Who was the best "enforcer" in NHL history?

This is a really interesting question.

Let's say "best" means three things - he's a goon; he's an intimidating fighter; he can actually add value as a player (goal scorer, defender, etc.).

The Top 10 guys in penalty minutes (PIM), all-time, are:

• Dave "Tiger" Williams - 3,966 PIM (241 G; 513 PTS)
• Dale Hunter - 3,565 PIM  (323 G; 1,020 PTS)
• Tie Domi - 3,515 PIM (104 G; 245 PTS)
• Marty McSorley - 3,381 PIM (108 G; 359 PTS)
• Bob Probert - 3,300 PIM (163 G; 384 PTS)
• Rob Ray - 3,207 PIM (41 G; 91 PTS)
• Craig Berube - 3,149 PIM (61 G; 158 PTS)
• Tim Hunter - 3,043 PIM (62 G; 138 PTS)
• Chris Nilan - 3,043 PIM (100G; 245 PTS)
• Rick Tocchet - 2,972  PIM (440 G; 952 PTS)

Probert is hands-down the best fighter in this bunch.  Tocchet was the most complete player.  You could pick either guy and be OK.   Old timers would say Gordie Howe - after all, the "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" is a goal, and assist and a fight!

And if skill comes into the mix, then guys like Cam Neely, Brandan Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Bob Nystrom, Terry O'Reilly, Tocchet, Hunter and others are in the mix.

But I think you've got to go deeper - and be more pure here about goonery.
To me, an enforcer had to be not only a willing fighter, but also a completely intimidating one.  

That means: High penalty minutes numbers are NOT indicative of true enforcer impact.  

I'm hypothesizing: If a player contributed very little offensively, but still hung around the league for a long time as an enforcer - then he must have been really good at being intimidating.

For example, lots of folks (not me - I wouldn't fight ANY of these dudes) wanted to fight Rob Ray and Tiger Williams; very few wanted to go toe to toe with Donald Brashear, Dave Semenko and Sandy McCarthy (for fear of their lives and careers ending).

So taking into account the "Fear Factor"... an all-time Top 10 Enforcers ranking would look something like this, IMHO:


TOP 10 ENFORCERS OF ALL TIME

1) Bob Probert - my only concern is that with 163 goals, he may be too skilled for this list; still, he absolutely terrified the league for two decades, and richly earned all 3,300 of his penalty minutes.

2) Sandy McCarthy (1,534 PIM; 72 G)


3) Stu Grimson (2,113 PIM; 17 G): 


4) Peter Worrell (1,554 PIM; 19 G)


5) Dave Semenko (Gretzky's wingman)

6) Donald Brashear (2,634 PIM)

7) Matt Johnson (1,523 PIM; 23 G)


8) Larry Playfair (1826 PIM; 26 G)


9) Mike Peluso (1,951 PIM; 38 G)

10) Kryzstof Oliwa (1,447 PIM; 17 G)


10 - tie) Dave Brown (1,789 PIM; 45 G)


10- tie) Jim Cummins (1,538 PIM; 24 G)

10 - tie) Rich Pilon (1,645 PIM; 8 G)


CLOSE/CAN MAKE A CASE:

• Nick Fotiu
• Chris Nilan (3,043 PIM)
• Gino Odjick (2,567 PIM)
• Craig Berube
• Joey Kocur
• Rob Ray - 3,207 PIM (41 G; 91 PTS)
• Craig Berube - 3,149 PIM (61 G; 158 PTS)
• Tim Hunter - 3,043 PIM (62 G; 138 PTS)
• Chris Nilan - 3,043 PIM (100G; 245 PTS)
• Basil McRae (2,457 PIM)
• Tie Domi - 3,515 PIM (104 G; 245 PTS)
• Dave "Tiger" Williams - 3,966 PIM (241 G; 513 PTS)
• Paul Baxter (48 G; 1,500+ PIM)
• Jim Cummins (24 G; 1,538 PIM)
• Darren McCarty (1,427 PIM; 127 G)