)
Oct 10, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan White (25) fights with Florida Panthers right wing Shawn Thornton (22) in the first period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Shawn Thornton
Long-time Bruins enforcer is in his second season with Florida, but he’s played substantially fewer games the past three seasons before 2015-16.
2005-present:
589 games played – 913 penalty minutes (109 minor, 123 major, 1 match, 6 misconducts, 1 game misconduct) – 866 hits
Krys Barch
Spent six of his nine seasons with the Stars, but rarely played more than half a season worth of games throughout his career.
2005-present:
381 games played – 812 penalty minutes (70 minor, 112 major, 9 misconducts, 2 game misconducts)
Paul Bissonnette
A pretty well-known and popular enforcer, even though he only appeared in 187 games for Phoenix and 15 for Pittsburgh over his career.
2005-present:
202 games played – 340 penalty minutes (25 minor, 52 major, 3 misconducts)
Jody Shelley
Best known for his time spent in Columbus, Shelley evolved as one of the top enforcers in the early 2000s just before the post-cap era.
2005-present:
430 games played – 845 penalty minutes (120 minor, 87 major, 1 match, 12 misconducts, 4 game misconducts) – 635 hits
Oct 13, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Clifford (13) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Derek Dorsett (15) exchange punches in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Clifford
He’s a physical force on the ice and is still relatively young. If we did this countdown again in a few years, he may have what it takes to crack the top 10.
2005-present:
365 games played, 497 penalty minutes (81 minor, 55 major, 1 match, 4 misconducts, 1 game misconduct) – 877 hits
Derek Dorsett
After the Jody Shelley era in Columbus, in came Derek Dorsett, and he evolved into a hard-hitting heavyweight enforcer. He’s now entering his second year with Vancouver in 2015-16.
2005-present:
419 games played – 1056 penalty minutes (198 minor, 90 major, 20 misconducts, 1 game misconduct) – 952 hits
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