1. Bob Probert
Bob Probert was the toughest player in the NHL of all time, no questions asked. Probert was well known and respected as the NHL’s heavyweight champion because of his impressive fighting skills. Currently, Probert holds the Red Wings record of most penalty minutes with 2,090 minutes. Not only does Probert hold a Red Wings penalty minutes record, but also NHL record for the 5th highest penalty minutes with 3,300.
Probert fought some of toughest players in the NHL such as Tie Domi, Marty McSorley, Joey Kocur, Scott Parker, Donald Brashear and many more. Although he was a great fighter, Probert was also a great goal scorer and leader. In fact, Probert was such a good all-around player that he made it to an NHL All-Star game showing that he was more than just an enforcer.
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Whether it be his career-long battles with Tie Domi or his 100-second fight with Marty McSorley, Bob Probert was as tough as they come. Unfortunately, Probert passed away on July 5, 2010, from a heart attack. On April 9, 2017 (the Detroit Red Wings’ last game at Joe Louis Arena), Probert’s family spread Bob’s ashes in the Red Wings penalty box as his final resting place. To this day, Probert will forever be accumulating time in the penalty box, his second home.