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NHL Record for Most Penalty Minutes in a Career

Dave Williams holds the NHL record with 3,971 pim (1974-75 to 1987-88).

Top of the list

Most Penalty Minutes, Career: the leaders
RankPlayerPIMSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Dave WilliamsTOR,VAN,LAK,DET,HFD3,9711974-75 to 1987-88962241272
2Dale HunterQUE,WSH,COL3,5651980-81 to 1998-991,407323697
3Tie DomiTOR,NYR,WIN3,5151989-90 to 2005-061,020104141
4Marty McSorleyPIT,EDM,LAK,NYR,SJS,BOS3,3811983-84 to 1999-00961108251
5Bob ProbertDET,CHI3,3001985-86 to 2001-02935163221
6Rob RayBUF,OTT3,2071989-90 to 2003-049004150

The full top 50

Most Penalty Minutes, Career: NHL skater records
RankPlayerPIMSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Dave WilliamsTOR,VAN,LAK,DET,HFD3,9711974-75 to 1987-88962241272
2Dale HunterQUE,WSH,COL3,5651980-81 to 1998-991,407323697
3Tie DomiTOR,NYR,WIN3,5151989-90 to 2005-061,020104141
4Marty McSorleyPIT,EDM,LAK,NYR,SJS,BOS3,3811983-84 to 1999-00961108251
5Bob ProbertDET,CHI3,3001985-86 to 2001-02935163221
6Rob RayBUF,OTT3,2071989-90 to 2003-049004150
7Craig BerubePHI,CGY,TOR,WSH,NYI3,1491986-87 to 2002-031,0546198
8Tim HunterCGY,QUE,VAN,SJS3,1461981-82 to 1996-978156276
9Chris NilanMTL,NYR,BOS3,0431979-80 to 1991-92688110115
10Rick TocchetPHI,PIT,LAK,BOS,WSH,PHX2,9701984-85 to 2001-021,144440512
11Pat VerbeekNJD,HFD,NYR,DAL,DET2,9051982-83 to 2001-021,424522540
12Chris CheliosMTL,CHI,DET,ATL2,8911983-84 to 2009-101,651185763
13Dave MansonCHI,EDM,WIN,PHX,MTL,DAL,TOR2,7921986-87 to 2001-021,103102288
14Scott StevensWSH,STL,NJD2,7851982-83 to 2003-041,635196712
15Donald BrashearMTL,VAN,PHI,WSH,NYR2,6341993-94 to 2009-101,02585120
16Willi PlettAFM,CGY,MNS,BOS2,5701975-76 to 1987-88834222215
17Gino OdjickVAN,NYI,PHI,MTL2,5671990-91 to 2001-026056473
18Matthew BarnabyBUF,PIT,TBL,NYR,COL,CHI,DAL2,5621992-93 to 2006-07834113187
19Gary RobertsCGY,CAR,TOR,FLA,PIT,TBL2,5601986-87 to 2008-091,224438472
20Chris NeilOTT2,5222001-02 to 2016-171,026112138
21Joey KocurDET,NYR,VAN2,5191984-85 to 1998-998208082
22Ken DaneykoNJD2,5161983-84 to 2002-031,28336142
23Brendan ShanahanNJD,STL,HFD,DET,NYR2,4891987-88 to 2008-091,524656698
24Scott MellanbyPHI,EDM,FLA,STL,ATL2,4791985-86 to 2006-071,431364476
25Basil McRaeQUE,TOR,DET,MNS,STL,TBL,CHI2,4571981-82 to 1996-975765383
26Ulf SamuelssonHFD,PIT,NYR,DET,PHI2,4531984-85 to 1999-001,08057275
27Jeff OdgersSJS,BOS,COL,ATL2,3641991-92 to 2002-038217570
28Jay WellsLAK,PHI,BUF,NYR,STL,TBL2,3591979-80 to 1996-971,09847216
29Shayne CorsonMTL,EDM,STL,TOR,DAL2,3571985-86 to 2003-041,156273420
30Lyle OdeleinMTL,NJD,PHX,CBJ,CHI,DAL,FLA,PIT2,3161989-90 to 2005-061,05650202
31Bryan MarchmentWIN,CHI,HFD,EDM,SJS,TBL,COL,TOR,CGY2,3071988-89 to 2005-0692640142
32Garth ButcherVAN,STL,QUE,TOR2,3021981-82 to 1994-9589748158
33Shane ChurlaHFD,CGY,MNS,DAL,LAK,NYR2,3011986-87 to 1996-974882645
34Kelly BuchbergerEDM,LAK,ATL,PHX,PIT2,2971987-88 to 2003-041,182105204
35Dave SchultzPHI,LAK,PIT,BUF2,2921971-72 to 1979-8053579121
36Laurie BoschmanTOR,EDM,WIN,NJD,OTT2,2631979-80 to 1992-931,009229348
37Brad MayBUF,VAN,PHX,COL,ANA,TOR,DET2,2481991-92 to 2009-101,041127161
38Ken BaumgartnerLAK,NYI,TOR,ANA,BOS2,2421987-88 to 1998-996961341
39Kevin DineenHFD,PHI,CAR,OTT,CBJ2,2291984-85 to 2002-031,188355405
40Rob RamageCLR,STL,CGY,TOR,MNS,TBL,MTL,PHI2,2261979-80 to 1993-941,044139425
41Keith TkachukWIN,PHX,STL,ATL2,2191991-92 to 2009-101,201538527
42Bryan WatsonMTL,DET,OAK,PIT,STL,WSH2,2141963-64 to 1978-7987717135
43Steve SmithEDM,CHI,CGY2,1391984-85 to 2000-0180472303
44Stu GrimsonCGY,CHI,ANA,DET,HFD,CAR,LAK,NSH2,1131988-89 to 2001-027291722
45Al SecordBOS,CHI,TOR,PHI2,0951978-79 to 1989-90766273223
45Terry O'ReillyBOS2,0951971-72 to 1984-85891204402
47Zdeno CharaNYI,OTT,BOS,WSH2,0851997-98 to 2021-221,680209471
48Ronnie SternVAN,CGY,SJS2,0771987-88 to 1999-006387586
49Mick VukotaNYI,TBL,MTL2,0711987-88 to 1997-985731729
50Gord DonnellyQUE,WIN,BUF,DAL2,0691983-84 to 1994-955542841

Top 50 of 396 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.

About these records

Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.

Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.

Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a career?

Dave Williams holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a career with 3,971 (1974-75 to 1987-88).