4. Gordie Howe
Not only is Gordie Howe arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, but he was one of the toughest in the NHL and Detroit Red Wings history. In 1,687 games with the Detroit Red Wings, Gordie Howe had 1,643 penalty minutes, making him third overall for the most penalty minutes in Red Wings history.
While most players were out seeking a hat trick, he was searching for his own Gordie Howe Hat Trick. A Gordie Howe Hat Trick is when a player scores one goal, gets one assist and one fight. To accomplish the feat, a player must have goal-scoring ability, flawless teamwork chemistry, and toughness. His popularity in the NHL derived from the fact that he was not only a goal scorer, but a physical player as well.
Howe’s rough and tough play along with his offensive ability, lead to him grasping four Stanley Cups. Mr. Hockey excelled in every facet of his game which lead to him, sometimes, single handily wearing down opponents. On every Red Wings team Howe was on, he was the leader, goal scorer, ultimate team player and tough guy. It was because he was capable to play every position that exploited Gordie Howe’s toughness.